Audrey E. Kitagawa, J.D.

President and Founder

"In the seemingly ordinariness of daily living is the power of transformation. Individual transformation arises out of awareness, and a willingness to change to become a better person right where we are. We each have personal responsibility and collective responsibility to make positive changes here and now."

Background

Prof. Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Secretary-General of Religions for Peace—the largest multi-religious leadership platform with 92 national and 6 regional Interreligious Councils. She also holds a Professorship of Religion and Development at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands—of which she is a citizen. She served as a Senior Advisor on Culture, at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and as Coordinator/Chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development (UN IATF-R&D); and founder of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council of the UN IATF-R&D. In those capacities, she coordinated engagement with members of a Global Interfaith Network for Population and Development with over 600 faith-based organizations from all regions of the world, representing all religions and interreligious affiliations. She was the Lead Facilitator for the United Nations Strategic Learning Exchanges on Religion, Development, and Diplomacy, building on a legacy of serving as a trainer cum facilitator of intercultural leadership and management in the Arab region as well as Europe and Central Asia. Professor Karam has served in different positions in the United Nations since 2004, as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations since the early 1990s, such as International IDEA, OSCE, and Religions for Peace. Simultaneously, she lectured in various academic institutions in Europe, in North America (including the United States Military Academy/West Point), Africa, and the Middle East. Her Ph.D. in 1996, focused on Political Islam and became her first book in Arabic (her mother tongue) and in English. She has since published widely, and in several languages, on international political dynamics, including democratization, human rights, peace and security, gender, religious engagement, and sustainable development. She was born in Egypt and now lives in the United States.

Organization

Institution

Content

September 19, 2023

Women as Powerful Agents of Transformation for Peace

August 17, 2021

Gender Equality Episode 3 - Made in the Image of God: The Role of Sacred Texts in Helping or Hindering Gender Equality

May 5, 2021

Sexual Harassment in Interfaith Spaces

Background

Audrey E. Kitagawa, JD, is the President/Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, the President of the Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family, the former Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations.

She is a United Nations Representative for the United Religions Initiative, and Chair Emerita of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, A Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. She has been enstooled into the royal family as the Nekoso Hemaa, (i.e. Queen Mother of Development), of Ajiyamanti in Ghana, West Africa, and has a school which she helped to build named after her in her African name, the Nana Ode Anyankobea Junior Secondary School.

She wrote the chapter, Crossing World Views, The Power of Perspective in the Hawaii Japanese American Experience, which was published in a book about multiculturalism, communication and Asian women entitled, Learning In The Light. Her chapter, Globalization As The Fuel For Religious And Ethnic Conflict has been published in the book, Globalization And Identity, Cultural Diversity, Religion and Citizenship. Her article, The Role Of Identity In The Rise And Decline of Buddhism In Hawaii, The 50th State Of The United States Of America, has been published in Sambodhi, a Buddhist Journal. She published articles in World Affairs The Journal Of International Issues, entitled, The Power of Om: Transformation of Consciousness, and Practical Spirituality. She wrote the chapter, The US In Foreign Affairs: Source of Global Security, Or Source of Global Fear? in the book, America & The World The Double Bind. She is currently writing a chapter on Space Ethics for a legal, academic book on Space Law.

She has been listed in Who's Who Of American Law, Who's Who Of American Women, Who's Who In America, Who's Who In The World, and Prominent People of Hawaii. She is the recipient of the Medal “Pride of Eurasia” and a Diploma from the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University for her outstanding contribution to the development of spiritual culture and education in Eurasia. She is the recipient of the Spirit of the UN Award which is given to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated the vision and spirit of the United Nations as expressed through the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was conferred an Honorary Interfaith Minister degree by the New Seminary.

Prof. Dr. Azza Karam

Secretary-General of Religions for Peace

“The beauty of the challenge is that it is a responsibility because it is the wish of others. I feel like sometimes I have to forget the fact that I'm a female and instead concentrate on the responsibilities at hand which are to honor the representivity, the multiple inclusivity, the very different needs and aspirations that a multi-religious movement requires in today's world…”

Biography

Prof. Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Secretary-General of Religions for Peace—the largest multi-religious leadership platform with 92 national and 6 regional Interreligious Councils. She also holds a Professorship of Religion and Development at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands—of which she is a citizen. She served as a Senior Advisor on Culture, at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and as Coordinator/Chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development (UN IATF-R&D); and founder of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council of the UN IATF-R&D. In those capacities, she coordinated engagement with members of a Global Interfaith Network for Population and Development with over 600 faith-based organizations from all regions of the world, representing all religions and interreligious affiliations. She was the Lead Facilitator for the United Nations Strategic Learning Exchanges on Religion, Development, and Diplomacy, building on a legacy of serving as a trainer cum facilitator of intercultural leadership and management in the Arab region as well as Europe and Central Asia. Professor Karam has served in different positions in the United Nations since 2004, as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations since the early 1990s, such as International IDEA, OSCE, and Religions for Peace. Simultaneously, she lectured in various academic institutions in Europe, in North America (including the United States Military Academy/West Point), Africa, and the Middle East. Her Ph.D. in 1996, focused on Political Islam and became her first book in Arabic (her mother tongue) and in English. She has since published widely, and in several languages, on international political dynamics, including democratization, human rights, peace and security, gender, religious engagement, and sustainable development. She was born in Egypt and now lives in the United States.

Organization

Institution

Content

September 19, 2023

Women as Powerful Agents of Transformation for Peace

January 24, 2023

9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs: Prof. Dr. Azza Karam

August 17, 2021

Gender Equality Episode 3 - Made in the Image of God: The Role of Sacred Texts in Helping or Hindering Gender Equality

July 22, 2021

We Can Prevent the Bankruptcy of the Sacred – Dare we Try?

June 25, 2021

Inner and Outer Peace, A Conversation

May 19, 2021

A Narrative of Love: Dr. Azza Karam on Religion, Dialogue and Love

May 12, 2021

Violence Against Civilians in Gaza and Jerusalem is … Failed Leadership

May 5, 2021

Sexual Harassment in Interfaith Spaces

April 29, 2021

Keeping Faith in Interfaith Dialogue: Hans Küng and Global Religious Collaboration for Positive Peace

February 24, 2021

Faith, Sport, and Love, actually (with guest, Dr. Azza Karam)

February 2, 2021

OPINION: A Counter-Narrative? Ruminations Around Holocaust Awareness Day

November 24, 2020

A Dialogue of Love: Interreligious Cooperation and Global Well-Being

October 13, 2020

Eco Justice for All

October 8, 2020

Multi-Faith Actions: The Tipping Point for 'Peace'

October 6, 2020

Keynote speech on Religion and Women, Peace and Security by Azza Karam

June 23, 2020

Woolf Institute - An Episode from the COVID-19 Chronicles

February 1, 2015

Education as the Pathway towards Gender Equality

April 29, 2013

Our Sacred Journey: Faith, International Development, and the United Nations

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