As armed conflict continues to cause suffering for civilians, the humanitarian values found in many religious traditions provide an important foundation for strengthening protection and promoting peace. Through interfaith dialogue, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, through its Faculty of Sharia and Law (FSH) and Center for Developing Cooperation and International Affairs (CDCIA), together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Association of Scholars of Islam and International Humanitarian Law (INSANIA), brought together perspectives from different faiths to explore how religious teachings can help reduce the suffering caused by war.

These ideas came to the fore at the Interfaith Humanitarian Panel Discussion, titled “Multireligious Perspectives on Reducing Suffering Amid Armed Conflict,” held in the Convention Hall on the first floor of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The event served as a space for academic and interfaith dialogue, bringing spiritual values together with the principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly in efforts to protect civilians and uphold human dignity amid conflict.

The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Linda Darnela, a lecturer at FSH UIN Sunan Kalijaga, and featured leaders and academics who addressed Islamic, Catholic, Buddhist, Confucian, and Hindu perspectives on responding to the humanitarian problems caused by war.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Dawoody, ICRC Legal Adviser on Islamic Jurisprudence in Geneva, stressed the importance of understanding the principles of protection in Islamic law as part of humanitarian efforts in conflict zones. In his view, this understanding is relevant because many conflicts take place in regions with Muslim-majority populations, and some non-state armed groups draw on Islamic legal references.

He explained that protecting civilians is a core principle in armed conflict. Islamic teachings, including the message of Surah Al-Baqarah verse 190 of the Qur'an on the prohibition of transgressing limits in war, underscore the importance of limiting violence and not making civilians the target of attacks.

This principle is in line with International Humanitarian Law, which requires distinguishing between combatants and civilians and limiting the effects of attacks. According to Al-Dawoody, dialogue with local communities and religious leaders is also important so that humanitarian protection efforts can be understood and applied in keeping with the social and religious context of the communities concerned.

The Catholic perspective was presented by Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J., S.S., Ph.D., Rector of Sanata Dharma University, in a talk titled “Protect Life: Just War Theory and Beyond.” He highlighted the complexity of modern conflict, whose impact reaches well beyond the battlefield, including through military technologies such as unmanned drones, autonomous weapons, and artificial intelligence.

He also invited participants to reflect again on Just War Theory, which has faced challenges as it has developed because it can be used to justify war. Instead, he said, the values of peace, dialogue, nonviolence, and care without discrimination need to be continually strengthened. The principle of the Good Samaritan, for example, teaches the importance of caring for the wounded regardless of their identity or side in a conflict.

From the Buddhist tradition, Bhikkhu Nyanabandhu Sakya Sthavira (Dr. Burmansah, M.Pd.), Head of the Jinarakkhita Buddhist College (STIAB) in Lampung, spoke on “Mindfulness, Humanity, and the Ethics of War: From Buddhist Spirituality to Global Ethics.” He explained that safeguarding humanity cannot be achieved through regulation alone but also requires inner transformation and ethical responsibility.

In the Buddhist view, violence is rooted in greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and ignorance (moha). For this reason, the practice of mindfulness, compassion, and dialogue is important for preventing dehumanization and building concern for the suffering of others. These values align with the spirit of protecting civilians, caring for the wounded, and respecting human dignity.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Drs. Chandra Setiawan, M.M., Ph.D., former Chair of the Supreme Council for Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Matakin), described the relevance of Confucian teachings in limiting suffering during armed conflict. The concept of Ren, or humane love, teaches empathy and concrete action toward those who suffer, while Yi emphasizes righteousness and justice as the basis for action.

He also highlighted the concept of Datong, a vision of universal brotherhood, and He, harmony amid difference. Together, these concepts affirm that peace does not have to be built through uniformity, but through respect, dialogue, and cooperation amid diversity. In the context of conflict, these values are reflected in the duty to protect civilians, treat prisoners humanely, and care for the sick and wounded.

The Hindu perspective was presented by Dr. Luh Gede Saraswati Putri, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities at Universitas Indonesia, in a talk titled "Humanity Across Faiths: A Hindu Perspective on Building Peace." She explained that the stories in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata contain not only narratives of war and victory but also reflections on the suffering experienced by victims.

The teaching of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, emphasizes harmony of thought, word, and deed so as not to harm other beings. The concept of Tat Tvam Asi, meanwhile, teaches awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings and respect for the dignity of every life. In the Indonesian archipelago, this value is also reflected in the concept of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes harmonious relationships among people, nature, and God.

These diverse perspectives show that religious traditions offer an ethical foundation that can strengthen humanitarian protection. Although they begin from different teachings and approaches, all of them treat respect for life, care for victims, limits on violence, and moral responsibility as essential values in confronting conflict.

Through this event, UIN Sunan Kalijaga affirms the role of universities as places where ideas meet, civilizations engage in dialogue, and humanitarian-minded thinking is developed. The collaboration with the ICRC and INSANIA also opens space to strengthen academic study of the relationship among religion, humanitarian law, and peace.

Interfaith dialogue is expected to go beyond the exchange of perspectives and encourage real action to protect those affected by conflict. Amid differences in belief and identity, humanity remains common ground for rejecting violence, upholding human dignity, and building lasting peace. (humassk)