About us
The National Forum for Cooperation of Religions in Finland (CORE Forum) brings together six religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, the Latter-day Saints, Buddhism and Hinduism. The CORE Forum’s member communities are the Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Finnish Ecumenical Council, the Finnish Islamic Congregation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland, and the Finnish Buddhist Union. Hindu Forum in Finland became an observer member of the Forum in 2022.
The CORE Forum’s mission is to foster peace in society by promoting interfaith dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect. Our key values include equality and freedom of religion. The right to practice and manifest religion and the assertion of the equality of religions are also founding principles in a democratic society.
Despite their differences, all religions are united by their core values of peace, understanding and responsibility. These values also guide the CORE Forum’s operations. The CORE Forum is a member of the Religions for Peace network and thus also a link in a worldwide movement to promote interfaith dialogue.
The CORE Forum cooperates with the public authorities, acts as an expert in religious matters, participates in social dialogue and organises various events. In all our work, we promote the visible role of religion in everyday life and the visibility of religious representatives as active social participants.
Background
The idea of establishing an interfaith forum in Finland first saw light in the early 2000s, when former president of Finland Tarja Halonen invited the leaders of three monotheistic religions to meet at the Presidential Palace after the shocking 9/11 terrorist attacks. In a meeting on 26 September 2001, the religious leaders discussed the roots and consequences of international terrorism with Ms. Halonen, who encouraged the religious leaders to continue to meet in the future.
Ms. Halonen’s initiative sparked regular interfaith meetings, which eventually led to the establishment of the CORE Forum in 2011. The member communities represent six religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, the Latter-day Saints, Buddhism and Hinduism. The CORE Forum members are the Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland, the Finnish Ecumenical Council, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Finnish Islamic Congregation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland, and the Finnish Buddhist Union. Hindu Forum in Finland became an observer member of the Forum in 2022. On May 25, 2023, the Islamic Council of Finland submitted a resignation notice to the CORE Forum based on the termination of its operations.
Since our founding, we have organised various seminars and cultural events, written a blog, issued comments and reports to the authorities, and taken part in discussions about education policy and other subjects. The CORE Forum is also a member organisation in councils and working groups of various public authorities: the Forum has a representative in the Finnish Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO), the Advisory Board for Non-Discrimination Matters, and the Advisory Board for International Human Rights (IONK).
Commissions
The Commissions of the CORE Forum are expert advisory bodies in their field whose task is to prepare matters for the Board. The Commissions may also take initiatives on matters related to their areas of expertise. The Board may ask the Commissions to carry out tasks assigned to them by the Board. The Board shall elect the members of the Commissions. The members shall be representative of the member communities and have the necessary expertise.
Human Rights Commission
Chair: Atik Ali
Ilkka Aura, Janina Hasenson, Heikki Huttunen, Yaron Nadbornik, Emma Patovuori, Jari Portaankorva, Gurmann Saini, Pamela Slotte
The role of the commission:
1. monitor the human rights situation in Finland, particularly with regard to freedom of religion;
2. to make proposals to the committee for the promotion and implementation of human rights;
3. to comment, at the request of the Board, on its positions from a human rights perspective;
4. communicate with human rights organisations in Finland.
International Affairs Commission
Måns Broo, Laura Huovinen, Jussi Kemppainen, Jyri Komulainen, Tuomas Mäkipää
The role of the commission:
1. to identify international contacts of relevance to the CORE Forum at bilateral and multilateral level;
2. on the basis of the mapping exercise, make proposals to the Board for the establishment and development of contacts and contribute to the maintenance of existing contacts;
3. to monitor international issues and suggest to the committee issues to which a response should be given.
Religious Education Commission
Chair: Daniel Weintraub
Tiina Hyytiäinen, Pekka Iivonen Laura Iivonen-Mellais, Mina Khan, Sirpa Okulov, Suaad Onniselkä, Tapio Paljakka, Milena Parland, Mirja Tapola, Osmo Vartiainen, Tuula Vinko
The role of the commission:
1. to become familiar with the preparations and decisions concerning religious education and to follow their implementation in practice;
2. to prepare statements for the Board for the authorities or the media;
3. liaise with the authorities and other actors active in the field of religious education.
Communications Commission
Chair: Timo Koponen
Nahla Hewidy, Vesa Nessling, Miina Noroila (Communications officer), Tiina Parkkinen, Annmari Salmela, Suvi-Tuulia Vaara
The role of the commission:
1. monitor the public debate and suggest to the Board issues to which it should respond;
2. maintain contacts with the media;
3. support the maintenance of the website and develop the content of the website;
4. propose to the Board measures to improve the visibility and awareness of the CORE Forum.
Equality Commission
Chair: Katariina Väisänen
Gölten Bedretdin, Merilii Mykkänen, Eila Ratasvuori, Irma Rinne, Sarika Saini, Yvonne Westerlund
The role of the commission:
1. promote equality and prevent discrimination;
2. develop and maintain a plan of measures necessary to promote equality;
3. to make proposals to the committee on equality and equal opportunities;
4. to comment, at the request of the Board, on its projects/statements from an equality and non-discrimination perspective;
5. action to prevent gender discrimination and promote equality between women and men;
6. to establish administrative and operational practices that ensure the promotion of equality between women and men in the preparation and decision-making process;
7. establish and maintain a gender equality plan.