In 1987, the then recently established InterAction Council conducted its first interfaith dialogue in Rome. Subsequent interfaith dialogues have focused on the emerging concept of a global ethic, a statement of the commonly shared moral principles held by all major religions. The discussion of shared ethical principles to promote peaceful, tolerant and compassionate society and cooperation among nations culminated in the Council’s 1997 Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities. At its core, the Declaration embraced the Golden Rule, “Do not do unto others that which you do not wish be done unto yourself ”, and the principle of humanity.
  Convened by Organising Chairman, H.E. Dr. Franz Vranitzky and led by the meeting’s Co-chairs, The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser and H.E. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, the InterAction Council again hosted an interfaith dialogue in March 2014 in Vienna to examine the challenges in giving effect to a global ethical standard in a dangerous and divided world.
 

• １. Even when a global ethic is clearly defined and understood, differing relationships between governments and religions, and a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds present problems for the implementation of a global ethic.

 

•  2. For governments there is a tension among national interest, self- interest, and ethical concerns. There is a temptation to take the easy short-term decision and to push ethical considerations aside.

 

•  3. The practice of a global ethic and its implementation is complicated because each situation is different and sets in a unique context.

 

• 4. Even where principles of a global ethic are written into law, the effect of those principles can be affected by an unwillingness to implement or enforce the laws.

 

• 5. Sectarian violence, within individual religions and between religions, and the rise of extremism within many religions and cultures of the world present special challenges to leaders and to the implementation of a global ethic.

 

• 6. Sustaining and advancing the practical application of a global ethic is a never-ending task. Leaders are constantly presented with short-term temptations to sacrifice commitment to a global ethic for expedient goals. Progress over many years can be undone quickly by giving in to extremist or short-term self-interest.

 

• 7. Advancement of a global ethic involves, at its core, respect, tolerance, and compassion for all people. All human beings should be treated as equal.

 

• 8. Progress toward a global ethic is made more difficult by the rapid growth in population. H.E. Chancellor. Helmut Schmidt emphasised that achievement of ethical goals is harder in a world with 7.2 billion inhabitants that is quickly moving toward more than 9 billion.

 
  Deliberations in Vienna highlighted practical steps necessary to advance a wider acceptance of a global ethic as a vehicle for justice and peace.
 
We urge:
 

• ●  Continued promotion of the concept of a global ethic and acceptance of the necessary responsibility and obligations.
•  
• ●  That violence should never be the means of resolving differences.
•  
• ●  Deliberate efforts to avoid policies that can be misunderstood and
• that can promote division.
•  
• ●  Special efforts to understand the point of view of other people. Such understanding is essential if differences are to be overcome.
•  
• ●  A renewed commitment on the part of government leaders to implement a global ethic as a path to peace and to promote cooperation from cultural and religious diversity.
•  
• ●  Rejection of extremism and politics of division and denigration by governments.
•  
• ●  Particular efforts to counteract extremism evident in some regions and states.
•  
• ●  Recognition that promotion of global ethical standards is made more complex in a modern, global world community.
•  
• ●  That particular effort be made to educate all people, and especially the young, about all major religions and the common ethical standards that they embrace.
•  
• ●  Being conscious in policy planning that the world is headed for 9 billion population with its dire consequences on the lives of people, the environment and natural resources.
•  
• ●  Continuing interfaith dialogue between political and religious leaders.

 
 

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
 
Organising Chairman: H.E. Dr. Franz Vranitzky Interfaith Dialogue Co-chairs:
The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser, H.E. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda
 

 
InterAction Council Members
  
The Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien
　　Co-Chairman, former Prime Minister,
　　Canada
H.E. Dr. Franz Vranitzky
　　Co-Chairman, former Chancellor,
　　Austria
H.E. Mr. Helmut Schmidt
　　Honorary Chairman, former Chancellor,
　　Germany
The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser
　　Honorary Chairman, former Prime Minister,
　　Australia
H.E. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda
　　Former Prime Minister,
　　Japan
H.E. Mr. Andreas van Agt
　　Former Prime Minister,
　　The Netherlands
H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Quraishi
　　Former Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority,
　　Saudi Arabia
H.E. Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi
　　Former Prime Minister,
　　Malaysia
H.E. Dr. Abdel Salam Majali
　　Former Prime Minister,
　　Jordan
H.E. Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo
　　Former President,
　　Nigeria
H.E. Dr. George Vassiliou
　　Former President,
　　Cyprus
 
Former InterAction Council Member

H.E. Mr. Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
　　Former President,
　　France
 
 
Secretary-General

Dr. Thomas S. Axworthy
　　Canada
Mr. Isamu Miyazaki
　　Former Secretary-General,
　　Japan
 
 
Religious and Theological Leaders

Dr. Hamzah Mohammed Al Salem,
　　Professor, Prince Sultan University, Columnist, Al Jazeera,
　　Saudi Arabia
Prof. Hsin-Kang Chang
　　Honorary Professor and Ye-Lu Xun Chair,
　　Professor of Social Sciences at Peking University;
　　former President of City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR,
　　China
Prof. Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Graf
　　Full Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, Faculty of
　　Protestant Theology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich,
　　Germany
Dr. Muhammad Habash
　　Professor, Islamic Studies, Abu Dhabi University, Sunni Islam,
　　Syria
Prof. Kirk Hanson
　　Executive Director, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University,
　　USA
Mr. Gholamali Khoshroo
　　Special Advisor to President Khatami on ‘Dialogue among Civilisations’,
　　Iran
Dr. Mano Mettanando Laohavanich
　　Lecturer, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine,
　　Thammasat University; Member of the Thai Senate Sub- Committee on Religion and Ethics,
　　Thailand
Dr. Abdul Mukti
　　Secretary of Central Board Muhammadiyah
　　(the oldest modern Muslim organisation in Indonesia)
H.E. Metropolitan Niphon
　　Vicar of the Patriarch of Antioch in Moscow,
　　Lebanon
H.H. The Venerable Koshin Ohtani
　　Head Priest, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (Pure Land Sect.),
　　Japan
Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Rosen
　　Former Principal of Carmel College, Oxford,
　　UK
Prof. Amin Saikal
　　Professor of Political Science,
　　Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies,
　　Australian National University,
　　Australia
Dr. Stephan Schlensog
　　Secretary-General, Global Ethic Foundation,
　　Germany
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
　　The Art of Living,
　　India
Dr. Arif Zamhari
　　A senior figure in Nahdlatul Ulama
　　(the world’s largest Muslim organisation),
　　Indonesia
Dr. Paul M. Zulehner
　　Chair of Pastoral Theology in Vienna,
　　Austria
 
 
Observers
 
Ms. Claudia Bandion-Ortner
　　Deputy Secretary-General,
　　King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and
　　Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID),
　　Austria
Mr. Faisal A. Bin Muaammar
　　Secretary-General, King Abdullah International Centre
　　for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID),
　　Saudi Arabia
Mr. Seiken Sugiura
　　Former Minister of Justice,
　　Japan 
 
 

The InterAction Council gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Governments of
Austria, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Mayor and Governor of Vienna.