Building an interfaith/interethnic coalition to counter xenophobia and religious discrimination.

In 2017, the Jewish Association Czulent was invited by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to participate in the international project “Interfaith/Interethnic Coalition-Building to Combat Xenophobia and Religious-Based Discrimination.” The initiative focused on strengthening joint efforts to counter ethnic, racial, and religious intolerance, as well as promoting pluralistic societies. The project was implemented through developing participants’ competencies, building lasting inter-organizational relationships, and undertaking joint initiatives.

The project was aimed at civil society leaders, including representatives of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as key organizations working in the fields of human rights, multiculturalism, and migrant rights in the Visegrád Group countries—Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The participation of the Czulent Association in this group strengthened its position as a partner in international efforts to counter discrimination.

As part of the project, a joint cross-sectoral analysis of regional needs was developed, identifying gaps and weaknesses in existing strategies for countering intolerance. The perspectives of diverse communities and experiences made it possible to establish a solid foundation for future initiatives and to highlight new, previously overlooked areas requiring action.

Participants in the seminars significantly developed their soft skills, particularly in the areas of coalition-building, communication, and intercultural cooperation. They also expanded their knowledge of anti-discrimination law applicable in the European Union and its member states. A key outcome was the establishment of lasting partnerships between minority and majority organizations working toward equality and countering discrimination.

The culmination of the project was an international conference held in Kraków in 2017, co-organized by NDI together with partners from Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the Jewish Association Czulent, in cooperation with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the OSCE. The event brought together activists from the Visegrád countries, becoming an important platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience.

The activities were complemented by a study visit to Brussels, organized by ENAR. Participants had the opportunity to learn about current trends and solutions applied at the level of the European Union and regional institutions in countering xenophobia and religious discrimination. The knowledge gained and the exchange of good practices strengthened participants’ capacity to implement effective actions in Central Europe.

The implementation of the project confirmed the role of the Czulent Association as an active participant in international cooperation networks, initiating dialogue and joint actions for an open, diverse, and inclusive society.

Project support and cooperation

Leader of the project:

• National Democratic Institute
• European Network Against Racism’s

Partners:

• Jewish Association Czulent

The project was funded by the following sources:

• Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor – US Department of State