New guidelines for promoting interreligious cooperation
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is proud to announce its latest publication, “Faith, Dialogue and Security: Promoting Dialogue and Joint Action Across Religion and Belief Boundaries.” The guide aims to provide practical advice and resources to state and non-state actors to foster dialogue and cooperation between different religious and belief communities and strengthen social trust and security across the OSCE region.
On the homepage, “ODIHR developed this guide in response to the needs of participating countries to provide guidance and practical tools to help create an environment that enables fruitful dialogue and joint action across boundaries of religion and belief. This guide does not promote a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model, but instead provides guidance on the questions and factors that countries should consider when approaching the topic. We discuss how to select an initiative and support it in practice. It contains examples of best practice and interviews with actors involved in dialogue and joint action planning across a wide range of contexts.“
the need for dialogue
In a world of increasing religious and belief pluralism, the need for constructive dialogue has never been more urgent. The foreword by ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci emphasizes that diversity enriches society, but can also lead to division if not managed properly. This guide explains the importance of fostering high levels of tolerance and social trust, which are essential for peaceful coexistence.
This publication consists of several chapters, each covering an important aspect of fostering dialogue.
- Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion and Belief (FoRB): This guide discusses the fundamental human rights of FoRB, its limitations, the basis for these limitations, and provides a comprehensive legal framework.
- dialogue and joint action: Emphasizes the role of the state in enabling rather than leading dialogue initiatives. Trust and voluntary participation are emphasized as essential elements for successful interreligious dialogue.
- role of the state: This guide outlines how countries can support dialogue initiatives while ensuring respect for human rights, fairness and transparency.
- Projects and Funding Requests: Practical advice is provided on designing funding requests and assessing applications to effectively support your conversation plans.
- Checklist for Status: Contains a practical checklist to guide countries’ efforts to foster dialogue and joint action.
Methodology and contributions
This guide is the result of extensive consultation with experts from various fields, including civil society representatives, academics, and government officials. Members of the ODIHR Panel of experts on freedom of religion or belief made important contributions and provided valuable insights and recommendations.
“Faith, Dialogue, Security” serves as an essential resource for policymakers, religious leaders, and civil society actors working to foster interreligious dialogue and cooperation. This guide aims to contribute to creating peaceful and pluralistic societies across the OSCE region by promoting respect for FoRB and other human rights. As the world struggles with diversity issues, this publication is a beacon of hope for constructive engagement and mutual understanding.
