In this context, harmony between people with various cultures and religions is the tonic that shapes daily life. Knowledge between religions, beliefs and interreligious and interfaith dialogue are key elements for preventing prejudices and fears that can pose a risk to social cohesion.

More precisely, interreligious and interfaith dialogue (spanish) facilitates participation in and knowledge of the richness of the area and of people. This dialogue is conducive to there being real interaction, but above all, it fosters relationships between neighbouring communities, allowing them to reach an understanding and to find common ground, lending visibility to this diversity. All of these objectives and actions are positioned within a framework of social, human, and ethical values, while consistently fomenting respect and peace.

In this context, in Barcelona, where there are almost a thousand religious or conscientious communities, the City Council promotes the programme for Interreligious Dialogue Groups (GDI) (Spanish), managed by the UNESCO Association for Interreligious Dialogue (AUDIR). Interreligious dialogue groups (GDI) offer spaces to come together for people linked to various beliefs and faiths in a specific area, enabling them to come together to assess and lend visibility to religious pluralism in the city, defend the right to religious freedom and conscientious thought, break down prejudices between traditions and improve social cohesion in the area.

Many organisations, associations and groups organise activities and events every year to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week. As a result of the health crisis we are all in the middle of, these activities have had to adapt to the current circumstances. Some activities are online, others are held in person and others issue statements, but all of them keep sight of how dialogue between religions, beliefs and spiritualities plays a key part in the culture of peace.

The Office of Religious Affairs of the Barcelona City Council has advised the Info K program of TV3 for a report that it has broadcast on the occasion of the World Week of Interfaith Harmony. Students of the La Salle Comtal School in Barcelona have visited the Parish of Santa Ana, the Gurdwara Guru Darshan Sahib and the Minhaj Ul’Quran Mosque to learn about the Catholic, Sikh and Muslim religions and to find out what unites them and what makes them important for the peace culture. You can watch the video HERE.