Bien-vivre ensemble:
A state of harmony achieved by inhabitants living in an environment of social and cultural diversity, when they successfully develop a culture of peace among themselves, including mutual respect and appreciation, good neighborliness, cooperative relations and a common desire for peace and appeasement.
Notes:
Living well together is based on mutual respect, acceptance of a plurality of opinions, open and cooperative interactions, caring relationships, and the refusal to ignore or harm one another.
According to the Council of Europe, it presupposes:
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freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion ;
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respect for human dignity, cultural diversity and the “rights of others”, to ensure tolerance and understanding ;
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the participation of all citizens in public affairs, by giving them access to information and the media.
Source. Vivre ensemble, 2009, p.56.
Other useful definitions:
A shared commitment to a common destiny in the midst of all human differences.
Source: Albert Boivin, blog Elan humaniste citoyen.
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A form of social cohesion and solidarity, tolerance and civility based on the links that develop between individuals from different groups or categories of people (age, gender, ethnic group, etc.) in a society.
Source: Grand dictionnaire terminologique, Office québécois de la langue française.
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Accept and build sociability without alienating others.
Source: inspired by a phrase from Roland Barthes’ course Comment vivre ensemble, 1977.
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Learning to enter into cooperative practices with all others with whom we share our present – and to develop feelings of sympathy towards them, (…) learning to commit ourselves to them.
Source: adapted from Françoise Lorcerie, for the International School of Peace – CIFEDHOP