Since 2012, the Local forum for religious diversity promotes the exercise of freedom of conscience and religion in a context of citizens’ coexistence in diversity and in human rights’ promotion. The project is a forum for dialogue and meetings between representatives of the Consistory and the different religious confessions.
Participants are representatives of Bilbao City Council and religious confessions.
The activities implemented by the Forum are the following ones:
· Local diagnosis about religious diversity in the city,
· regular meetings between City representatives and confessions,
· organisation of seminars,
· raising awareness activities,
· support for religious confession social activities,
· review of local regulations.
The local forum cooperates with the Religious Confessions, the Fundación Pluralismo y Convivencia, the University of Deusto and the Fundación Ellacuria.
To evaluate the action, two regular meetings are organised per year. Moreover, five Religious Confessions take part in the local forum. Finally, six activities related to the programme are planned per year. The results achieved so far showed that the knowledge about religious diversity in the City still needs to be increased.
Among the main findings, more recognition and public assessment of religious confessions need to be realised as well as actions to improve the trust between the communities. Finally, a personalised approach to specific groups needs to be carried out in order to improve social participation.
