International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) - since July 2022 in Lisbon

A multilateral organization for the promotion of interreligous and intercultural dialogue on an international level

Initiators
The foundation for the establishment of the International Dialogue Center (KAICIID) was laid by Pope Benedict XVI and Saudi King Abdullah in 2007, during a meeting in which they jointly proposed the creation of a global organization to promote in interreligious dialogue. During a seven-year process of negotiation and development, KAICIID's mandate and structure were designed to strengthen the dialogue between people of different faiths and cultures, to overcome hostility, to reduce fear and to promote mutual respect.

In 2012, at the end of this process, the International Dialogue Center (KAICIID) was founded by Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain as an international organization, based in Vienna. The Vatican has observer status. KAICIID is particularly unique in its dual governance structure, which is composed of the "Council of the Parties" (the member states) and a multi-religious Board of Directors, which includes dignitaries from all major world religions.

Occasion
The Center is dedicated to promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue, with the vision of recognizing the important role of religions as a basis for mutual respect and reconciliation, as well as putting an end to the misuse of religion to justify oppression, violence and conflict. The Center acts as a mediator, bringing together religious leaders from different religious communities, political decision-makers and experts from different scientific disciplines to work on common solutions to shared global problems.

Target Groups
All people interested in religious freedom and its realization through building bridges, addressing conflicts and fostering cooperation between a diversity of groups. In particular, the Center works with religious dignitaries and policymakers.

Objectives
The center aims to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue worldwide. KAICIID helps religious communities understand political frameworks, human rights and sustainable development. At the same time, it trains policy makers in religious education, interreligious dialogue and integration. The Center works from the conviction that religious leaders and policymakers must work together to effectively address the many conflicts and issues where religious identity is used to justify violence.

Topics

  • Promotion of interreligious dialogues
  • Prevention and fight against “Hate Speech“
  • Integration and inclusion of refugees and migrants, in particular in Europe
  • Prevention of the use of religion as a means of oppression and justification of violence

KAICIID aims at bringing together religious dignitaries and political decision-makers to develop and implement multilateral initiatives for social cohesion and conflicts solutions. KAICIID supports experts, trainees and organizations working in this area, offering capacity building programs, workshops, training courses and partnerships.

Duration
open-ended

Activities
The Center works programmatically around the world, but implements its priority programs particularly in Africa (Nigeria, Central African Republic), the Arab world, Europe and Asia. Its most significant programmatic activities include:

  • The international „Fellows Programme“ (a fellowship program with cohorts in different world regions)
  • Work in Europe, which especially aims at social integration and inclusion of refugees and migrants
  • Work in Arabic regions, in particular the foundation of the Interreligious Platform for Dialogue and Cooperation (IPDC) established in 2018

Organization
KAICIID is the only international organization whose board of directors consists of representatives of the major world religions.

The founding states of the Dialogue Center form the Council of Parties, which oversees the work of the Center. The board of directors consists of high-ranking representatives of the world's major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism) and cultures. The Center is headed by a secretary general. An advisory board of up to 100 members from different religions, cultural institutions and international organizations provides another source of cross-religious and intercultural perspectives.

Partners of the KAICIID include: The African Union Union, UNESCO, the European Union, International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), University for Peace (UPEACE), Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Religions for Peace, University of Montreal, World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), UN Development Program (UNDP), Institut Superior de Ciències Religioses de Barcelona (ISCREB).

On July 1, 2022 the organization moved its headquarters from Vienna to Lisbon in Portugal.

Funding
Primarily by the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia and Spain.

Products

  • Publications, videos and photographs on projects, current and completed
  • Basic documents on interreligious dialogue
  • Regular newsletters that can be ordered free of charge

Website | Social Media | Contact

https://www.kaiciid.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaiciid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiciid/?hl=de

KAICIID Dialogue Centre
Avenida José Malhoa, 19, 4 andar
1070-040 Lisboa
Portugal

T: +351 211452850
E-mail: office@kaiciid.org

 

editor: as / update: ew 2022