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Interfaith Dialogue, Human Rights, Research, and Development
 
June 2008

Plowshares Institute and Hartford Seminary have been the proud hosts of six Indonesians, three Muslims and three Christians, who traveled to Hartford in June to study interfaith understanding.

The group is part of a pilot project jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights from the Republic of Indonesia, Hartford Seminary and Plowshares Institute of Simsbury.

“Interfaith dialogue, human rights, research and development” is the theme of the pilot project, which seeks to investigate whether pro-actively addressing conflict in religion may either enhance or retard holistic development in Indonesia.

The delegation of colleagues includes:

• Dr. Adhi Santika, the Director of the Center for Research and Development for Vulnerable Group Rights– Agency for Human Rights Research and Development, Ministry of Law and Human Rights;

• Prof. Dr. Andi Qashas Rahman. a professor at Makassar State University and Director General for Quality Education for the Province of South Sulawesi for the Indonesian government;

• Bresman Sianipar, a specialist in Gross Violation of Human Rights Studies for the Agency for Research and Development in Human Rights under The Ministry of Human Rights;

• Dr. Kadarmanto Hardjowasito, a professor of theology and Christian education at Jakarta Theological Seminary and President of the Synod of the Javanese Reformed Christian Churches;

• Dr. Winarti Sukaesih, the Executive Director of the Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation, the largest non-profit organization for children in Indonesia;

• Margaretha Hanita, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia and a social worker at The Jakarta Center for Integrated Service for Women and Children's Empowerment 
   

Hartford Seminary and Plowshares are hosting the six Indonesian delegates in Hartford from May 29 to June 21.

Their visit is the second phase of a three-part pilot program focused on interfaith dialogue, democracy, human rights, and research and development. They were accompanied by Dr. Hafid Abbas, Director General for Research and Development for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for Indonesia, who gave the commencement address at Hartford Seminary and received an honorary degree on May 30.

The delegates are involved in three one-week intensive courses at the seminary focused on Islamic ethics, experiential research on Muslim and Christian communities in the United States, and capacity building in conflict transformation.

The six Christian and Muslim Indonesian participants, who are leaders in their fields of religion, academia, and public service, have already completed a week-long capacity building workshop in Indonesia as phase one of the program.  They are committed to co-facilitate a similar training event in Indonesia when they return as the third phase.  These six were selected from the larger group in the initial training for their insight, their grasp of the concepts, and their potential as trainers of trainers.

Photos are available for viewing at:
http://www.plowsharesinstitute.org/IN-2008/default.htm
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For more information on this program's background, please visit here...