Opening the 8th edition of the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy, this year under the theme Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Pillar of Democracy, the foreign minister emphasised that freedom of religion is interlinked with other fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, association and assembly, which underpins democratic societies. This theme directly results from Poland’s human rights priorities and is the natural consequence of its commitment to promoting freedom of religion or belief as a universal human right.

In his address, Minister Czaputowicz emphasised Poland’s efforts to ensure full respect of the rights of religious minorities, freedom of religion and belief, and protection of victims of religious persecution, Christians in particular. Our involvement in this area is reflected in Poland’s initiative to establish the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, from this year onwards marked on 22 August.

Minister Czaputowicz pointed to education which promotes tolerance and respect for other faiths, accountability of states for bringing to justice perpetrators of attacks against religious minorities, and dialogue and cooperation between all parties concerned as important factors in addressing the restriction of religious freedoms. “Poland has a long-standing tradition of interreligious tolerance and peaceful co-existence of religious communities,” said the minister. He added that interreligious dialogue and transnational justice are the tools which can lead toward a lasting peace.

The Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy is an annual conference organised since 2012 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Polish Institute of International Affairs, the Community of Democracies, the Institute of National Remembrance, the European Endowment for Democracy, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Each year, it brings together numerous representatives of civil society, human rights activists, academics, international organisations, and politicians from around the world to discuss the importance of democracy in today’s world and the challenges that face democratic societies and those transitioning to mature democracies.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo Sebastian Indra / MFA