On Thursday, September 15, 2016 Professor Brian Lepard helped unveil a “Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World’s Religions” at a major conference held at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, Canada. The conference was entitled “Third Global Conference on World’s Religions After September 11.” More information about the conference can be found at http://worldsreligions2016.org/. The text of the new declaration can be found here: http://worldsreligions2016.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Declaration-of-Human-Rights-by-the-Worlds-Religions-EN-WEB.pdf?mc_cid=e09249de0d&mc_eid=44c8a5e03f
Speakers at the conference included influential experts and activists in the field of world religions and interreligious dialogue, such as Dr. Arvind Sharma of McGill University, who convened the conference; Deepak Chopra; Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; Dr. Harvey Cox; Dr. Karen Armstrong; Dr. Susannah Heschel; and Dr. Charles Taylor.
In unveiling the Declaration, Professor Lepard declared before a crowd of about 500 attendees: “This new declaration is proposed not as a replacement for the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights [of 1948], which has played such an important role, but rather as a complement to it. Its purpose is to articulate a common religious perspective on human rights that emphasizes the positive contribution that religions and their followers can make to the full realization of human rights.” A video of the conference presentations, including Professor Lepard’s presentation during the afternoon, can be found here. The introduction to his talk begins at 45:30: http://livestream.com/accounts/6113196/events/6266069/videos/135851436
Nobel Peace Prize laureates His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Madam Shirin Ebadi, Bishop Belo of Timor-Leste, and Professor Elie Wiesel are all patrons of the project for a Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World’s Religions, and Madame Ebadi delivered a message to the conference by video.
Professor Lepard assisted in drafting the document, along with many other scholars and religious leaders. While in Montreal, he was interviewed about the document by Montreal radio station Radio Ville Marie (http://www.radiovm.com) in French as part of an hour-long program on the conference. During the interview, Professor Lepard discussed the significance of September 11, 2001 in regard to religions and human rights, why a Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World’s Religions is necessary and relevant, and some of the unique features of the declaration that distinguish it from the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A recording of the program, which was broadcast on September 25, can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fy5nlte6s2bru8k/AAAeYMPddQ_kD6IxD5V3VKTYa?dl=0&preview=CONFERENCE+RELIGIONS+DU+MONDE_M+Lavigne+-+20160925_1000+-+.mp3