Third Diversity Matters Forum
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.
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Religous Diversity Report 2005 PDF (2.4MB) 
