Programme
Access the provisional versions of the programme:
ProgrammeThe “Space for Freedom” Forum was staged on November 5, 6 and 7 2010.
Sessions were structured around papers, dialogues, practical workshops and expert panels addressing the following topics:
Laicism, the architecture for coexistence
The consolidation of a democratic society involves institutions and the civil society analysing the values of pluralism and tolerance. Laicism promotes coexistence and demarcates a public space that is not ruled by monopolies and is open to contributions from the entire citizenship.
Spain 2010, a plural society
Spanish society is becoming more plural and diverse by the day. Looking beyond clichés and generalizations, the Forum will examine this new reality and its players in depth, analyse changing trends and anticipate future social transformations.
Laicism in civil society
The civil society played an essential part in bringing democratic freedom back to Spain and is the best ally for public institutions that support governance and social cohesion. The demands put forward by secular groups have mapped out the trends for progress in recent years with laws on same-sex marriage and equality.
Church – State separation
The Forum proposes a thorough analysis of the most familiar expression of laicism, the Church-State separation. The Spanish background will be presented and compared to European models.
The Spanish Constitution and the matter of religion
It is essential to have a firm grasp on the Spanish legal framework in order to define a future programme that can pave the way forward. Can the Constitution be interpreted from a secular perspective?
Public policies
Going beyond the Church–State separation, how should public authorities deal with religion? The Forum will examine approaches to education, places of worship and reunion, debates with religious organisations, and the limits of and guarantees to religious freedom.
