By Bidon Mibzar, Abuja
The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action, (JISRA) launched with the mission to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief, has urged Nigerians to see religion as a tool for promoting peaceful Coexistence instead of violence.
The Country Coordinator of JISRA, Jude Likita made the call during a Press conference organized in Abuja to mark the United nation recognized International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
The Country Coordinator who said the organization was launched with the mission of promoting Freedom of Religion as well as fostering interfaith dialogue, and addressing harmful cultural practices also revaled that JISRA works with Consortium of partners across 7 countries.
He said their partners are faith-based organisations who have worked tirelessly to bridge religious divides and promote peaceful coexistence in communities across Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia as well as Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda and Iraq.
While also explaining that the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) project is a five-year peacebuilding programme with the responsibility of reconciling divided communities, and promote peaceful, inclusive and just societies within the countries they operation, Likita also said they are presently implementing the program in Kaduna and Plateau States.
“Today we commemorate the victims of the Acts of violence that have been carried out against religion, and we hope we will be able to push towards promotion of freedom of religion in Nigeria”.
“In Nigeria, we are implementing this project in basically two states, Kaduna and Plateau, as well as other Lobby and advocacy efforts that has been done at the state and national levels”, he said
Likita pleaded for additional government support while revealing that the project has made recommendations in the Universal periodic review on Human rights and also at the National Assembly stating that security remains a key component to ensure that people are safe especially in communities plagued with religious violence.
