SGI Office for UN Affairs

23/12/2025

SGI participated in COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Throughout the conference, SGI co-organized and participated in side events about faith and ethics, Indigenous leadership and ancestral knowledge, as well as the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and empowerment for Climate Action.

At the end of negotiations, civil society won a historic breakthrough—the Belém Action Mechanism (BAM), the most ambitious rights-based outcome in UN climate negotiations history. But we can't celebrate without acknowledging the failures.

Progress on adaptation finance was blocked and the final decision lacks real commitments to a fossil fuels phase out. This is the reality of climate negotiations: victories are hard-won, but they're never complete.

SGI remains committed to amplifying youth voices in climate policy, supporting faith-based perspectives in addressing the climate crisis, and advocating for social justice.

COP30 Brasil Istituto Buddista Italiano Soka Gakkai BSGI Instituto Soka Amazônia

20/12/2025

On 14 December in Tokyo, the 8th Youth Forum was held, co-hosted by Soka Gakkai Peace Committee and アムネスティ・インターナショナル日本（Amnesty International Japan）, with support from 国連広報センター (UNIC Tokyo), to commemorate Human Rights Day.

This year’s theme, “Protecting Life: A Dialogue on Justice and Human Rights,” focused on the global movement to abolish the death penalty system. The program included insights from human rights experts and youth participants, as well as a video message from Italian human-rights activist and Co-founder of World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Mario Marazziti and remarks from Kaoru Nemoto, Director, UN Information Centre, Tokyo.

We appreciate the perspectives shared throughout the forum and the commitment to advancing justice and human dignity.

19/12/2025

With the theme “Beyond Emergencies: Reframing Humanitarianism for a Changing World,” the Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week ( ) was held in Bangkok from 8–10 December, bringing together humanitarian actors from across the region to reflect on how responses can better center crisis-affected people and local communities.

During the week, SGI took part in sessions on linking early warning with early action, drawing on experiences from Indonesia and Japan, as well as on the role of local faith actors in humanitarian work through the Asia-Pacific Faith-based Coalition for Sustainable Development ( ). Nobuyuki Asai of SGI highlighted how trusted local relationships can support preparedness, timely action, and psychosocial recovery.

RHPW also featured a Humanitarian Story Circle, sharing stories of resilience from across the region. Among more than 100 submissions, a short film on community-led resilience in Tokyo was selected for screening and was introduced by Harumi Endo of SGI, offering one example of how local initiatives can contribute to wider humanitarian learning.

ADRRN Community World Service Asia Words. Rhythms. Images Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities Caritas Deutschland

15/12/2025

UNLEASHING HUMAN RIGHTS—A forum to further universal human rights education for, with and by young people.

SGI, partnered with other organizations including the Global Campus of Human Rights to support the Global Youth Forum on HRE.

From 9 to 11 December, Elisa of SGI participated in the Global Youth Forum held in Budapest. The Human Rights Education Forum reassessed and affirmed the potential of HRE towards the culture of peace and universal human rights.

On 10 December, Human Rights Day, we joined other participants in a collective reading in our own language of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A reminder that human rights belong to all of us, in every language, every culture, and every lived experience.

On 11 December we co-organized together with Amnesty International a workshop featuring Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators, a multimedia educational tool produced by United Nations Human Rights Amnesty International and SGI:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-education-youth/2025-hre-youth-forum

25/11/2025

Join us for ! From 25 November to 10 December, as part of the UN Multifaith Advisory Council, SGI is standing with global faith communities to confront all forms of online and offline gender-based violence through interreligious perspectives. Together, we call for faith communities to courageously practice nonviolence in their daily actions.

Read our Advocacy Brief – Side by Side: Connecting Sacred Dialogue and Responses in Promoting Gender Equality and Human Rights
https://www.peacemakersnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/final-–-Side-by-Side-Connecting-Sacred-Dialogue-and-Responses-in-Promoting-Gender-Equality-and-Human-Rights.pdf

12/11/2025

The UN in Qatar concluded on 6 November. Governments committed “with a determination to promote social development and social justice anchored in a strengthened and effective multilateral system.”

SGI highlighted two solutions to support social integration: human rights education which will in turn advance , and partnership of governments and the UN with faith-based organizations. As part of the ImPACT Coalition for Faith Actors　and its partners, we called on UN agencies and member states to engage with global and local faith and spiritual communities, recognizing their deep commitment, local knowledge, and influence in advancing unity, inclusion, and stability in society.
NGO CSocD United Nations Human Rights

07/11/2025

What if education became the key to realizing every human right—for all people, in every place?

The 2025 Human Rights Council Social Forum took place on 30–31 October at the United Nations Office in Geneva focused on the contribution of education to human rights.

Elisa Gazzotti of SGI moderated a panel at an event on “Human Rights Education for, with, and by youth – Advancing all human rights for all.”

Three activists and educators featured in Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators—a multimedia tool co-developed by United Nations Human Rights, Amnesty International, and SGI shared how human rights education is transforming their communities.

https://2025socialforum.sched.com/event/28zT7/panel-human-rights-education-for-with-and-by-youth-taking-action-to-advance-promotion-protection-and-fulfilment-of-all-human-rights-for-all

06/11/2025

Read SGI's Statement: https://sgi-peace.org/resources/mobilizing-global-solidarity-to-meet-the-challenges-of-the-climate-crisis

Key points of SGI's statement "Mobilizing Global Solidarity to Meet the Challenges of the Climate Crisis"

05/11/2025

From 20–30 October, SGI participated in SBSTTA27 and SB8J in Panama City, contributing to human rights and youth advocacy. SGI also supported youth-led efforts on biodiversity and climate linkages as part of GYBN, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network .

On 23 October, SGI co-organized a side event on multi-actor pathways for policy coherence across the Rio Conventions. On 25 October, SGI co-organized the launch of a report on advancing human rights-based approaches for biodiversity and climate, featuring diverse voices from the HRBA dialogue process and interactive workshops to shape future collabor .

The 2nd photo was taken by GYBN
The 3rd photo was taken by IISD

31/10/2025

A launch event for the 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 was held on 21 October, in commemoration of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, peace and security (https://youtu.be/_bDTvGbJizM), which turns 25 today! Here are some highlights.

To learn about how it was inspired, watch our event on “Activating an Intergenerational Movement for the Culture of Peace": https://sgi-peace.org/resources/csw69-parallel-event-recording-activating-an-intergenerational-movement-for-the-culTo learn about how it was inspired, watch our event on “Activating an Intergenerational Movement for the Culture of Peace": https://sgi-peace.org/resources/csw69-parallel-event-recording-activating-an-intergenerational-movement-for-the-cul -of-peace

21/10/2025

🌱🌍Between 15-17 October SGI joined a global gathering of changemakers from NGOs and other impact organizations in Stockholm exploring the role of inner development in our response to global challenges.

SGI contributed to discussions as part of a workshop co-organised by United Nations Development Programme - UNDP-CoFSA, a people’s movement supporting inner capacities for systemic change and regeneration. The workshop took participants on a deep-dive into how actions on social & environmental issues are strengthened through inner-led change.

The workshop was organised as part of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) summit, an initiative aimed at fostering the inner capacities of human beings through inner development work to bring about lasting positive changes and more sustainable futures.

14/10/2025

How can faith, science, and policy unite for climate justice?

On 1 October 2025, an interfaith dialogue of the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) was held at Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo as part of the Raising Hope Conference marking the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’. Participants included Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland (GES European co-leader), and Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil; the dialogue was promoted by the Laudato Si Movement. The outcomes will inform a synthesis report to be delivered to the COP30 Presidency.

In his opening address to the conference, Pope Leo XIV shared:

“It is only by returning to the heart that a true ecological conversion can take place. We must shift from collecting data to caring; and from environmental discourse to an ecological conversion that transforms both personal and communal lifestyles.”

Nobuyuki Asai, Director for Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs of SGI also shared perspectives from the Buddhist tradition, highlighting the transformative power and inherent dignity of every human life as expounded in the Lotus Sutra.