Religious Dimensions of Inter-Cultural Dialogue and the Promotion of Social Cohesion in Europe (Democracy, Political Reforms & Civil Society‪)‬

Introduction The Council of Europe is committed to tackling discrimination and promoting community cohesion, a commitment which is set out in many of its high level policy statements, including the White Paper on Inter-cultural Dialogue (1). One dimension of this broader strategy is the commitment to promote inter-cultural dialogue between people of different religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, it is argued, can promote greater understanding between communities, promote a culture of tolerance, and reduce levels of discrimination.