Udenrigsudvalget 2017-18
URU Alm.del Bilag 12
Offentligt
RELIGION IN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND FOREIGN POLICY
INTERNATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND DANISH PERSPECTIVES
Wednesday November 1st, 2017 from 13:00-16:00
Fællessalen, Christiansborg
In the post-9/11 world order, there is little doubt that religion is a key factor in development
cooperation and foreign policy. Religious actors, norms and practices play an important role in relation
to e.g. counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism; conflict resolution and peace-building;
and protection of religious minorities. But how can and should policy makers engage with religion in
these areas? Discussing the role(s) of religion in foreign policy today, this conference presents different
modes of engagement, opening up for a discussion of the opportunities and challenges that such
engagement entails and providing inspiration for Danish foreign policy in this area.
The conference is organised in cooperation between the Danish Interparliamentary Network on
Freedom of Religion or Belief, the Danish Mission Council and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
PROGRAMME
13:00
Welcome
Daniel Toft Jacobsen, Member of Parliament, Socialdemokratiet, and chairperson of the
Danish Interparliamentary Network on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Introductory remarks
Ulla Tørnæs, Minister for Development Cooperation
Engaging religion in US foreign policy: The opportunities and challenges
Peter Mandaville, Professor of international affairs, George Mason University, and former
advisor to the US State Department
Religion: A touchstone of European external identity and divisions
Francois Foret, Professor of political science, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Religion and foreign policy: The Norwegian experience
Aud Marit Wiig, Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Norwegian Foreign Ministry
The international struggle for freedom of religion and belief
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, Ambassador, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Questions and comments
Coffee break
Debate: Danish perspectives on religion in development cooperation and foreign policy
Charlotte Flindt Petersen, Director, Udenrigspolitisk Selskab
Jonas Adelin Jørgensen, Generalsekretær, Dansk Missionsråd
Kirsten Auken, Programme Director, Danmission
Mette Gjerskov, Member of Parliament, Socialdemokratiet
Ole Wæver, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen
Ulla Sandbæk, Member of Parliament, Alternativet
Concluding remarks
Marie Juul Petersen, Danish Institute for Human Rights
13:10
13:20
13:50
14:10
14:30
14:50
15:10
15:25
16:20
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 12: Invitation til konferencen "Religion in Development Cooperation and Foreign Policy - International, European and Danish Perspectives" den 1. november 2017
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Participation in the conference is free of charge, but registration is necessary. Please send a mail Filip
Buff Pedersen,
Coordinator for the
Danish Interparliamentary Network on Freedom of Religion or
Belief,
[email protected]
KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Peter Mandaville
is Professor of International Affairs in the Schar School of Policy and Government at
George Mason University. From 2015-
6 he served as Senior Adviser in the Secretary of State’s Office
of Religion & Global
Affairs at the U.S. Department of State where he led that office’s work on ISIS and
sectarian conflict in the Middle East. From 2011-12 he served as a member of former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton’s Policy Planning Staff where he helped to shape the
U.S. response to the Arab Uprisings.
He is the author of the books
Islam & Politics
(2007) and
Transnational Muslim Politics: Reimagining the
Umma
(2001) as well as many journal articles, book chapters, and op-ed/commentary pieces in outlets
such as the
International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The Atlantic
and
Foreign Policy.
François Foret
is Professor of political science and director of the Cevipol at the Free University of
Brussels. His research interests are European politics and policies; interactions between politics,
culture and religion; symbolics politics. He has written extensively on these topics, including most
recently the book
Religion and politics in the European Union. The Secular Canopy
(2015) and the report
How the European External Action Service Deals with Religion through Religious Freedom
(2017).
Aud Marit Wiig
is the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Norwegian Foreign
Ministry. She has worked in the Foreign Ministry since 1983, from 1996 to 2001 at the Norwegian
Embassy in Pretoria, and from 2001-2004 as Department Director in the Ministry. From 2004 to 2007,
she was executive director of the African Development Bank in Abidjan. She was ambassador in
Islamabad from 2007 to 2008, and deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
from 2008 to 2012. Most recently, she was ambassador in Brazil from 2012 to 2017.
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin
is a Danish ambassador and professional foreign service officer with
extensive knowledge and experience from Asia, including the Afghanistan/Pakistan region as well as
working with terrorism, fragile and failed states. From 2013 to 2017 he was the European Union Special
Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2016 he facilitated the first significant Afghan
peace accord in over 20 years with the Hezb-e-Islami group. In 2009 Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin
received Japan's Cool Biz award for his efforts to publicly promote energy savings. Franz-Michael Skjold
Mellbin has received the highest civilian orders of Japan (Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun,
1.st class) and Afghanistan (Ghazi Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Medal) for his exceptional efforts in
those two countries.