SALT LAKE CITY — Prince Charles recognized LDS Charities and the AMAR International Charitable Foundation for their contributions to healthcare in the Middle East during an event on Wednesday in London.
Prince Charles hosted a roundtable discussion on religious persecution with a group of charities to commemorate a 25th anniversary celebration for AMAR at the Lancaster House in London, England, according to a news release issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
LDS Charities director Sharon Eubank participated in the roundtable discussion with Prince Charles, AMAR founder Baroness Emma Nicholson, other faith leaders Lord Ahmad, the British prime minister’s special representative on preventing sexual violence in conflict. LDS Charities is the humanitarian service arm of the LDS Church.
"The meeting underlined the urgent need to address the severe conditions of the Yazidi people of Iraq who have been victims of persecution, sexual violence and other violations," said Sister Eubank, who also is the first counselor in the church's Relief Society general presidency. "We also seek to support them in the general recognition and free practice of their peaceful faith.
"Mormons themselves once faced religious violence and we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with all people of goodwill in seeking to eradicate it. We were grateful to have the opportunity, along with Baroness Nicholson, in presenting to Prince Charles the 2017 Windsor Conference recommendations on these issues."
Prince Charles honored both AMAR and LDS Charities, saying AMAR had provided a reason for faith in humanity and saying that it provides miracles.
"During the past 25 years over 10 million people in Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan have been able to benefit from the healthcare facilities made available through AMAR, with many more benefitting from the educational opportunities that AMAR provides," he said.
Prince Charles provided gave a ceremonial citation to LDS Charities for its work in health and education.
AMAR and LDS Charities are partners on humanitarian projects in the Middle East. AMAR provides infrastracture in several countries in the region, helping LDS Charities extend its reach.
In June 2015 for example, LDS Charities gave AMAR $500,000 to fund construction of a health care and skills development training center in two camps in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
Together, the partners have built four primary healthcare facilities and have collaborated to deliver professional training to doctors and nurses.
The partnership has included participation in event's like that Wednesday. Baroness Nicholson has facilitated several events that have included LDS Church leaders and others.
In September 2016, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles participated at Baroness Nicholson's invitation in a five-day conference at Windsor Castle titled "Religious Persecution: The Driver for Forced Migration."
A year earlier, again at Nicholson's invitation, Elder Holland spoke at the annual meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Foreign Affairs at the U.K. Parliament.