Building Bridges Beyond Boundaries: OSCE/ODIHR Gathers Diverse Faith Leaders in Warsaw to Address Religious Intolerance
Warsaw, September 22, 2025 — No one should feel unsafe because of what they believe. These powerful words encapsulate the spirit behind a groundbreaking meeting convened today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). In Warsaw, leaders and representatives from a wide range of religious and belief communities gathered to confront the pressing issues of intolerance, discrimination, and hate crimes that continue to afflict communities across the OSCE region.
The consultation, entitled “Addressing Religious Intolerance: The Challenges, Opportunities and Needs of Religious or Belief Communities,” and strongly envisioned by religious freedom expert Kishan Manocha and his team, went beyond simply cataloguing problems. It was a space dedicated to dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, with a clear purpose: to ensure that every individual, regardless of belief or non-belief, can live in safety and dignity. The insights gathered throughout the day will directly guide ODIHR’s work with participating States to protect freedom of religion or belief and to confront intolerance decisively and effectively.
For many years, ODIHR has focused its efforts on supporting Christians, Jews, and Muslims, groups that have historically faced widespread prejudice and persecution. This meeting marked a pivotal expansion of that focus by including communities whose voices are too often absent from the global conversation. In doing so, ODIHR affirmed its commitment to ensuring that freedom of religion or belief is upheld for everyone, without hierarchy or exclusion.
The consultation was held behind closed doors to create a safe and respectful environment for candid exchanges. As participants arrived at ODIHR headquarters on a clear September morning, there was a palpable sense of both urgency and hope. Around the table sat representatives of a remarkable spectrum of traditions: Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Pagan, Zoroastrian, Humanist, Shamanist, Dharmic traditions and Church of Scientology communities, among others. Among those present were Ivan Arjona-Pelado and Eric Roux from the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights, Krishna Kripa Dasa (Juan Carlos Ramchandani) President of the Hindu Federation of Spain and many others.
Meeting on the Challenges, Opportunities and Needs of Religious or Belief Communities beyond Christians, Jews and Muslims (Warsaw, 22 September 2025) – Photo credit: Piotr Dziubak for ODIHR
Broad diversity of thought, faith and religious communities
The diversity of participants sent a clear message: intolerance knows no boundaries, and neither should efforts to address it.
Maria Telalian, Director of ODIHR, opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and followed by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Palaver, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination; Mikołaj Wrzecionkowski, Deputy Head, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, ODIHR; Dr. Susan Kerr, Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Human Rights Department, ODIHR; Mikaela Christiansson, Adviser on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance against Christians and Members of Other Religions, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, ODIHR.
Throughout the morning, participants shared deeply personal accounts of intolerance and discrimination. The first session focused on mapping the realities faced by their communities: hate crimes, social exclusion, and the damaging effects of stereotypes and misrepresentation. These experiences, while diverse in their details, revealed strikingly similar patterns. Whether in urban centers or rural areas, online spaces or physical neighborhoods, the pain caused by intolerance reverberates in ways that erode trust and deepen societal divisions.
Some participants observed that such acts do more than harm individuals — they weaken the very fabric of society. Fear and insecurity not only limit the ability of affected communities to practice their faith freely but also deprive societies of their contributions to culture, social welfare, and civic life. This session provided a sobering reminder that intolerance, when left unchallenged, threatens everyone.
Later in the day, attention turned to the role of governments. Participants examined how different states have responded to incidents of hate crimes and discrimination. Some examples showed meaningful progress through legal reforms and active engagement with vulnerable communities, while others revealed serious shortcomings, including the problem of categorizing religions in a way that affect to how much rights they can enjoy based on their numbers, and a lack of consultation with those directly impacted. A key theme was the necessity of listening to communities and involving them in policymaking, so that solutions reflect lived realities rather than abstract theories while correcting the lack of equal treatment towards the different communities.
Meeting on the Challenges, Opportunities and Needs of Religious or Belief Communities beyond Christians, Jews and Muslims (Warsaw, 22 September 2025) – Photo credit: Piotr Dziubak for ODIHR
After a shared lunch, the atmosphere became more forward-looking. In the afternoon session, participants explored practical strategies for promoting mutual respect and ensuring the security of vulnerable groups. Many described successful interfaith and interreligious initiatives, while also acknowledging how often smaller or lesser-known communities are excluded from such efforts. There was a consensus that genuine dialogue must go beyond symbolic gestures. True inclusion, participants emphasized, comes from building structures where every belief is treated with equal dignity and every voice is welcomed to the table. Education emerged as a key tool, with calls for curricula that celebrate diversity and foster respect from a young age. The media’s role was also discussed, particularly its power to either perpetuate stereotypes or challenge them by highlighting positive narratives of coexistence.
The closing session invited participants to imagine the future they hope to build. They spoke of societies where diversity is not merely tolerated but embraced as a source of strength. Many shared stories of how their communities already contribute to peace and social cohesion — from running humanitarian projects to preserving cultural heritage and promoting ethical values. In these reflections, a collective vision began to take shape: a region where freedom of religion or belief is not a privilege but a universal reality, and where communities work hand in hand with governments and civil society to prevent intolerance before it takes root.
As the consultation drew to a close, ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions emphasizing that the insights shared during the day would not remain within the walls of the meeting room but would inform tangible actions across the OSCE region.
The day’s dialogue embodied the essence of ODIHR’s message, echoed later on its official social media channels: “No one should feel unsafe because of what they believe.” This gathering was more than an exploration of challenges; it was about ensuring that every community can feel safe and respected, and about transforming words into action.
While the road ahead is long, the Warsaw consultation demonstrated that progress is possible. When diverse communities come together in mutual respect, they not only confront intolerance but also lay the foundations for more inclusive and resilient societies. As Ivan Arjona reflected, “We may come from different paths, but today, we walked together toward a shared horizon of hope.”
