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Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak

Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions
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Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions
(Joseph Krpelan)

Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak is head of the Department for Practical Theology at the Catholic-Theological Faculty at the University of Vienna. She is an expert and internationally recognized scholar and lecturer in interdisciplinary research on socio-religious transformation processes in Europe, religion in the context of migration and urbanisation and interfaith dialogue with a special focus on Jews, Christians and Muslims, including research on racism and all other forms of group-related hostility. As a practical theologian, she connects her academic work with disseminating her research results through the promotion of public and media projects on interfaith and intercultural encounters and dialogue. She is engaged in Christian-Jewish and Christian-Muslim Dialogue organisations. She is the theological advisor of the Commission on Migration of the German Bishops´ Conference.

Mandate

In line with the 2004 Sofia Ministerial Council and 2002 Porto Ministerial Council Decisions on tolerance and non-discrimination, Personal Representative Polak contributes to the overall fight of the OSCE in combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on Christians and members of other religions. She promotes tolerance, notably through monitoring activities and targeted support to participating States. Dr Polak was appointed by the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship and advises the Chairperson-in-Office.