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Religious Freedom
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe takes the lead on FoRB in the workplace
Religious Freedom
NGOs write to international Govt leaders to alert on 45 reporters of Bitter Winter arrested in China
http://www.varldenidag.se/nyhet/2014/03/05/Sveriges-hallning-liberal-mot-sekter/
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I rapporten, som tas upp i plenum den 10 april, konstaterar man att det inte går att säga med säkerhet vilken skada sekter tillfogar barn i de 47 länder som ingår i Europarådet Inte heller finns det någon enhetlig definition av begreppet, varför Rudy Salles väljer att använda uttrycket ”excesses of sects” (ungefär, överdrifter av sekter). Detta skulle, enligt en fransk definition, innebära ”bruket av påtryckningar eller tekniker som syftar till, eller leder till, att skapa, upprätthålla eller utnyttja ett psykologiskt eller fysiskt underläge för en individ, till skada för individen eller samhället”.
Sverige har fått en särskild plats i rapporten, och klassas, vid sidan av Danmark, som ett land som ”intar en mycket liberal hållning till religionsfrihet och, följaktligen, till fenomenet med sekter”.
Sverige var ett av två länder som Rudy Salles valde att besöka som del av sitt utredningsuppdrag. I december 2012, skriver han, träffade han företrädare för riksdagen, Skolinpektionen, Ungdomsstyrelsen, Föreningen rädda individen (FRI) och Nämnden för statligt stöd till trossamfund.
”Sverige intar verkligen en mycket liberal hållning till religionsfrihet, vilket ibland kan motverka skyddet av barn”, konstaterar Rudy Salles.
”I slutet av mitt besök drog jag slutsatsen att det nationella utbildningssystemet i Sverige, och i synnerhet systemet för att finansiera privatskolor, liksom för att registrera föreningar, innehåller kryphål som skulle kunna leda till övergrepp av sektliknande rörelser”. Läs mer
Rédigé par EIFRF le Thursday, March 6th 2014
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Religious Freedom
30 civil society and religious leaders and 10 organizations have joined EIFRF in a supportive letter regarding Motion for a Resolution 13333 at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The letter has been sent to every member of the Committee on equality and non-discrimination. Here are the text of the letter and the signatories.
Members of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe
Palais de l’Europe
Strasbourg
Europe, the 20th of February 2014
Dear members of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
We, members of civil society, being aware of the Motion for a Resolution Doc. 13333, “The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities”, and being aware that this resolution has been sent to your Committee by the Bureau for “possible follow-up”, would like to express our strong support to this resolution.
Indeed, we think that the appointment of a rapporteur to examine this very important question in the 47 countries of the Council is something that should be done.
Freedom of religion or belief is one of the most fundamental rights of human beings, and in some countries of Europe this right is regularly challenged, minimized or infringed upon without valid justification.
When religious freedom is threatened it is almost always the rights of the minorities that are first to be denied or curtailed. There are many examples of this throughout the Council of Europe’s Member States and it is important that these be taken into account in order that we do not become complacent and we take action to protect those minorities in question. Particular attention should be given to the rights of minorities especially where it concerns the right to educate one’s children in conformity with one’s own religion or belief, this in itself being the subject of European Court of Human Rights decisions.
We are appreciative and supportive of the work of the Council of Europe in protecting and promoting human rights throughout Europe and we believe that you will take this matter seriously. Nevertheless, we wished to express our support for appointing a rapporteur for this motion.
Respectfully,
Individuals (in their own names)
• Sheikh Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini, Secretary of Interfaith Alliance – UK
• Dr Alessandro Amicarelli, attorney at law of the BAR of Italy and LAW Society of England and Wales, Doctor of Research in International Order and Human Rights "SAPIENZA" University of Rome – Italy
• Dr Iftikhar Ayaz, OBE, Consul General of the Tuvalu Islands in UK, member of the UN Working Group for the Rights of Minorities, Chair of the board of trustees of the All Faith Network – UK
• Thierry Bécourt, President CAPLC – France
• Dr Luigi Berzano, full professor of Sociology at the University of Torino, Catholic priest – Italy
• Dr Silvio Calzolari, professor of History of Religions at the ISSR (Higher Institute of Religious Sciences) of Firenze – Italy
• Dr Maria Chiara Giorda, Professor, History of Religions at the University of Torino – Italy
• Jacques Dubreuil, President of the Omnium des Libertés – France
• Dr Juan Ferreiro Gualguera, Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the State University of Coruna – Spain
• Gurjit Singh, UNITED SIKH Trustee – UK
• Gursev Singh, Dutch Sikh Council, spokesperson – Netherlands
• Karan Singh, President of the Sikh Foundation of Switzerland – Switzerland
• Rev. Dr Dominique Kounkou, attorney at law, PhD in international public law, Honorary President of the Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe - France
• Rev. Dr William McComish, Dean Emeritus of St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva, Presbyterian minister, general treasurer of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
• Robin Marsh, Secretary General Universal Peace Federation (UPF) – UK
• Raffaella di Marzio, psychologist of religion, contributing partner to the Brussels based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers – Italy
• HE Irénéo Namboka, Human Right adviser for UN, former HR Officer of UNHCHR – Switzerland
• Jura Nanuk, President of Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – Hungary
• Hans Noot, President of the Gerard Noodt Foundation, member of the board of the ICRLS – Netherlands
• Carmine Onnembo, UPF Board of Directors – Germany
• Bertil Persson, National Chancellor of International Association of Educators for World Peace (UNESCO) Scandinavian rep. University of Peace (UNESCO) – Sweden
• Dr. Elke Preußer-Frank, Foundation member of the Federal Association of the Woman Federation for World Peace – Germany
• Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General of EMISCO (European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg) – Denmark
• Andrew S. Reed, former secretary to Chairman (EFD group), EU Parliament – Belgium
• Æthelwine Richards, Orthodox Chaplain, York St. John University – UK
• Eric Roux, Steering Committee of EIFRF – France
• Dr Vjekoslav Saje, Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue – Bosnia-Herzegovina
• John Tamale, Associate at UNCHR – Switzerland
• Professor Aldo Natale Terrin, Pontifical Institute of Pastoral Liturgy of Padua, Catholic priest – Italy
• Professor Dr G.P.P. Van Tillo, honorary professor of Sociology of Religion in the University of Amsterdam – Netherlands
• Angelina Vladikova, Chair of BRIDGES - Easter European Forum for Dialogue – Bulgaria
• Martin Weightman, Director All Faith Network – UK
• Graeme Wilson, Public Affairs Director, Church of Scientology – UK
Organizations
The ALL FAITH NETWORK UK – http://www.allfaithsnetwork.org.uk/
BRIDGES – Easter European Forum for Dialogue –https://www.facebook.com/bridges.forum
CAPLC-European Coordination for Freedom of Conscience – Member of ENAR and participant organization of the EU Fundamental Rights Platform – http://www.freedomofconscience.eu/
CERFI – Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – http://cerf-institute.org/
DUTCH SIKH COUNCIL – https://www.facebook.com/dutchsikh.council
EIFRF – European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom – http://www.eifrf-articles.org/
GERARD NOODT FOUNDATION for FoRB – http://www.noodtforb.eu/
SIKH FOUNDATION OF SWITZERLAND
UNITED SIKHS – http://www.unitedsikhs.org/
UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION (UPF) – UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
Download the signed on letter:
Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe
Palais de l’Europe
Strasbourg
Europe, the 20th of February 2014
Dear members of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
We, members of civil society, being aware of the Motion for a Resolution Doc. 13333, “The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities”, and being aware that this resolution has been sent to your Committee by the Bureau for “possible follow-up”, would like to express our strong support to this resolution.
Indeed, we think that the appointment of a rapporteur to examine this very important question in the 47 countries of the Council is something that should be done.
Freedom of religion or belief is one of the most fundamental rights of human beings, and in some countries of Europe this right is regularly challenged, minimized or infringed upon without valid justification.
When religious freedom is threatened it is almost always the rights of the minorities that are first to be denied or curtailed. There are many examples of this throughout the Council of Europe’s Member States and it is important that these be taken into account in order that we do not become complacent and we take action to protect those minorities in question. Particular attention should be given to the rights of minorities especially where it concerns the right to educate one’s children in conformity with one’s own religion or belief, this in itself being the subject of European Court of Human Rights decisions.
We are appreciative and supportive of the work of the Council of Europe in protecting and promoting human rights throughout Europe and we believe that you will take this matter seriously. Nevertheless, we wished to express our support for appointing a rapporteur for this motion.
Respectfully,
Individuals (in their own names)
• Sheikh Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini, Secretary of Interfaith Alliance – UK
• Dr Alessandro Amicarelli, attorney at law of the BAR of Italy and LAW Society of England and Wales, Doctor of Research in International Order and Human Rights "SAPIENZA" University of Rome – Italy
• Dr Iftikhar Ayaz, OBE, Consul General of the Tuvalu Islands in UK, member of the UN Working Group for the Rights of Minorities, Chair of the board of trustees of the All Faith Network – UK
• Thierry Bécourt, President CAPLC – France
• Dr Luigi Berzano, full professor of Sociology at the University of Torino, Catholic priest – Italy
• Dr Silvio Calzolari, professor of History of Religions at the ISSR (Higher Institute of Religious Sciences) of Firenze – Italy
• Dr Maria Chiara Giorda, Professor, History of Religions at the University of Torino – Italy
• Jacques Dubreuil, President of the Omnium des Libertés – France
• Dr Juan Ferreiro Gualguera, Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the State University of Coruna – Spain
• Gurjit Singh, UNITED SIKH Trustee – UK
• Gursev Singh, Dutch Sikh Council, spokesperson – Netherlands
• Karan Singh, President of the Sikh Foundation of Switzerland – Switzerland
• Rev. Dr Dominique Kounkou, attorney at law, PhD in international public law, Honorary President of the Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe - France
• Rev. Dr William McComish, Dean Emeritus of St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva, Presbyterian minister, general treasurer of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
• Robin Marsh, Secretary General Universal Peace Federation (UPF) – UK
• Raffaella di Marzio, psychologist of religion, contributing partner to the Brussels based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers – Italy
• HE Irénéo Namboka, Human Right adviser for UN, former HR Officer of UNHCHR – Switzerland
• Jura Nanuk, President of Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – Hungary
• Hans Noot, President of the Gerard Noodt Foundation, member of the board of the ICRLS – Netherlands
• Carmine Onnembo, UPF Board of Directors – Germany
• Bertil Persson, National Chancellor of International Association of Educators for World Peace (UNESCO) Scandinavian rep. University of Peace (UNESCO) – Sweden
• Dr. Elke Preußer-Frank, Foundation member of the Federal Association of the Woman Federation for World Peace – Germany
• Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General of EMISCO (European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg) – Denmark
• Andrew S. Reed, former secretary to Chairman (EFD group), EU Parliament – Belgium
• Æthelwine Richards, Orthodox Chaplain, York St. John University – UK
• Eric Roux, Steering Committee of EIFRF – France
• Dr Vjekoslav Saje, Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue – Bosnia-Herzegovina
• John Tamale, Associate at UNCHR – Switzerland
• Professor Aldo Natale Terrin, Pontifical Institute of Pastoral Liturgy of Padua, Catholic priest – Italy
• Professor Dr G.P.P. Van Tillo, honorary professor of Sociology of Religion in the University of Amsterdam – Netherlands
• Angelina Vladikova, Chair of BRIDGES - Easter European Forum for Dialogue – Bulgaria
• Martin Weightman, Director All Faith Network – UK
• Graeme Wilson, Public Affairs Director, Church of Scientology – UK
Organizations
The ALL FAITH NETWORK UK – http://www.allfaithsnetwork.org.uk/
BRIDGES – Easter European Forum for Dialogue –https://www.facebook.com/bridges.forum
CAPLC-European Coordination for Freedom of Conscience – Member of ENAR and participant organization of the EU Fundamental Rights Platform – http://www.freedomofconscience.eu/
CERFI – Central-European Religious Freedom Institute – http://cerf-institute.org/
DUTCH SIKH COUNCIL – https://www.facebook.com/dutchsikh.council
EIFRF – European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom – http://www.eifrf-articles.org/
GERARD NOODT FOUNDATION for FoRB – http://www.noodtforb.eu/
SIKH FOUNDATION OF SWITZERLAND
UNITED SIKHS – http://www.unitedsikhs.org/
UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION (UPF) – UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
Download the signed on letter:
EIFRF, while being independent, is an official Cooperation Circle of United Religions Initiative (URI), approved by the global council of URI in August 2013.
The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings. URI is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.
EIFRF, as Cooperation Circle of URI, shares the following purpose and principles:
Purpose
The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
Principles
• The URI is a bridge-building organization, not a religion.
• We respect the sacred wisdom of each religion, spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.
• We respect the differences among religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions.
• We encourage our members to deepen their roots in their own tradition.
• We listen and speak with respect to deepen mutual understanding and trust.
• We give and receive hospitality.
• We seek and welcome the gift of diversity and model practices that do not discriminate.
• We practice equitable participation of women and men in all aspects of the URI.
• We practice healing and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.
• We act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the Earth for both present and future generations.
• We seek and offer cooperation with other interfaith efforts.
• We welcome as members all individuals, organizations and associations who subscribe to the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
• We have the authority to make decisions at the most local level that includes all the relevant and affected parties.
• We have the right to organize in any manner, at any scale, in any area, and around any issue or activity which is relevant to and consistent with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
• Our deliberations and decisions shall be made at every level by bodies and methods that fairly represent the diversity of affected interests and are not dominated by any.
• We (each part of the URI) shall relinquish only such autonomy and resources as are essential to the pursuit of the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
• We have the responsibility to develop financial and other resources to meet the needs of our part, and to share financial and other resources to help meet the needs of other parts.
• We maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, prudent use of resources, and fair and accurate disclosure of information.
• We are committed to organizational learning and adaptation.
• We honor the richness and diversity of all languages and the right and responsibility of participants to translate and interpret the Charter, Articles, Bylaws and related documents in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles, and the spirit of the United Religions Initiative.
• Members of the URI shall not be coerced to participate in any ritual or be proselytized.
Rédigé par EIFRF le Tuesday, February 25th 2014
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