MINISTRY OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AWARDS RELIGIOUS MODERATION AWARD 2023 IN BANDUNG

BANDUNG, December 21, 2023—In a series of cultural evenings of the conference on religious moderation in Asia, Africa, and Latin America (KMBAAA), the R&D and Training Agency of the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the acceptance of the Religious Moderation Award 2023. The event took place in Bandung, with the presence of various representatives of countries, including Egypt, India, and Malaysia, as well as high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and various government agencies. The Head of Research and Training Agency of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Suyitno, expressed this award as a form of appreciation for the support of various parties in strengthening religious moderation. According to Suyitno, the implementation of this award at KMBAAA in Bandung aims to take inspiration from the 1955 Asian-African Conference and the spirit of the Bandung principles in building world peace. "The 2023 Religious Moderation Award is our effort to emphasise the importance of cultural and humanitarian values in building peace,” said Suyitno. This award is given based on an assessment of performance during 2023 by a team formed by the agency for R&D and training of the Ministry of Religion. Here is the list of recipients of the Religious Moderation Award 2023:

1. Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of East Nusa Tenggara: the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion with the highest religious harmony index in 2023.
2. Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion Bali: Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion with the highest religious acceptance index for cultural diversity in 2023.
3.  Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of Central Java: Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion with the most Pioneer Orientation Training on Strengthening Religious Moderation
4. Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion Nangroe Aceh Darussalam: Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion with the highest index of religious acceptance of cultural diversity. 
5. Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of East Java: the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion most actively participates in the development of human resources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 
6. Australian embassies: foreign embassies contribute the most to the development of human resources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 
7. Egyptian Embassies: Foreign Embassies Supporting Strengthening Religious Moderation Programs 
8. Universitas Airlangga: A State University That Pioneered the Strengthening of Religious Moderation Program
9.  Gajah Mada University: A State University Pioneering the Strengthening of Religious Moderation Program
10. UIN Raden Intan Lampung: state religious universities are the most responsive to strengthening religious moderation. 
11. Iain Ambon: State religious universities are the most innovative in strengthening religious moderation. 
12. Ministry of Finance: the most supportive ministry in strengthening religious moderation. 
13. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Ministry most actively promotes religious moderation as public diplomacy.

This award is an important step in recognising and encouraging efforts to strengthen religious moderation in Indonesia and internationally, reflecting a shared commitment to developing the values of tolerance and peace.