The Brahma Kumaris participated in two side events – The Role of Conscience in Global Affairs in NY and World Leader Summit of Love and Peace at the UNHQ, Vienna.
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The Role of Conscience in Global Affairs, organized by the NGO Major Group Unitive Cluster, New York, brought together spiritual thought leaders who explored the deeper meaning of ‘conscience’ and how we can tap into that resource.
The conversation opened with Joni Carley, Co-convenor Unitive Cluster, sharing about the importance of developing a Culture of Peace to further the achievement of the SDGs. For this, she reiterated that we need to understand the intangible spaces we work in such as our conscience and learn how access it so we can ‘listen’ to it better.
BK Sabita Geer, Representative of the Brahma Kumaris at the UN, gently took each one on a unique inward journey which allowed for inner clarity and silence in order to be able to listen to what the conscience is telling us. Holding that inner space, keynote speaker, Carl Murrell, Main representative of the Baha’is International Community at the UN, shared his insights on the topic, The Role of Conscience in Global Affairs, based upon his lived experiences, from both personal and professional perspectives. He stated that a person’s conscience depends upon one’s cultural, societal, and religious norms and we need to be mindful that conscience of each one may differ as a result of this. What may be right for one may be wrong for another.
Discussions in small groups gave participants the opportunity to safely share from the heart their concepts of what is conscience and the role it plays in their lives. This led to a rich and dynamic open dialogue to further expound on the role of conscience in accomplishing UN objectives.
The event, skillfully moderated by Tezikiah Gabriel, Executive Director, Pathways to Peace, ended with participants expressing their interest to continue such conversations with the aim to deepen the understanding of ‘conscience’, how it impacts the decisions we make, and what’s the possibility of incorporating this in the work we all do at the UN. Click to watch more
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Celebrating the 6th International Day of Conscience and the UN’s Adoption of the International Day of Hope at the United Nations in Vienna
To celebrate the 6th International Day of Conscience, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations in Vienna, the Flame of Peace, and the DIGNITY Foundation, co-hosted the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace at the UN headquarters in Vienna on April 2, 2025.
More than 100 distinguished guests from various sectors gathered for meaningful discussions under the theme: “Awakening the Inner Voice: From Reflection to Action in Times of Crisis.” The event featured speeches by four former heads of state, while five ambassadors and Deputy Permanent Representatives to the UN in Vienna rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, underscoring the importance of awakening conscience and igniting hope as key drivers of global peace and sustainability.
The summit also celebrated the United Nations’ recent adoption of a resolution designating July 12 as the International Day of Hope. Following the UN’s designation of the International Day of Conscience in 2019, the establishment of the International Day of Hope marks another significant milestone in strengthening global unity through love, peace, and hope.
Brahma Kumaris representatives in Vienna participated in the celebrations. It was a good chance to connect with friends and members of the conference.
