On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2012, you are cordially invited to a Panel Discussion on “Conflict Prevention and Human Rights – What Role for the new EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief?”, jointly organized by the Austrian Representation to the EU, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), in partnership with the European Platform on Religious Intolerance and Discrimination (EPRID).

As 2012 comes to an end, the global picture of conflict and tension, including mob violence, sectarian clashes and hate crimes on grounds of religion or belief, raises questions about how to reconcile competing identities and claims of legitimacy. Research shows that, today, it is rarely religious identity that drives a conflict but the extent to which religious freedom is restricted. Where this freedom is respected and upheld, the grounds are laid for more stable, peaceful and pluralist societies.

Among the core goals of EU foreign policy are promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms and engaging in conflict prevention, mediation and peace-building. Following the commitment in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights, the EU is preparing a new set of Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief to serve as practical guidance for EU officials on how to promote these goals in the EU’s external action.

The Panel Discussion on the role of the new EU Guidlines in conflict prevention will be opened by Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata and the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis, and will address the following central questions pertaining to conflict, peace, religion and belief in a globalised world order:

• What is the relationship between human rights, in particular freedom of religion or belief, and conflict prevention?

• How can freedom of religion or belief be incorporated into EU conflict prevention and peacebuilding policies and actions?

• How can the new EU-Guidelines contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the interrelatedness of human rights, security, and development and assist the EEAS-Delegations in their work on the ground?

For more information, see the flyer to the conference.