By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Affairs Minister has reached out to the Casey Multi-faith Network in order to help the group initiate a dialogue with the United Nations.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has written to the group after Casey mayor Geoff Ablett called on the Federal Government to support a bid for the multi-faith network to speak at the United Nations headquarters in New York, including the General Assembly.
In response, Ms Bishop has encouraged the Casey multi-faith group to contact the UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) – the “focal point for all issues relating to multi-faith dialogue within the United Nations system”.
Ms Bishop said UNAOC organises a series of events and dialogues throughout the year as well as an annual forum, which this year will be held in Bali from 29-30 August.
“A number of Australian academic institutions and community groups, including Monash University, Latrobe University and Deakin University, as well as the Global Diversity Foundation and Diversity Council Australia, already participate in UNAOC,” Ms Bishop wrote.
“These organisations may be able to provide the Casey Multi-faith Network with guidance on engaging with UNAOC, as well as with other relevant international fora.”
She said it was usual practice for non-governmental organisations to participate in international forums on a self-funded basis.
Casey Multi-faith Network president Jim Reiher this week confirmed the group will be writing to UNAOC within the next couple of weeks.
“The group is positive, we got a good reply, I guess the dream continues,” Mr Reiher said.
“We were pretty buoyed at the general meeting when we read out the letter and we got this positive advice.
“We all know it’s a long shot, some people have said we shouldn’t be trying, but that was a positive letter, let’s see what comes of it – we have something pretty special.”
Last year, the News reported that Cr Ablett would begin advocating for the network to meet with delegates from the UN.
