OSCE/ODIHR regional roundtable in Ukraine focuses on role of dialogue in enhancing the security of religious and belief communities
The role of dialogue in enhancing the security of religious and belief communities was the focus of a regional roundtable discussion, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the Vinnytsia Region Administration, in Vinnytsia, Ukraine on 18 August 2015.
More than 80 representatives of religious or belief communities, civil society organizations, regional authorities and the office of Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, as well as international and national freedom of religion or belief experts, discussed the nature, form, role and purpose of dialogue, and explored those factors conducive to its effectiveness and sustainability.
"Dialogue is essential for enabling peaceful co-existence and for fostering mutual respect for human dignity and mutual understanding," said Kishan Manocha, ODIHR Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief. "It builds trust and has a key role to play in enhancing cohesion, stability and security."
Particular attention was paid at the meeting to the question of inclusivity – specifically the involvement of numerically smaller and more recently established religious or belief communities in dialogue processes.
"It bears recalling that under international human rights law, religion and belief are construed broadly," said Dr. Revd. Thomas Wipf, Moderator of the European Council of Religious Leaders. "For this reason, dialogue among and between religious or belief communities should be as inclusive as possible."
Galina Kolodzinskaya, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council in Kyrgyzstan, said: "One of the most important and powerful ways to ensure that religious or belief communities can continue to play their unique role in society is to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed for all."
The roundtable discussion was organized as part of ODIHR’s project on "Promoting Security of Religious or Belief Communities and Others in the Regions of Ukraine". One of the main purposes of the project is to promote dialogue among religious or belief groups, and between these groups and the state.