NICMCR 10th Interfaith Dialogue – Annual Event, October 2025

The 7th and 8th Interfaith Dialogues, in 2022 and 2023 respectively, held by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague in partnership with the NICMCR, had ‘Decolonisation’ as their theme. This year, at the 10^th Interfaith Dialogue, the 2025 NICMCR Annual Event, is linked to the commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung in 1955. Being the first political conference of decolonised Asian and African nations, this conference led to the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement, whose neutrality gained relevance in the Cold War.

Now, after 70 years of this landmark moment in the history of countries struggling to throw off the yoke of colonialism towards independence, we see how they have developed and strengthened their South-South relations. How will this ‘Global South’ interact with the industrialized countries, who to date are holding considerable economic power, are creating power relations and are shaping the global policy?

We ask ourselves if this so-called ‘Bandung spirit’, with its principles of independence, self-determination, respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and peaceful coexistence, will survive. How can it remain relevant to these global challenges? Central to this vision was the integration of ethical and spiritual values – rooted in the cultures and religions of the Global South – with the universal human rights discourse, which recognized religion as a basis for moral reasoning, social justice and resistance to domination.

Therefore, in addition to ‘revisiting Bandung’, we aim to explore how religion can contribute to post-colonial solidarity and ecological responsibility. In line with the joint research project, which will be carried out by the three NICMCR Working Groups from 2025 to 2027, the event confirms NICMCR’s role as a platform for academic and interfaith cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

The event is organized by PCI NU-Belanda and SWIR, in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague and will be held at the Indonesia House, Amsterdam, on 3 October 2025.

More details and invitation will follow soon.