The River Plate Adventist University (Universidad Adventista del Plata, UAP) hosted more than 160 participants, including jurists, religious leaders, academics, and government representatives, for the fourth University Conferences on Religious Freedom and the second Open Forum of the Argentine Council for Religious Freedom (CALIR).

The event, held on November 25, was organized by UAP’s Center for Studies on Law and Religion (CEDyR) together with CALIR, and focused on the constitutional value of religious freedom and the current challenges of pluralistic coexistence.

Under the motto “Protecting the right, cultivating coexistence,” the conference received official recognition from the Chamber of Deputies of Entre Ríos and the Deliberative Council of Libertador San Martín. Greetings were also sent by Governor Rogelio Frigerio and Vice Governor Alicia Aluani, who highlighted the event’s academic and civic importance.

The opening ceremony was led by UAP president Horacio Rizzo, joined by provincial and national authorities. During the program, Leandro Jacobi, director general of Institutional and Community Relations for Entre Ríos, described the province as “an example of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence,” and stressed the need to work both on daily coexistence and the legal protection of religious freedom.

Darío Caviglione, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Argentina, underlined the significance, diversity, and social relevance of the gathering.

Pilar Bosca, secretary of Religious Affairs for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and a CALIR member, emphasized that religious freedom “is not an abstract value, but a living practice that requires updated regulations, agreements, and political will.” She also praised UAP for bringing together diverse religious denominations and state agencies in a single forum. “In times of divisive rhetoric, these forums remind us of the importance of respecting diverse identities without abandoning the possibility of dialogue,” she said.

The inaugural address was given by Helio Carnassale, representative of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), an organization with consultative status at the United Nations that promotes religious freedom in more than 80 countries and has maintained an institutional agreement with UAP since 2015.

Throughout the day, panelists addressed topics such as the social action of religious denominations, legal frameworks, public policies, democratic coexistence, and the new challenges posed by technology and the global context.

Speakers included representatives from the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), the Evangelical Church of the Río de la Plata, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Argentine Jewish Chaplaincies, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), national media, and government agencies. Legal experts from various provinces, diplomats, and representatives of national and international religious organizations were also present.

The CALIR Open Forum gathered participants to formulate proposals related to public policies and freedom of conscience, while legal panels examined constitutional guarantees and current criteria for interpreting the law.

The event concluded with a musical performance and closing remarks from the UAP president, who reaffirmed the university’s institutional commitment to promoting the study and defense of religious freedom as an essential dimension of democratic life.

The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site.