The International Association of Liberal Religious Women

Our member group the  IALRW is one of the oldest international women’s organizations in the world.
It was convened in Berlin in 1910 and since that time has provided a link between liberal religious women throughout the world. It serves to promote friendship and cooperation between like-minded women and is a channel of communication for those striving for a liberal religious life. Members accept that each may belong to a different faith group, yet all share common values of striving for peace, justice and harmony, in the heart of the family, the community and the world.

Social Action 
The Association promotes equality for women and economic and social justice. It sponsors an on-going social action project for women in India, offering training in literacy and vocational skills to enable disadvantaged women to become self-sufficient. It also supports other women’s projects on a one-time basis. It promotes the inclusion of women’s roles in religion on the agenda of special events in the UN calendar and other national and international gatherings.

Conferences
There are international conferences every three or four years and national and regional conferences in intervening years. Recent international conferences have been held in Taiwan, Hungary, Canada, South Korea, and India.

Interfaith Cooperation
As a member group of the International Association for Religious Freedom, the Association participates fully in its activities and promotes consideration of women’s issues in its agenda. Membership Membership is open to women from liberal faith communities throughout the world who seek to share their ideas, their experiences and concerns, offering support to each other in the search for spiritual enrichment and identity. The IALRW represents such diverse religious traditions as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Unitarians and Universalists, and the liberal wings of other faith groups. Individual annual membership fees are the equivalent of US $15.

Other Related Women’s Groups: The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation

Slideshow of 2006 Congress

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Interfaith program, Leh (Kashmir) branch, 2005

Organized by Ven. Bhikku Sanghasena, Leh branch chairman.

25 August, 2005

Around 400 specially invited delegates from India and abroad attended. Five delegates from member group IALRW (Japan) also attended this grand program on the banks of the Indus River.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama attended and delivered an inaugural speech in which he shared his thoughts about interfaith & the responsibility of religious leaders for a just and peaceful world.

Leaders of religious groups in Leh participated with great enthusiasm.

Shramadan (gift of labour) Gujarat 2005

India (Gujarat): Morbi, Nana Dahisara & Kajarada
February 2005 

31 Hindu young adults  
Organiser: Hiten Bhagtani, RFYN India Gujarati leader.

For this project, the young adults did shramadan, gift of labour, at the sites built during the 2002 project. Most were very wary of going into a 100% Muslim village, entering their mosque and cleaning it. Most had never entered a mosque or had any interaction with Muslims and feared that they would hate the Hindus for what happened in 2002. Thanks to the cordial relations built up since the 2002 project, the Muslim elders agreed on this particular shramadan. Once in the village and the mosque, the young adults became friendly with the villagers and started interacting with them. The gesture of visiting their village and cleaning their place of worship was greatly appreciated. 
Suspicion and reservations diminished as they discussed the importance of building up understanding & respect for each others’ religions.
A similar discussion took place between the villagers and the young adults at Nana Dahisara where the temple was cleaned.

Gandhi Jayanti 2004

On October 2nd of every year Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday is celebrated.  This is popularly called “Gandhi Jayanthi”.

Gandhiji is universally known as an apostle of peace.  On this day this year Khwaja Gharib-Un-Nawaz Inter-faith Centre (KGNWC) chose to arrange a talk by Mr.H.S. Doreswamy who is respected as a Gandhian and a freedom fighter.  He delivered a talk on “Gandhiji’s struggle for Communal Harmony and Inter-faith understanding”.

 

Report on Gandhi Jayanthi 2004 (PDF 2 pages)

Young Adult Programme Shillong 2004

17, 18, 19 June 2004.

Brief Report on 3-day IARF Young Adult Programme held at Shillong (PDF)

Interfaith celebration of Christmas 2003

24 December 2003, Bangalore

From the report (PDF, 1 page):

Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Ali Khan …spoke about the message of Lord Jesus Christ to mankind and how his message is relevant to people of different faiths. He made a particular reference to the recognition of Jesus Christ as a Prophet in Islam. Mr. Raya Raddi, in his presidential address said that the message of Lord Jesus is relevant to Hindus also.

IARF-SACC participation at Delhi Peace Summit 2003

“Towards a Culture of Harmony and Peace”

Delhi Peace Summit, in partnership with Council for a Parliament of World’s Religions, Chicago, organised an International Summit with the theme “Towards a Culture of Harmony and Peace” from December 7 – 10, 2003 at New Delhi.

The summit was inaugurated by the President of India, H.E. Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam. Dr. Jagmohan, Union Minister for Tourism and Dr. Karan Singh were also present. It was attended by about 70 international and 300 Indian delegates. IARF was represented by all the members of South Asia Co-ordinating Council (SACC) and its Co-ordinator.

SACC participation: On the first day, Dr. Prof. Mumtaz Ali Khan, SACC Chairman spoke on behalf of IARF on the theme “Building Culture of Peace through Interfaith Co-operation”. In a session on sharing stories of interfaith solidarity, Mr. Ranjit Mukherji, Member of IARF SACC spoke on the topic “Service through social work”. On the third day Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, Chairman IARF Bangladesh Chapter acted as Moderator for a group discussion on the topic “Interfaith Education”. Mr. Mukherji, Mr. Thomas Mathew, SACC Member and Mr. Zulfikhar Akram, SACC Co-ordinator did facilitation for discussions on inter-religious and intra-religious solidarity in the circle groups.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama presided over the valedictory Function. It was organised at Gandhi Smriti. Dr. Mohinder Singh, the Organising Secretary of the Summit requested Dr. Khan to extend greetings to H.H. The Dalai Lama on behalf of IARF. After paying his respects to The Dalai Lama, Dr. Khan in his address said

“Your Holiness Dalai Lamaji, it is my pleasure and privilege to convey greetings to you on behalf of International Association for Religious Freedom. We seek your blessings to promote and sustain peace and harmony around the world”.

Ms. Ela Gandhi, the grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi and one of the prominent participants, also spoke on the occasion.

During the Summit the SACC members met some of their old friends and also made new friends and had useful discussions with them. On the last day, an interfaith pilgrimage within Delhi was organised. The Co-ordinator took part in it.

Zulfikhar Akram
Co-ordinator, IARF SACC

Inter-Religious Students Movement (IRSM) launched by Tirunelveli branch

The Tirunelveli Branch of IARF India Chapter launched an Inter-Religious Students Movement (IRSM) in different schools of Tirunelveli Town recently. The objective of the movement is to inculcate in young minds respect for humanity, universal brotherhood and understanding of religions and to promote inter-religious harmony and peace. Students from class VI to class XII are eligible to join the Movement.

Under the auspices of IRSM, the Branch oganised a Students Seminar on 22nd November, 2003 at Christu Jyothi Higher Secondary School, Tirunelveli. Nearly 300 students and 30 teachers from 13 schools took part.

The Seminar started with a prayer song and readings from Bhagavat Gita, Bible and Quran by the students. There were four sessions in the Seminar on the following themes:

1. “Life and Religion” and “Unity in Diversity”
2. What can you do for the society?
3. What should the students do to develop religious harmony?
4. Friendship

In each of the sessions there were introductory talks on the themes by the teachers followed by discussion and interaction with and among the students. After these sessions, an evaluation and feedback session was conducted for the students.

Mr. M. Subramaniam, President of IARF India chapter presided over the Concluding Function. Members from surrounding IARF Chapter Branches like Tenkasi, Palayamkotai, Ambasamudram, etc. were the guests. The students presented songs and dances. One of the students spoke on the topic “Life and Religion”. Prizes were given away to students who had done well in the Fine Arts Competition conducted in different schools through IRSM in the run up to the Seminar.

Report Summary by Zulfikhar Akram 
Co-ordinator, IARF SACC

Interfaith Ramadan event, Mysore 2003

“RAMZAN ID-E-MILAN (IFTAR) CELEBRATION”

[IARF India Chapter member group] “Forum for Harmony and Peace, Mysore organised Ramzan Id -e- Milan (Iftar) function on 23rd November, 2003. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, about 125 in all participated. Ms. Hemalatha welcomed the gathering. The function started with the breaking of fast (Iftar) with fruits, followed by Namaz (prayer) led by Priest Ali Janab Moulana Altaf Hussain.

After Namaz, Moulana Altaf Hussain and Rev. John Paul spoke on the significance of holy month of Ramzan and fasting and how it helps a person in self-control. Mr. N.L. Bharathi Shankar, Member of Legislative Assembly from T. Narasipur, Mysore was the Chief Guest. He expressed happiness that Forum for Harmony and Peace has organised Iftar in a unique manner; this was the first time that he had seen Iftar arranged involving Muslims, Hindus and Christians…

Mr. Mohammed Shabeer Ahmed spoke about the activities of Forum for Harmony and Peace and IARF. The programme ended with dinner”.