Delegates from Southeast Asia and beyond gathered at Brigham Young University–Hawaii from April 23–25, for the third annual Human Dignity & ASEAN: Pursuing Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Southeast Asia Conference. Hosted by the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative at BYU–Hawaii, the conference focused on building peaceful, inclusive societies through multi-faith collaboration, cross-cultural literacy, and humanitarian partnerships.
Jennifer Tinkham, adjunct assistant professor for the Legal Studies Program and faculty chair for the RFHD Initiative, said the conference aimed to leave participants “renewed in spirit” and committed to advancing human dignity in their communities. “We hoped participants departed with a deeper appreciation for how religious and cultural diversity can strengthen the foundations of peaceful and inclusive societies across Southeast Asia," said Tinkham. "Ultimately, we aspired for participants to leave inspired to foster mentorship and collaboration.”
Delegates representing Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, Switzerland, Netherlands, Fiji, and the United Kingdom engaged in a series of panel discussions covering topics such as multi-faith collaboration, religious literacy, humanitarian efforts, and strengthening values in the workplace. Panels also explored timely issues like human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence and the challenges of fostering justice and peace amid global upheaval.
The conference opened with remarks from Elder Michael B. Strong, General Authority Seventy serving as Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Strong expressed condolences to the victims of the recent earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, highlighting the Church’s commitment to providing relief and assistance. He also emphasized BYU–Hawaii’s legacy of promoting intercultural peace, pointing to the university’s founding vision by President David O. McKay to “unite all peoples” and prepare leaders for peace internationally.
A new feature this year was the Talanoa sessions, which created opportunities for open dialogue between international delegates and BYU–Hawaii students. According to Tinkham, these sessions became one of the most meaningful parts of the event.
“The Talanoa sessions emerged as a deeply meaningful highlight, creating spaces where delegates and students engaged in open, respectful dialogue to share perspectives and build understanding across generations," she said. "These interactions exemplified the heart of the conference.”
Among the student representatives was Ayu Katrika Sari, a sophomore from Indonesia double majoring in computer science and applied mathematics, who reflected on how the conference inspired her to recognize the power of small acts of goodness. "The biggest thing that I learned throughout the conference is that all the good things we’re doing are never in vain," Sari said. "Even as a student, I can start contributing something with whatever talents and gifts I have.”
For many student representatives, the opportunity to meet and interact with high-level delegates was both a humbling and empowering experience. Sari emphasized that while students may initially feel intimidated, they soon realized that the delegates shared a common humanity and a deep desire to make the world better.
Thanh Nhan Dang, a freshman from Vietnam majoring in TESOL served on the conference’s translation team, she shared, “During the conference, the spirit of supporting and serving with kindness stayed in my heart," she said. "I learned to be able to make connections not only with the delegates but the students I’m working with.”
Throughout the three days, panels explored a wide range of themes critical to Southeast Asia’s future, including:
- Cross-cultural religious literacy
- Inclusive models for community development
- Faith-based civil society programs
- Humanitarian partnerships
- Strengthening workplace values
The conference showed the importance of including the rising generation in peacemaking efforts. Students served not only as volunteers but also as researchers, presenters, and leaders, reflecting BYU–Hawaii’s mission to prepare students of Oceania and the Asian Rim to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God.”
In his remarks, Elder Strong emphasized the vital link between religious freedom, human dignity, and societal peace. Quoting Professor W. Cole Durham Jr., founding director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University, he shared, "We now have extensive empirical evidence that a country’s performance in protecting religious freedom correlates not only with the protection of other key rights, but also with other social goods, such as economic freedom, higher per capita gross domestic product, better incomes for women, gender equality, higher literacy rates, better health and education, and consolidation of democracy."
Elder Strong continued by affirming, "Religious liberty promotes pluralism and peace. For centuries, people fought over religious differences, often with the government suppressing one religion in the name of another. Religious liberty has allowed people of diverse religious traditions to live together in peace and friendship despite profound disagreements. … The history of religious freedom demonstrates that respect begets respect. Governments that protect religious freedom have fewer social conflicts and greater levels of social cohesion."
As the conference concluded, participants expressed a renewed sense of hope and a collective commitment to building bridges of understanding across cultures, faiths, and generations.
