The Cross-cantonal Center of Information on Beliefs (CCI) in association with the Geneva Africa Lab and the Yves Oltramare Chair is honoured to invite you to the public conference of Nozizwe Madlala Routledge – Director of Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO Geneva) Ex-Deputy Minister of Defence & Ex-Deputy Minister of Health of South Africa
In our personal lives we have continually to wrestle with the difficulty of finding ways to reconcile our faith with practical ways of living it out in the world. What values shape our activism for social justice if not our faith?
South Africa’s transition from a divided history to the negotiated settlement, which was hailed as a miracle, grew out of mass resistance led and organised by the people’s movements – trade unions, youth, women, civics and faith communities. The non-violent struggle was founded on the belief that apartheid was morally wrong and that it was a sin against humanity.
The African philosophy of ubuntu – I am because you are – teaches us the essence of what it means to be human. My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be truly human together. The Golden Rule teaches us the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them.
Quakers believe in living life in the spirit of love and truth and peace, reaching for the best in oneself and answering “that of God” in everyone. This is the fundamental principle for non-violent struggle. Quaker testimonies or spiritual insights unite us worldwide and are expressions of the commitment to put those beliefs into practice.
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, a South African who joined the political struggles as a young student will share how, anchored by her faith she has dedicated her life to peacefully seeking social justice. She will share how seeing the end of apartheid in her lifetime gave her hope that peace is possible through collaboration, solidarity and interreligious understanding.
- When ? Thursday 30th May 2024 at 18:15
- Where ? Uni Mail – Room M2170