Support for the “Strasbourg Principles” in interreligious dialogue on religion and peace, religion and human rights
A international conference took place today as part of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers about “Interreligious dialogue on religion and peace, religion and human rights”.
The objective of the event was to relaunch a dialogue within the Council of Europe between the leaders of traditional religious denominations, in order to foster mutual respect, peace and a greater awareness of diversity in societies. Europeans. It was opened by Ambassador Michele Giacomelli, Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies and by Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge, and the opening speech was delivered by Heiner Bielefeldt, Professor at the University of Erlangen and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Religion or belief.
High level religious leaders groups with a strong historical and traditional presence in Europe, such as Catholic, Protestant and Reformed, Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim communities, took the floor in a discussion on religion and peace, religion and human rights man, culminating in the support of the “Strasbourg Principles for Interreligious Dialogue”.
The “Strasbourg Principles”, a set of fundamental principles for interreligious dialogue, will form the basis of the Organization’s future work in this field.
An intervention was made by Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, and Ambassador Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, Counselor for Religious Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the conference.
Closing remarks were delivered by Dr Fabio Petito, Director of FoRB & Foreign Policy Initiative (University of Sussex), on behalf of the Italian Presidency.
Background
The Council of Europe has recognized the interreligious dimension as an important element of intercultural dialogue and has encouraged religious communities to engage actively in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in a diverse and multicultural Europe.
Since 2000, the Organization has also been actively involved in facilitating interreligious dialogue, first through a series of seminars organized by the Commissioner for Human Rights (2000-2006), then through the Annual Meetings on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue initiated by the Committee of Ministers (2008-2017).
In 2015, the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) produced a comprehensive compilation of the most relevant standards relating to the principles of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as the links with other human rights. rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. Rights.
Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms