Tashkent & Samarkand, September 10, 2025 (Khyber Mail) – The cities of Tashkent and Samarkand are set to host the 2nd International Forum “Dialogue of Declarations” from September 10 to 13, 2025, bringing together global thought leaders to advance the principles of religious freedom, education, and interfaith harmony.
The event is organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the U.S.-based NGO Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC), and supported by the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Samarkand Regional Administration.
This year’s forum builds on the success of the 2022 edition held in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, which culminated in the adoption of the Bukhara Declaration, later recognized as an official document of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. Since 2016, similar forums have been held in cities including Marrakech, Mecca, Jakarta, Potomac, and Punta del Este, establishing the “Dialogue of Declarations” as a respected international platform for promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Originally launched in Uzbekistan in 2019, the forum has evolved into a landmark event, offering the global community insight into the country’s rich cultural and religious heritage, and its unique model of fostering interfaith understanding and societal harmony.
The 2025 edition is expected to convene approximately 50 leading scholars, theologians, experts, and senior officials from 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and nations across Central Asia.
A key outcome of the forum will be the adoption of a Final Appeal to the international community, calling for:
- Protection of religious minority rights
- Elimination of discrimination based on faith
- Promotion of religious education to counter violent extremism
- Affirmation of freedom of belief as a universal human right
- Encouragement of equality across religious and cultural lines
The forum’s proceedings are expected to contribute meaningfully to global efforts aimed at strengthening religious tolerance, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence in an increasingly diverse world.