The Bahá'í Community of Switzerland

THE BAHÁ'Í WORLD COMMUNITY

Japanese Baha'ís attending the inaugural ceremonies of the Bahá'í Terraces in Haifa, Israel | May 2001

The Bahá'í Faith, which was founded in the 19th century is today established in virtually every country of the world. The Faith is one of the fastest growing religions and is, after Christendom, the most widespread religion. Bahá'ís live in over 100,000 localities and stem from over 2100 different ethnic groups thereby representing a cross-section of the human family. Today there are approximately six million Bahá'ís. Bahá'í literature has been translated into 800 languages. In its now over 150 years of existence the Bahá'í world community has maintained its unity and built a functioning administrative model.

The International Bahá'í Community has had consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and UNICEF since 1948. There is also a close working relationship with UNESCO. The International Bahá'í Community has its headquarters in New York and offices in Geneva, Nairobi, as well as information offices in Haifa, London, Paris, Hongkong and the Pacific Rim. The mandate of these offices is to present the Bahá'í perspective and experience in international forums on issues such as human rights, racism, the equality of men and women, education, the environment, drug abuse, disarmament and peace.

Some 2,000 members of the Bahá'í community of Uganda gathered on 2 August 2001 at the Bahá'í House of Worship near Kampala to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the community.