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Report - Unlocking the Potential of Interreligious Dialogues for Sustainable Development?

In February 2019, the Office of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, commissioned the organisation Sustainia, to conduct a report on the potential of interreligious dialogues to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.

The report investigates the potential of interreligious dialogues to achieve the SDG’s as part of a new paradigm where religion is considered a vital co-player for global development. The report concludes that interreligious dialogues have potential to solve common challenges and can serve as a powerful way to contribute to the fulfillment of the SDG’s. This, in turn, can have a potential positive spillover effects on inter-religious tolerance and FoRB-related issues

The report provides a case collection of best practices of interreligious dialogues cooperating on the SDGs where one or more religions have cooperated to solve a shared challenge locally or regionally. The report provides a prioritised list of the SDGs according to relevance for interreligious dialogues: 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 5 (Gender Equality), 2 (Zero Hunger), 4 (Quality Education), and 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). The report finishes with perspectives for the future work to ensure Freedom of Religion or Belief globally by the Danish MFA and the Office of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Click here to read the report.