Bridging Gaps: OSCE/ODIHR Unites Faith Leaders in Warsaw to Tackle Religious Intolerance
Warsaw, September 22, 2025 — No one should feel unsafe because of their beliefs. This sentiment defines the purpose of a pioneering event hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Faith leaders and representatives from diverse religious communities convened in Warsaw to address the critical issues of intolerance, discrimination, and hate crimes affecting communities across the OSCE region.
The consultation, titled “Addressing Religious Intolerance: The Challenges, Opportunities and Needs of Religious or Belief Communities,” led by religious freedom expert Kishan Manocha and his team, aimed to go beyond merely identifying problems. It provided a platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, with the goal of ensuring that individuals of all beliefs can live with safety and dignity. The discussions will directly inform ODIHR’s efforts with participating States to protect freedom of religion or belief and combat intolerance proactively and effectively.
ODIHR has long supported Christians, Jews, and Muslims, who have historically faced significant prejudice. This meeting expanded that focus to include often-overlooked communities, reaffirming ODIHR’s commitment to upholding freedom of religion or belief for all, without hierarchy or exclusion.
The meeting, held in a confidential setting to foster open exchanges, gathered representatives from a wide range of traditions: Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Pagan, Zoroastrian, Humanist, Shamanist, Dharmic traditions, and the Church of Scientology, among others. Notable attendees included 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) from the Hindu Federation of Spain, and many others.
Diverse Voices, United Purpose
The diversity of participants underscored a crucial message: intolerance has no borders, and countering it should be equally limitless.
Maria Telalian, ODIHR Director, opened the meeting alongside Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Palaver, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Personal Representative, Mikołaj Wrzecionkowski, Dr. Susan Kerr, and Mikaela Christiansson from ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department.
Participants shared personal stories of intolerance and discrimination. The first session mapped the realities their communities face: hate crimes, social exclusion, and stereotype-driven harm. Recognition of how intolerance erodes societal trust and widens social divides was a key takeaway, along with its consequences on communities and societies at large.
The focus then shifted to governmental roles in addressing hate crimes and discrimination. While some states made progress through legal reforms and community engagement, others faced criticism for categorizing religions in ways that affected rights based on community size, and for insufficient consultation with affected groups. The consensus was clear: policies should reflect lived experiences, not abstract theories, and ensure equality for all communities.
The afternoon sessions were more future-oriented, exploring strategies to promote respect and security for vulnerable groups. Successful interfaith initiatives were highlighted, with calls for more inclusive efforts. Genuine dialogue and inclusion were emphasized as essential, requiring equitable treatment of all beliefs. Participants stressed education as a key driver, with curricula that celebrate diversity and respect, starting from a young age. They also discussed the media’s role in either reinforcing or challenging stereotypes through positive stories of coexistence.
Imagining a future where diversity is celebrated became the focus of the closing session. Participants shared their communities’ contributions to peace and cohesion, envisioning a region where freedom of religion or belief is a universal norm and where communities collaborate with governments and civil society to prevent intolerance.
As the meeting concluded, ODIHR
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