The webinar "Cultural diversity – a key factor for socially sustainable economies" was held on 14th February on the occasion of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.

This webinar is a result of collaboration between Baraza CC and URI Europe.

Two excellent speakers have agreed to give us their perspectives on this important topic.

Professor Dr. Anke Weber is a leading member of Baraza – an international, intercultural NGO based in Germany. She is a Professor for Intercultural Research Methods and Statistics at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences. She has extensive work and research experience in Germany, the EU, Africa and the US. Her PhD from the University of Zurich, Switzerland focused on the impact of ethnic diversity on education in Africa. She spent over five months conducting field research in Kenya and Tanzania and worked as a guest lecturer in Butare, Rwanda. Before joining the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy, she worked in the US and in Switzerland as a consultant in the Human Development Department of the World Bank. From 2014-2016, she was responsible for developing health indicators at Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Commission in Luxembourg. Her current research focuses on multicultural teamwork, intercultural onboarding, and social sustainability.

Elisabeth Lheure has been serving on the URI Europe Executive Committee and as a Trustee of United Religions Initiative's Global Council, elected as a member of AUDIR Cooperation Circle.

Thanks to AUDIR, Elisabeth has been working in the field of mediation for interreligious issues in different cities and suburbs of Catalonia (Spain), she is participating and conducting interfaith gatherings in diverse surroundings, including in prisons and addresses focused workshop about  “construction and deconstruction of religious prejudice” for different audience (university students, interfaith groups, civil servants, police cadets, inmates, etc).

Elisabeth collaborated on different publications as “Religious and Spiritual cares at the end of life, helpful insights into beliefs and convictions” (2013); “Laïcité et religions à l'aube du XXI siècle”(2010) “Urban Policies and the Right to the City : The UN-HABITAT and UNESCO Joint Project” (2009); “El somriure diví” (2008); “Come to the celebration” (2008).

Elisabeth was awarded the medal of Knight in the National Order of Merit by decree of the President of the French Republic in 2006 and received the X Cassià Just Memorial Award from the Government of Catalonia in 2023, for her commitment to interreligious and interconvictional dialogue, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to promoting a culture of peace and human rights through constructive dialogue.

12 participants from 10 countries participated in the webinar.

Questions and comments from participants followed very insightful and interesting presentations. 

The webinar recording can be seen on the URI Europe YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaTfQ0VO1_I