Twenty participants from EU-funded project “Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS)” visit Indonesia

Twenty participants from EU-funded project “Global Exchange on Religion in Society” visit Indonesia

This week, a group of academics, journalists and representatives from civil society organisations, from faith and secular background, across the world is in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, as part of a visit organised in the framework of the EU-funded project Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS). This EU-funded initiative is implemented by Particip GmBH and Media Diversity Institute.

GERIS is a unique initiative, which contributes to social inclusion and societal resilience by establishing a global network to share participants’ experiences of coexistence among people of different faiths and none. The aim of GERIS is to establish sustainable network of global actors who can interpret the role of religion in society approach.

GERIS participants come from a pool of 600 applicants from 70 countries, selected for their work and their commitment to addressing societal challenges. The GERIS network includes leaders from community organisations, representatives from civil society and faith-based groups, subject matter experts, academics, and journalists.

Previous GERIS visits took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Morocco, South Africa and in the USA. The theme of this GERIS visit to the Indonesia is Reconciliation and Transitional Justice: Harnessing opportunities for reconciliation and transitional justice.

During their 10-day stay, 20 participants will meet a variety of stakeholders in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, including NGOs working on transitional justice, human rights organisations, including regional ones like AJAR, faith leaders of different denominations and representatives of interfaith initiatives, media organisations and local authorities.

Among the participants of the GERIS visit to Indonesia, are representatives of New Zealand, Auckland Interfaith Council, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, Institute of Buddhist Management for Happiness and Peace Foundation, Jammu and Kashmir Policy Institute, and other prominent organisations from Indonesia, like Nahdhatul Ulama Chapter Papua, and other countries.