Unescocat is a secular institution that respects and values religious faith, defends the right to freedom of religion and promotes initiatives and reflection about interreligious dialogue, interfaith management of conflicts and the promotion of human rights inside and between beliefs and convictions. It seeks to raise society’s awareness of the importance of religious diversity, mutual understanding, respect and dialogue among religions as a way to contribute to social cohesion and peace.

The department of diversity and interreligious dialogue:

• provides advice to Unescocat’s Consultancy on co-managing religious diversity, conflict prevention and interreligious mediation
• develops publications, training materials and courses on interreligious dialogue
• organises conferences and expert meetings and develops assessment
• participates in international initiatives for dialogue between cultures promoted by UNESCO and different interreligious dialogue organisations, such as the United Religions Initiative, the World Conference on Religions for Peace, and the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions
• is in partnership with local organisations for interreligious dialogue like the New York Interfaith Centre
• coordinates the International Network on Religions and Mediation in Urban Areas that was created in 2007 under the auspices of UNESCO
• closely cooperates with the UNESCO Association for Interreligious Dialogue.