From October 4 till October 7 2010, over 70 of the world’s leading religious leaders, thinkers and policy makers gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for an International Consultation on Faith, Shared Wisdom and International Law. The consultation is part of an initiative to translate the shared wisdom of the world’s major religious and ethical traditions into concrete steps to promote a peaceful and ecologically sustainable world order, supported by clearly articulated principles of international law. Ms Joanne Foo of Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) was the Secretary of the Local Organising Committee of the Consultation.

Opening Addresses by the Conveners, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Judge C.W Weeramantry and Professor Joseph Camilleri	His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria delivering a speech.

The conveners of this consultation are Judge Christopher Weeramantry (former vice-president of the International Court of Justice), Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Prof Joseph Camilleri and H.H. U.Ve. Sri S.A.R. Prasanna Venkatachariar Chaturvedi Swami. Judge Weeramantry, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar and Prof. Joseph Camilleri attended the consultation.

A working group discussion

Leading thinkers who attended the event include the Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser, former Prime Minister of Australia; His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria; and Judge Abdul G. Koroma of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This consultation was carried out with the support of the Malaysian government. Senator Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, gave a speech during lunch on 6 October while Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation presented a speech on behalf of Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia during the dinner on 6 October.

The closing session on October 7 was attended and jointly moderated by Mr. Kamal Malhotra, the United Nations Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Many participants expressed their joy at participating at this consultation and hope that this will represent a substantive step forward in creating a world of peace and justice.

Participants and committee members of the International Consultation