Venue: Taj Bengal
Kolkata, India
28th February to 2nd March 2005
Religious Diversity: Global Challenges and Local Responsibilities for the Commonwealth
Background
The First Diversity Matters Forum was held in Brisbane, October 2001. It was a bi-partisan approach between the Commonwealth Institute and the Australian Multicultural Foundation. The forum successfully concluded with a number of resolutions and a Statement of Principles, which was forwarded to the CHOGM meeting in March 2002.
More than 80 participants from Commonwealth countries took part in the three-day forum designed to promote dialogue and encourage practical solutions fostering and celebrating cultural diversity. The forum focused on issues relevant to members of the Commonwealth.
The Second Diversity Matters Forum, hosted by the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit and the Commonwealth Foundation, was designed to follow up and further develop themes and ideas that were initiated by participants in the first forum. In addition, the second forum was designed to develop and implement pragmatic approaches that Commonwealth countries can take on board as they work towards promoting social cohesion through acceptance and understanding between community and religious groups.
The third forum specifically looked at identifying multi-faith initiatives, issues and challenges for the Commonwealth with a view to recommending the establishment of a Commonwealth Multi-Faith Advisory Group. The Australian Multicultural Foundation, in partnership with the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, the Commonwealth Foundation, The Statesman, and the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, co-ordinated a gathering of international speakers and practitioners from relevant institutions and NGOs within the Commonwealth.
Click here to download report.
Religous Diversity Report 2005 PDF (2.4MB)
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this file.
Click here to download presenters’ papers (those available at time of printing).
Dr Antony Fernando PDF (166KB)
Dr Felicity Rawlings – Professor Gary Bouma PDF (112KB)
Dr Mark Manolopous PDF (138KB)
Iman Muhammad Ashafa PDF (141KB)
Mir Nawaz Khan Marwat PDF (192KB)
Mr Hass Dellal – Plenary Address PDF (79KB)
Mr Hass Dellal – Welcome and Introduction PDF (152KB)
Mrs Josie Lacey – Best Practice PDF (705KB)
Mrs Josie Lacey – Women and Youth PDF (77KB)
Professor Desmond Cahill PDF (315KB)
Professor Toh Swee-Hinn PDF (392KB)
Rev Canon John Ovenden PDF (88KB)
Reverend Anura Perera PDF (69KB)