Religions for Peace Women of Faith network in Finland

Religions for Peace Women of Faith Network in Finland was launched officially at CSW meeting at UN in New York, on the Women´s day of 2010. It has worked so far from the voluntary base, but it is seeking for funding in order to work among women from several faiths, mostly on the grassroots level. There is no funds given by the international Religions for Peace for the local activities taken place in Finland. Women of faith network has already organized the Women´s march against poverty in fall 2008, in Helsinki. At the fall of 2009 it became part of the international project to help stop violence against women as part of a global initiative that mobilizes actions by religious leaders and communities – Restoring Dignity: End Violence Against Women. This project was futher introduced at the meeting of Lutheran and Muslim leaders in Helisinki. The most of those religious leaders expressed support for the goals of the “Say NO – UNiTE to Violence Against Women Campaign” being advanced by the United Nations Secretary-General and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). During the year of 2010 it has participated at the panel discussion at the Social Forum in Finland and the event at the Suomiareena in Pori and it has organized peace prayer event at the Loviisa Peace Forum. It belongs to the network that gives annually the interafaith award that is called Golden Rule Award. RELIGIONS FOR PEACE—the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition—advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth.