About iiap

The mission of the International Interfaith Accompaniment Program, (‘iiap’) is to facilitate restorative justice initiatives in post-conflict states by strengthening the capacity of religious leaders and institutions to participate meaningfully in a sustainable peace process.

The birth of this Program took place in the West African Republic of Liberia. When the civil war in Liberia formally came to an end in August of 2003, the warring factions entered into a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, (also known as the ‘Accra Accords’), which provided for the creation of a Truth & Reconciliation Commission to address atrocities committed during years of conflict ‘in the spirit of national reconciliation and healing’. It also provided for a national election of a new President and Legislature to be held at the conclusion of a two-year period of transitional governance.

		A member of the interfaith delegation gets to know children living in a nearby Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Montserrado County, Liberia, October 2005.

The national elections, held in October 2005, provided an opportunity for an international interfaith delegation of religious leaders to convene in Liberia to secure a commitment from the presidential candidates for the full and effective implementation of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. The Delegation was particularly pleased by the warm reception it received for its advocacy for the peace and reconciliation process. An important goal of the delegation was also to support and encourage the work of Liberia’s religious and traditional communities as the primary forces for healing and justice in the nation.

It is in response to the Delegation’s engagement with the country’s leaders– and particularly its productive dialogue with the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia - that the vision for an ‘accompaniment’ program emerged. With the vision and support of many persons and institutions, the iiap is now an active organization fulfilling its goal of facilitating peace, justice and reconciliation through inter-religious collaboration and leadership.

The International Interfaith Accompaniment Program, Inc. is a non-profit organization qualified for tax-exempt status in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. We rely upon charitable contributions to undertake our work of promoting sustainable peace and reconciliation.