After putting Sue Nichols's name on our masthead for several years, I finally learned more about her and her work as Liaison to the UN.  My brief interview, followed by Sue's explanation of the role:

Ed. How long have you been our liaison/representative?

Sue I am proud to say I have been IARF's UN Rep. since 1986.  In the late 80's Homer Jack realized that an NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion and Belief was urgently needed.  We worked together on this.  There were rough spots at first, but I am pleased that the NGO Committee is now really doing very well.

Ed. I take it that you attend these committee meetings, representing us? 

Sue Yes, I do attend nearly all of the meetings.

Ed. Do you interact, asking questions and giving a viewpoint, or simply listen to the invited speakers?  

Sue I do ask questions--but sometimes just listen & take notes.

Unfortunately I had a stroke last May.  At first I could speak very little but luckily I am better now.  I am hoping for better days, but I have to realize I am nearly 81 years now. I spend most of my time volunteering at our local NPR radio station & some time volunteering at the Municipal Art Society of NY.  For the next three days I will be at the MAS/NY "NYC Summit."

Ed. Much gratitude for your work, Sue.

What does the IARF Representative to the United Nations do?  

From Sue Nichols.

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) enables non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in its meetings.  NGOs, in order to have impact on major issues facing the world community, have been organized into more than 20 NGO Committees, working on world issues such as disarmament peace and security; human rights; freedom of religion or belief; children; aging; the status of women; indigenous issues; sustainable development; social development; health; migration; population.

IARF and Religions for Peace (formerly called the World Conference on Religion and Peace) took the major role in organizing the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, recognized by ECOSOC in 1991. As the IARF representative, I serve on this NGO Committee and attend ECOSOC meetings.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 without any dissenting vote by the UN General Assembly.  Its 30 articles includes Article 18 which states "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his (sic) religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his (sic) religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

   There are at least three ways in which India has been highlighted in interfaith consciousness this year.  First, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Swami Vivekananda has been observed in many sites around the world.  The Swami was certainly one of the leading figures in the World Parliament of Religions, which was held in Chicago in 1893, 120 years ago--the second momentous anniversary.          Vivekananda brought to the West a powerful message of the timeless truths of India that helped to shape our awareness of the treasures of wisdom that reside in other traditions. I've been privileged to take part in two of these celebrations of Vivekananda's birth this year, in Kolkata, India, and in Chicago, where the Parliament was born. 

   The IARF understands itself as an outgrowth of the Parliament, especially the inspiration provided by Vivekananda.  The organization began in 1900 as the International Council of Unitarian and Other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers in Boston, Massachusetts. "The object of this council," its founders declared, "is to open communication with those in all lands who are striving to unite Pure Religion and Perfect Liberty, and to increase fellowship and cooperation among them."  The first president was Joseph Estlin Carpenter, a professor of theology and religious studies at Manchester College in Oxford, who gave an address to the Parliament. The secretary for the first two decades was Charles Wendte, an American Unitarian minister who had helped to organize the 1893 Parliament.

   The third great event this year has been the publication of The Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Inspired by the joint vision of Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Rishikesh, India, and Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao, who became the Chief Editor, the project has engaged a number of us for twenty-five years.  A massive project, published in eleven volumes, it is both an international and interfaith initiative.  While most of the work and most of the articles have been written in India, as would be expected, a significant number of Western, non-Hindu scholars have also been involved from the beginning.  It is international in composition and composed for an international audience. The offices in the West were established at the University of South Carolina for ten years, and this is the site where the primary launch of the Encyclopedia was held in August of this year. In over 7000 pages, colorful illustrations accompany the articles written by over 1000 authors.