Bhagawati Saraswati, secretary-general of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and president of Divine Shakti Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh has been elected to be a co-chair of the faith-based advisory council to the United Nations. She is one of the 40 faith leaders from across the world who have been nominated to serve on the council.
She was in New York this week to speak at an event at the United Nations on women of faith as agents of transformation organised by the United Nations, the European Union and the KAICIID Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue.
During her trip, she also participated in the first face-to-face meeting of the advisory council to which she was nominated by the United Nations. The advisory council of faith-based organisations to the UN IATF-Religion is composed of the UN system’s faith-based partners, reflecting the diversity of religions, regional and national presence, and covering thematic areas which mirror the UN’s mandate.
This is the first time in the history of the UN system that a diverse group of UN system entities nominates its faith-based development, humanitarian and policy advocacy partners and then convene them in an advisory capacity to the whole of the UN system.
