Appeal of Conscience Foundation

The Appeal's philosophy is that freedom, democracy and human rights are basic principles,{{Cite web|url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014002857/http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90926_ENG_HTM.htm|url-status=dead|title=Homepage|archive-date=14 October 2007|website=Episcopal News Service}} and if they are granted, nations of the world have their best hope for “peace, security and shared prosperity.”

"A crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against religion,” is the organization's mantra. Following the act of September 11th, the ACF has rallied religious leaders worldwide to take a stand against terrorism and to use their influence to halt violence and promote tolerance.

The true motivation of the Appeal has been called into question following the honoring of Indonesian president Yudhoyono despite controversy within Indonesia and the ongoing genocide Yudhoyono's government is overseeing in West Papua.[https://www.law.yale.edu/system/files/area/center/schell/document/west_papua_final_report.pdf West papua Final Report] yale.edu {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}

Delegations from the group meet and have met with religious and government leaders throughout the world promoting peace and democracy. Some of its work has been in conducted in Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Bulgaria, People's Republic of China, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Cuba, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Germany, the Vatican City, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Panama, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the former Yugoslavia.

The Foundation frequently hosts diplomatic and clerical groups from abroad to acquaint them with the religious life in America society.[http://www.kosovo.net/news/archive/2006/March_25/2.html Serbian Orthodox Church delegation visits Appeal of Conscience Foundation and National Council of Churches, March 23, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413210956/http://www.kosovo.net/news/archive/2006/March_25/2.html |date=April 13, 2009 }}

The 2022 recipient was Italy's Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-newswire/mikhail-gorbachev-religion-european-union-d46147f6347326117f7bc27598a933f4|title=Appeal of Conscience Foundation to Honor Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi with 2022 World Statesman Award at the 57th Annual Appeal of Conscience Awards|date=13 September 2022|website=AP News|accessdate=6 October 2023}}

The 2021 recipient was Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.{{cite web |title=Appeal of Conscience Foundation to Honor Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe with 2021 World Statesman Award |date=2021-01-04 |website=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-newswire/religion-stephen-harper-juan-carlos-international-relations-asia-20241d5134d063a53edcbd70cb64cd6c}}

The 2019 recipient was Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/singapore-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-honored-by-appeal-of-conscience-foundation-with-world-statesman-award-300923738.html|title=Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Honored by Appeal of Conscience Foundation with World Statesman Award|first=The Appeal of Conscience|last=Foundation|website=www.prnewswire.com|accessdate=6 October 2023}}

The 2016 recipient was French President, François Hollande.

The 2015 recipient was British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

The 2014 recipient was Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto.

The 2013 recipient was Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/132741/new-york-rabbis-awful-award|title=Why is a New York Rabbi Giving a Tolerance Award to Indonesia's Intolerant President?|date=21 May 2013}}

The 2012 recipient was Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

Complete List:

Sep 20, 2011

Address by President Lee Myung-bak

President Lee Myung-bak of The Republic of Korea, recipient of the 2009 World Statesman Award.

May 12, 2011

Address by Francois Delattre of France

On behalf of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Ambassador Francois Delattre presented Rabbi Arthur Schneier with the Legion of Honor in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote and support religious freedom, human rights and interfaith tolerance all over the world

Sep 23, 2010

Address by Bill Burns, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

in absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, recipient of the 2010 World Statesman Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/world-statesman-award-for-manmohan-singh/story-M1hGVWBqX7BfbBVkqTzAwN.html|title='World Statesman Award' for Manmohan Singh|date=23 September 2010}}

Sep 22, 2009

Address by Ivan Lewis on behalf of PM Gordon Brown

The Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom received the 2009 World Statesman Award

Sep 22, 2009

Address by Muhtar Kent

Muhtar Kent, Chairman & CEO, The Coca-Cola Company received the 2009 Appeal of Conscience Award

Sep 22, 2009

Address by Bernard J. Arnault

Bernard J. Arnault, Chairman & CEO, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton received the 2009 Appeal of Conscience Award

Sep 23, 2008

Address by Jeffrey R. Immelt, President & CEO, GE

Jeffrey Immelt received the 2008 Appeal of Conscience Award

Sep 23, 2008

Address by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Mayor Bloomberg delivers speech accepting the 2008 Appeal of Conscience Foundation Public Service Award

Sep 23, 2008

Remarks by Deputy Secretary John D. Negroponte

Deputy Secretary highlights honorees at the 2008 ACF Annual Awards Dinner

Sep 23, 2008

Address by Nicolas Sarkozy

President of the French Republic is recipient of the 2008 Appeal of Conscience World Statesman Award

Sep 23, 2008

Address by Henry A. Kissinger

Henry Kissinger gives address on behalf of Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, at the ACF 2008 Annual Awards Dinner

Sep 21, 2005

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer

Acceptance of the World Statesman Award on behalf of the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, at the 40th anniversary dinner of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation

Sep 21, 2005

Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO, Nokia

Acceptance of the Appeal of Conscience Award Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO, Nokia Appeal of Conscience Foundation 40th Annual Awards Dinner New York September 21, 2005

Sep 21, 2005

Peter G. Peterson, Chairman, Blackstone Group

Honorable Peter G. Peterson, Chairman, Council on Foreign Relations, at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation 40th Anniversary Dinner September 21, 2005

Sep 20, 2004

Sir John Bond, HSBC Chairman, 2004 Dinner

Sir John Bond, HSBC Chairman, APPEAL OF CONSCIENCE FOUNDATION DINNER

Oct 14, 2003

Address by José Mará Aznar

President of the Government of Spain, recipient of the 2003 Appeal of Conscience World Statesman Award

Oct 14, 2003

Address by Dr. Josef Ackermann

Chairman Group Executive Committee and Spokesman of the Board of Managing Directors, Deutsche Bank Recipient of the 2003 Appeal of Conscience Award

Oct 01, 2002

Address by Rabbi Arthur Schneier

Appeal of Conscience Annual Awards Dinner Honoring Jean Chrétien and Carleton S. Fiorina

Oct 01, 2002

Address by Carly Fiorina

Chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company - receipt of the Appeal of Conscience Award Appeal of Conscience Foundation Annual Awards Dinner

Oct 01, 2002

Address by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

2002 Appeal of Conscience Annual Award Dinner

The 2013 'World Statesman of the Year' was highly controversial since Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has failed to protect religious minorities in the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and overseen what has been determined to be a genocide in West Papua {{cite web|url=http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/West_Papua_final_report.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825174228/http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/West_Papua_final_report.pdf |archivedate=2013-08-25 }} Instead of promoting tolerance, President Yudhoyono has overseen a sharp increase in acts of intolerance to Ahmadiyah Muslims, Shi'ite Muslims, and Christians, leading to widespread public criticism from human rights activists,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/01/indonesia-confront-intolerance-2013|title=Indonesia: Confront Intolerance in 2013 | Human Rights Watch|date=1 February 2013|accessdate=6 October 2023}} academics, and persecuted minority groups.

Petitions to Rabbi Schneier to withdraw the award garnered over 10,000 signatures from around the globe. Instead of heeding the concerns of persecuted minorities, Rabbi Schneier granted the award and helped President Yudhoyono to, "whitewash his legacy." Human rights activists eventually concluded that the Appeal of Conscience Foundation was little more than a vehicle for publicity-seeking and influence-peddling.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/23/yudhoyono-award-deemed-pr-stunt.html|title = Yudhoyono award deemed PR stunt}}

• April 29, 2019 - Cooperation Agreement signed between the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the Muslim World League to unite efforts to protect religious sites around the world.{{Cite web|url=http://www.appealofconscience.org/d-674/declarations/Agreement%20Between%20The%20Muslim%20World%20League%20And%20Appeal%20Of%20Conscience%20Foundation|title=declarations: Appeal of Conscience|website=www.appealofconscience.org|access-date=2020-01-15|archive-date=2020-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115052045/http://www.appealofconscience.org/d-674/declarations/Agreement%2520Between%2520The%2520Muslim%2520World%2520League%2520And%2520Appeal%2520Of%2520Conscience%2520Foundation|url-status=dead}}
• November 9, 2005 - Declaration of the Peace and Tolerance II Conference: Dialogue and Understanding in Southeast Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
• July 28, 2005 - Call for Action on Darfur
• December 1, 2000 - A Call to Stop Desecration of Holy Sites by a delegation to the United Nations{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/01/world/un-assembly-votes-to-condemn-attacks-on-religious-sites-585831.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FOrganizations%2FU%2FUnited+Nations|title=New York Times, U.N. Assembly Votes to Condemn Attacks on Religious Sites June 1, 2001|website=The New York Times |accessdate=6 October 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/26/world/6-us-clerics-seek-to-safeguard-religious-sites-149446.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FOrganizations%2FU%2FUnited+Nations6|title=U.S. Clerics Seek to Safeguard Religious Sites, by BARBARA CROSSETTE, December 26, 2000|website=The New York Times |accessdate=6 October 2023}}
• March 18, 1999 - Kosovo Peace and Tolerance Vienna Declaration (With former U.S. Congress member Joe DioGuardi of the Albanian American Civic League)
• May 21, 1998 - Joint Declaration of the Delegation of Religious Leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Appeal of Conscience Foundation
• March 30, 1995 - The Vienna Declaration Signed at the Appeal of Conscience Conflict Resolution Conference
• February 9, 1994 - Bosphorus Declaration was signed at the Appeal of Conscience Conference on Peace and Tolerance
• November 26, 1992 – The Bern Declaration for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina

{{reflist}}

• [https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/d/2007/82412.htm John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State’s Remarks to Appeal of Conscience Foundation, March 27, 2007]
• [http://www.appealofconscience.org Appeal of Conscience Website]

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Category:Religious organizations based in the United States

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