Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter participated in the launch of the international and interreligious Peaceful Rain initiative on 27 October 2026. The initiative aims to bring together individuals, religious communities, institutions and organisations committed to actively promoting peace, human dignity, solidarity and mutual understanding.
Introducing the initiative as one of its founders, Mate Uzinić, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Rijeka, emphasised that the idea was to demonstrate that religious communities, despite their differences, are not part of the problem, but can be—and are—part of the solution, both in their relations with one another and in their joint efforts to promote peace and the dignity of every human being. The initiative will encourage concrete steps towards peace, Archbishop Uzinić said, noting that “a single drop of rain may seem insignificant, but many drops can soak dry ground and allow new life—and peace—to emerge. The same is true of peacemaking. None of us will resolve major conflicts or stop wars, but this does not absolve us of responsibility for the drop of peace that each of us can contribute.”
In her address, the Ombudswoman expressed her full support for the initiative in her capacity as commissioner of the Croatian Parliament responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights and as head of Croatia’s National Equality Body, mandated to combat discrimination.
Working for peace, affirming the worth of every human being and promoting a culture of non-violence are among the noblest pursuits to which a person can devote themselves, the Ombudswoman emphasised. “Everyone can find their place in this endeavour and has a role to play, whether as someone who influences others and whose message reaches a wider audience, or simply as an individual in everyday life—as the initiative puts it, ‘drop by drop’: through many small, concrete acts.”
The Ombudswoman recalled that faith has great power to bring about positive change, while the messages of religious leaders have enormous potential to reach and move many people. “It is particularly important that this initiative brings together different faiths and reaches across religious and national boundaries, respecting differences and recognising that efforts to promote peace and non-violence are especially effective when they bring together different faith communities, different actors in society and different individuals, drop by drop.”
People and countries that have experienced war, such as Croatia, know all too well the value of peace. Working for peace is both a human responsibility and a moral obligation. “Peace is not merely the absence of war or violence; it also means caring for the most vulnerable and building a society in which everyone can live in dignity, freely and safely. This is also the task of the institution I lead: to protect and promote human rights, equality and the rule of law. From that perspective, I can say that it is particularly important how we, as individuals and as a society, treat those who are marginalised, stigmatised or less visible in society, and who need a helping hand so that they do not fall under the weight of life’s burdens, whether poverty, discrimination, different forms of violence or war.”
The initiative is particularly important in the challenging times of multiple crises in which we live, including wars and conflicts in Europe and around the world, the Ombudswoman emphasised. She noted that “it is precisely at such times, when people feel insecure, that they also turn against those within their own societies whom they perceive as different. This is why we are witnessing growing divisions and a growing reluctance to accept people of other faiths, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, as well as migrants. At the same time, technological developments mean that prejudice and hatred spread more easily and rapidly than ever before. The spread of such attitudes in public discourse can lead to real-world violence and even fuel conflicts and wars. This means that our determination to preserve and build peace must be stronger still.”
The Ombudswoman stressed the need to firmly resist and reject these trends: neither to spread hatred nor to remain silent when we witness it, recognising that words posted on social media are not merely powerless letters. They cause suffering, spread hatred, lead to dehumanisation and can result in violence and fuel conflicts and wars. “It has long been said that the pen is mightier than the sword; today, we might say that the keyboard is mightier than the gun,” she noted.
“Finally, I would like to assure you that you have a partner in me personally and in the institution I lead. I welcome and support committed and uncompromising efforts to promote and build peace, because this is the best way to protect people—their dignity, security and prosperity—so that they can realise their full potential and live free from fear and violence.”
In addition to participating in the launch, the Ombudswoman supported the initiative’s aims by signing the Mediterranean Covenant for Peace, which is open to all individuals, regardless of religion or nationality. Among other commitments, its signatories pledge to work towards building peace in their own communities; support everyone’s right to remain in their own country and live in conditions worthy of human dignity, while helping migrants and foreign workers integrate into our communities, societies and countries; refrain from verbal violence, including online, and from labelling or demonising others; clearly and unequivocally condemn and distance themselves from all violence and war; create, preserve and expand spaces for encounter; promote peace, justice and solidarity among people; and always stand with victims and those at risk.
The Mediterranean Covenant for Peace emerged from the Mediterranean Theological Meetings held in Lovran in 2026. Archbishop Uzinić recalled that the idea “was not conceived at a desk, but took shape through encounters, conversations and mutual understanding”, through sharing experiences, successes and failures, and the joys of working for peace, particularly in post-war settings, and through “the inevitable question: what can we do for peace in a world where the noise of war is growing ever louder?” In this process, he recalled, a conviction grew that it was not enough simply to talk about peace: it was necessary to take joint action for peace. There was also an awareness of how demanding such an undertaking would be, and that it would build on the work of many others rather than start from scratch. “We cannot do everything, but we can do something to make our world, drop by drop, a more peaceful, just and better place for all,” Archbishop Uzinić said.
The launch was moderated by journalist and editor Morana Kasapović. Other founders and supporters of the initiative also addressed the event: Grigorije Durić, Metropolitan of Germany of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Fr Hrvoje Katušić, a member of the organising committee; Mufti Aziz ef. Hasanović, President of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Croatia; Melanie Ivančević, a deaconess of the Evangelical Church; Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe from England; and Alexis Leproux, Secretary General of the Mediterranean Church Coordination.
Further information about the Mediterranean Covenant for Peace, together with a recording of the launch, is available here.
