Best practice

Local authorities can play an important part in helping to develop a counter-narrative to radical and fundamentalist religious discourse and emphasising the rejection of violence so that communities can live together while respecting each other’s differences.

A broad range of action is available to local authorities: opening up spaces where local groups can get together, introducing training for their own staff, supporting education and training institutions, creating “anti-rumour” campaigns and holding debates and cultural events that address the issues of intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

Many European cities have examples of best practice that the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will disseminate to all local authorities.