To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination and UNESCO’s International Day of Tolerance on 16 November, this High Level Dialogue will explore how we can achieve inclusive and equitable quality education for all regardless of their religion or belief.
THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER | 14.00-15.30 (CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME) | ZOOM
The right to freedom of religion or belief is linked in important ways to the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG Goal 4 on education. If we want to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education for all boys and girls, it is important to pay due attention to those who are subject to discrimination, marginalization and inequality on the grounds of religion or belief. Sadly, all too often access to education is restricted for various religious or belief minorities around the world. For some children, schools and universities are also a place they experience FoRB violations and broader discrimination.
What role can legislators and faith and belief leaders play in challenging laws and policies, as well as societal norms, that perpetuate this inequality? How might they encourage cultures of pluralism, equality and non-discrimination, challenging stereotypes and prejudices related to religion or belief? In particular, how might progress be made in realizing SDG indicator 4.7, where by all learners acquire the skills and knowledge needed to help build cultures of peace, appreciation of religious or belief diversity and a sense of global citizenship?
This Dialogue is informed by an expert briefing paper on FoRB and Education produced by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) as part of the FoRBLN project, of which IPPFoRB and DIHR are consortium members. The consultation series is also supported by the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Rights (AfriPAHR), Religions for Peace and the #FaithforRights Initiative.
This consultation is intended in the first instance for parliamentarians and faith leaders from the 8 FoRBLN project countries (Bangladesh, the Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda), but it will also be of interest to parliamentarians and faith and belief leaders from across Africa, Europe and South and Southeast Asia.
SPEAKERS
David Fernandez Puyana, Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the United Nations University for Peace to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva and Permanent Delegate of UPEACE to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris
Jamshed Thomas, Member of Parliament, Pakistan
Yusra Mahdi, Project Coordinator, Coalition for Religious Equality & Inclusive Development at the Institute of Development Studies
Dr Marie Juul Petersen, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for Human Rights
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