TO PROMOTE intercultural and inter-religious dialogue among its academic partner institutions, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity has implemented the program that aims to boost peace-building initiatives along with the Ateneo de Davao University.

The OPAPRU and ADDU forged a Memorandum of Agreement in November 2021 and February 2022 to concretize the partnership for the roll out of the Human Fraternity Document, which is now being done among peace partners in the academic sector in Mindanao.

AdDU’s Madaris Volunteer Program led the “brown bag” session on the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” which was signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

OPAPRU said the online “brown bag” session aims to promote and integrate the principles of the Human Fraternity Document into the peace-building initiatives of various learning institutions and its other peace partners.

“As the Document on Human Fraternity teaches us, we need to love, support and help one another regardless of race, culture or religion. All of us can make a difference in our own little way,” OPAPRU Undersecretary Isidro Purisima said.

In support of the document, Purisima said OPAPRU is committed to championing the principles of peace-building activities in the country.

Meanwhile, AdDU Theology Department Chairperson Dr. Roawie Quimba highlighted the importance of the document in creating a greater sense of fraternity among men and women of goodwill who are invited “to promote justice and peace, guaranteeing human rights and religious freedom.”

Quimba said that women and youth also have a significant role in promoting a culture of peace and understanding.

Director Vanessa Pallarco, head of OPAPRU’s Social Healing and Peacebuilding Office, said the implementation of the document can further intensify efforts to promote peace education as the core peace-building strategy in social cohesion integration into the communities.

“The rollout of the Human Fraternity Document is part of the agency’s intensifying efforts in incorporating the document in its endeavors to create viable spaces for increased dialogue through peace education at different levels,” she said.

“We are looking forward to how we can replicate this as we have piloted a partnership with Ateneo de Davao University in the rollout of Human Fraternity Document,” she added.