Tuesday, September 1, 2009
For more information, contact:
John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager

SILVER SPRING, Md. \u2014Nearly 40 leading faith\u2010based organizations (FBOs),
including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), met at the United
Nations Headquarters in New York City in August to discuss the importance of
greater cooperation between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and
FBOs in order to better meet the needs of the developing world.

During the two\u2010day summit, held August 3 and 4, representatives from the attending
FBOs emphasized the importance of not only sharing training and knowledge, but
also working together to find answers to important issues, including maternal
health and gender\u2010based violence. A need for user\u2010friendly, evidence\u2010based
information was also highlighted to help faith\u2010based communities in their role as

\u201cWe were very pleased to take part in this discussion,\u201d said Charles Sandefur,
president of ADRA International. \u201cAs a faith\u2010based organization, we are called to
meet the needs of the world\u2019s most vulnerable. Through an even closer partnership
with the United Nations, and other FBOs, there is no limit to what our combined
efforts can accomplish.\u201d

Summit attendees included World Vision, Islamic Relief, the Salvation Army, and the
YWCA, among others. Topics presented at the roundtable also included
humanitarian relief, migration, and women\u2019s empowerment.

\u201cWhen we\u2026made a case for engaging faith, we knew of the profound moral
authority that religious leaders have,\u201d said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive
director for the UNFPA. \u201cWe were all aware\u2026that religious organizations are the
oldest service providers humankind has known.\u201d