Holy sites continue to be centres for conflicts and disputes. Acts of vandalism and obstruction with regard to religious shrines are deepening the divide between people.

In July 2008, the organisation “One World in Dialogue “ and the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights invited representatives of different Christian, Moslem and Jewish communities from different countries to take part in a dialogue to discuss the issue “Holy Sites – Places for Conflict or Dialogue” in Trondheim. This was seen as a first step in a process leading to a universally shared Code of Holy Sites.

A second conference was held in July 2009 with participants from last year’s event as well as other religious leaders and academics with specific interest or competences not involved in the first gathering. The participants developed a jointly written Code for Holy Sites. This marked the beginning of the next phase of the project; to seek support among national governments, religious communities and relevant organizations in different parts of the world for the Code for Holy Sites.

Objectives

• The project aims to develop a written code of Holy Sites to protect sacred spaces and locations for religious worship also during conflicts. The Code aims also to be a tool in preventing conflicts as well as resolving disputes related to holy sites.
• It is our ambition to contribute to better protection of, and accessibility to, religious sites and locations for worship also during conflicts.

Activities

• "Code on Holy Sites". Conference in Trondheim July 2009.
 Read the adopted Code on Holy Sites (2009)

   
• "Holy Sites - Places for Conflict or Dialogue”. Conference in Trondheim July 2008.
  Read the final statement

Relevant links