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Statement on the Illegal Invasion of Ukraine

February 28, 2022

Since 1993, the Parliament of the World’s Religions  has maintained through its Global Ethic that the involvement  of people of faith and good will “for the sake of human rights, freedom, justice, peace… is absolutely necessary.” The invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign democracy,  is a violation of human rights, freedom, justice, and peace. Therefore, the Parliament unequivocally condemns the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

We mourn the lives lost and the continued suffering of those involved in the invasion; including those who remain in Ukraine and those displaced by the invasion. We ask that the human rights and humanity of all refugees and displaced people in this crisis be respected and upheld, regardless of their country of origin.

We pray and call for an immediate cessation of violence and for Russia to withdraw all of its forces from Ukraine.

We stand with the Ukrainian people and we call upon all people of faith, conscience and good will to do the same. The Parliament implores the interfaith movement around the world and individuals of faith, conscience, and good will to stand in resolve against all acts of war and violence and advocate for peaceful diplomacy.

The Parliament reaffirms its past statement on nuclear disarmament, and we deplore President Putin’s use of the threat of nuclear weapons in his rhetoric. We once again call upon the politicians of the world to work to stop the spread and eliminate the threat of the use of nuclear weapons.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions remains committed to a culture of non-violence and respect for life, as  declared in our signature document Towards A Global Ethic.

“…Persons who hold political power must work within the framework of a just order and commit themselves to the most non-violent, peaceful solutions possible. And they should work for this within an international order of peace which itself has need of protection and defense against perpetrators of violence. Armament is a mistaken path; disarmament is the commandment of the times. Let no one be deceived: There is no survival for humanity without global peace!”

Towards A Global Ethic: A Declaration of the Parliament of the World’s Religions