AICHR Roundtable fosters inter-religious harmony in ASEAN
SINGAPORE, 27 June 2025 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), in collaboration with the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, convened a roundtable on inter-religious harmony and the promotion of resilient and cohesive societies in Southeast Asia, in Singapore.
As one of the most culturally and religiously diverse regions in the world, the freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined as a fundamental human right in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. ASEAN Member States have sought to promote inter-religious harmony within ASEAN, as well as collectively develop practical and innovative solutions to strengthen societal resilience and cohesion against religious extremism and intolerance.
The Roundtable brought together over 30 participants from AICHR, the ASEAN Secretariat, and researchers from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and other think tanks in Singapore. Participants exchanged perspectives and different approaches to promoting religious harmony in Southeast Asia. They also discussed ways to manage differences between the diverse religious groups in the region, and AICHR’s role in promoting dialogue, capacity building, and sharing best practices towards building resilient and cohesive societies in ASEAN.
Researchers from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute shared findings from their annual State of Southeast Asia Survey, as well as their research on social cohesion, religion, and diversity in Southeast Asia. The Roundtable highlighted the importance of open dialogue and outreach, as well as trust and confidence building across various stakeholders to enhance the value of multiculturalism and cooperation among different communities.
The participants also visited the Harmony Centre at the An-Nahdhah Mosque and the Maghain Aboth Synagogue. At the Harmony Centre, AICHR was briefed on the Centre’s work in promoting interfaith dialogue and the Muslim community’s contributions to social cohesion in Singapore. At the Maghain Aboth Synagogue, AICHR engaged in a panel discussion with representatives from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Jewish communities in Singapore who shared their best practices in promoting interfaith understanding and cooperation. The participants were also hosted to a tour of the Synagogue and the Jews of Singapore Museum.
The Roundtable and site visits were organised and hosted by AICHR Singapore, in collaboration with the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Harmony Centre, and Maghain Aboth Synagogue. Earlier, AICHR delegates had attended the 3rd International Conference on Cohesive Societies held in Singapore from 24-26 June.