New York, USA, September 2026 – A delegation from Religions for Peace Europe visited the headquarters of Religions for Peace International in New York, where they were welcomed by Dr. Francis Kuria, Secretary General, and Ms. Deepika Singh, Deputy Secretary General and Director of Programmes.
The delegation included Prof. Genti Kruja, President of Religions for Peace Europe; Dr. Luigi De Salvia, President of Religions for Peace Italy; Atdhe Mehmeti, a member of the European Interfaith Youth Network of Religions for Peace Europe; and Cenap Aydin, a member of Religions for Peace Italy.
The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen institutional ties between the European network and the International Secretariat, reflecting their shared commitment to interreligious dialogue, trust-building and cooperative action for peace. It took place during the delegation’s participation in international events held on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the programme in New York, Prof. Genti Kruja moderated the first roundtable, “From Common Ground to the Common Good: Faith Communities Working Together,” held on 22 September at John Jay College of Criminal Justice as part of the SDGs Conference 2026 programme, as well as the dialogue session at “Restoring Trust in an Era of Polycrisis: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Shared Sacred Flourishing,” organised by Religions for Peace International on 23 September at the Church Center of the United Nations. These discussions explored how faith communities and partners across sectors can translate shared values into practical cooperation, rebuild trust and address interconnected global challenges.
Religions for Peace Europe participated in the SDGs Conference 2026
as a global partner of the Journalists and Writers Foundation. Dr. Luigi De Salvia contributed as a speaker to the first roundtable, while Atdhe Mehmeti participated in the youth roundtable on artificial intelligence, democracy and human rights, presenting “AI for Social Good: Faith, Human Dignity and Youth-Led Action.” Their contributions brought perspectives on interreligious cooperation and youth engagement to the international programme, which continued on 23 September with conference presentations and panel discussions.
The headquarters visit complemented these engagements through direct contact with the international leadership. It highlighted the importance of strong relationships across the Religions for Peace movement and of connecting national, regional and global efforts to advance peace, human dignity and sustainable development.
