Text Box: Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue


Exchange on the religious dimension

of intercultural dialogue

The 2011 Council of Europe Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue is setup in Luxembourg. The main theme is building on “The role of the media in fostering intercultural dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding: freedom of expression of the media and respect towards cultural and religious diversity”.

Three focus points:

  • Expression in the media of society’s religious and non-religious convictions – The respective roles of traditional and new media;
  • Place, image and discourse of women with religious and non religious convictions in the media;
  • Building bridges based on common values – The role of education to the media and to religious and non-religious convictions (respective contributions).

Previous editions:

Strasbourg 2008: The Committee of Ministers organised the first Exchange concentrating on acquiring religious and convictional knowledge as an educational focus, as well as a legal framework for teaching  about religion . The aim was to promote democratic citizenship and to reinforce the role of schools as fora for intercultural dialogue. The final recommendations were about democratic governance of cultural diversity, citizenship and participation, learning and teaching intercultural competences.

Strasbourg 2009: The main theme was labeled as “Teaching religious and convictional facts – a tool for acquiring knowledge about religions and beliefs in education: a contribution to education for democratic citizenship, human rights and intercultural dialogue.

Ohrid ( "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia") 2010: The Exchange was held against the background of tension in the Islamic world. Media freedom intertwined with religious and cultural diversity was the highlight of the meeting. Freedom of expression should exist in harmony with believers: media and religious groups should work out a partnership. A call was provided in order to raising journalistic standards, a wider recruitment base, media literacy programmes and greater transparency within the media. 

Contact:

Giuseppe Zaffuto, Press officer

tel. + 33 (0)3 90 21 56 04

[email protected]

Updated in November 2011