Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, the largest gathering of world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a deadline of 2015, that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp serves as an international ambassador for the MDGs. In this function, he raises awareness and support for the MDGs and speaks out for them on many occasions. In 2005, he launched the statement "A prophetic time path" that was co-authored by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and published by Justicia et Pa in the booklet "Act now for the Millennium Development Goals - Appeals from Religious Leaders and Scholars", which holds:

"Our prophets teach us not only to give our bread to feed the hungry, but to give our own bread. We must show by personal example, by sharing more of our material wealth, by rescuing our planet from pollution, by giving more of our time and energy to help meet these goals in time." Please read the full statement here:

A Prophetic Time Path

By Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, 2005

,,We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future….The choice is ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one and other or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of live”. This is the challenge, awesome in its simplicity posed by the Earth Charter, written in a remarkable collaborative effort by hundreds of thousands all over the world and presented to the Queen of the Netherlands in the Peace Palace in The Hague in June 2000.

Human Rights Defenders Tulip Awards
“Anyone who keeps up with the news knows that respect for human rights is not something that can be taken for granted. All around the world, people fall victim to extreme violence, cannot freely develop their potential or live in degrading conditions. Although states all over the world are party to a wide range of human rights instruments, those rights often still have to be fought for.
And that is what human rights defenders do. They are often exposed to danger and meet with a great deal of opposition. Defending human rights takes considerable courage. To emphasise the importance of the work of human rights defenders and to provide moral support to one of them each year, the Dutch government has established the Human Rights Defenders Tulip.

A special focus on human rights defenders is part of a new strategy formulated by the Dutch government in its policy document ‘Human dignity for all’, published in November 2007.” (photo credits: http://www.humanrightstulip.org)

Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp is a member of the jury who selects the Human Rights Defender who will be honored with the award each year. Read more...

10 December, 2008: On the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Justine Masika Bihama was awarded the Human Rights Defenders Tulip. For more information about the Ms. Bihama and the award read more...

Statement on Faith in Human Rights
“…We recognise our responsibility towards our believers and to the world at large and reaffirm our intention to take all necessary steps both within our communities and in co-operation with others to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for each and every person, irrespective of religion or belief.”

10 December, 2008: In presence of her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp signs the Statement Faith in Human Rights. To read the text of the Statement click here.

Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp was among 1,400 leaders from 85 countries that participated in the World Economic Fourm on the Middle East that closed on May 17, 2009 with a commitment to show leadership for change and development in the region.

The Forum put a special focus on the action items of 
Energy - increase conxervation; deveop alternative energies; and utilize smart grids.
Youth - with 65% of the Arab world’s population under the age of 25, the region must develop this bulge by “providing them with education and developing, retaining and attracting talent,” said Samir Brikho, Chief Executive Officer, Amec, United Kingdom, and Co-Chair of the meeting. He also called on participants to be role models to the youth. Please watch out for Rabbi Soetendorp's report that will be coming soon.

For the ninth time, Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp participated at the World Economic Forum that took place in Davos end of January, 2009, and interacted with many world leaders from the fields of government, business, and media. Around thirty other religious leaders took part in this year's WEF and exchanged on a variety of topics such as the strategies to revive the peace process for the Middle East. 

Rabbi Soeptendorp explains in an audio interview why religious leaders need to be present at the World Economic Forum. To listen to the podcast, click here...

Rabbi Soetendorp took part in the World Economic Forum in Davos end of January 2010 and joined around 2.500 leaders of business, government, and civil society and discussed issues around the theme "Improving the State of the World - Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild".

Please watch his message to WEF's Youth Task Force below where he stresses the need for a collaboration among the generations :