Religious Inequalities, Inclusive Cities and Sustainable Development

This chapter sheds light on the correlation between religious inequalities and the achievement of sustainable urban development. It discusses how reducing religious inequalities and fostering diverse and meaningful participation can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable cities – a largely unexplored topic. The chapter is divided into two main sections. The first introduces contemporary urban challenges and the measures proposed by the most relevant developmental agendas. The second examines how progress toward inclusive urban development is affected by the persistence of religious inequalities. Finally, it discusses the potential role of heritage, mentioned only once in the 2030 Agenda as part of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, to promote human-rights-based and people-centred urban development.