Resolution 2036 (2015) Provisional version
Tackling intolerance and
discrimination in Europe with a special focus on Christians ( Council of Europe )
Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly
Origin - Assembly debate on 29
January 2015 (8th Sitting) (see Doc. 13660, report of the Committee on Equality and
Non-Discrimination, rapporteur: Mr Valeriu Ghiletchi). Text adopted by the Assembly on 29 January 2015 (8th
Sitting).
1. Intolerance and discrimination on grounds of religion or
belief affect minority religious groups in Europe, but also people belonging to
majority religious groups. Numerous acts of hostility, violence and vandalism
have been recorded in recent years against Christians and their places of
worship, but these acts are often overlooked by the national authorities.
Expression of faith is sometimes unduly limited by national legislation and
policies which do not allow the accommodation of religious beliefs and
practices.
2. The reasonable accommodation of religious beliefs and
practices constitutes a pragmatic means of ensuring the effective and full
enjoyment of freedom of religion. When it is applied in a spirit of tolerance,
reasonable accommodation allows all religious groups to live in harmony in the
respect and acceptance of their diversity.
3. The Parliamentary Assembly has recalled on several
occasions the need to promote the peaceful coexistence of religious communities
in the member States, notably in Resolution 1846 (2011) on combating all
forms of discrimination based on religion, Recommendation 1962 (2011) on the
religious dimension of intercultural dialogue and Resolution 1928 (2013) on safeguarding
human rights in relation to religion and belief, and protecting religious
communities from violence.
4. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is protected
by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5) and
considered as one of the foundations of a democratic and pluralist society.
Limitations to the exercise of freedom of religion must be restricted to those
prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society.
5. The Assembly is convinced that measures should be taken
to ensure the effective enjoyment of the protection of freedom of religion or
belief afforded to every individual in Europe .
6. The Assembly therefore
calls on the Council of Europe member States to:
6.1. promote
a culture of tolerance and “living together” based on the acceptance of
religious pluralism and on the contribution of religions to a democratic and
pluralist society, but also on the right of individuals not to adhere to any
religion;
6.2. promote
reasonable accommodation within the principle of indirect discrimination so as
to:
6.2.1.
ensure that the right of all individuals under their jurisdiction to freedom of
religion and belief is respected, without impairing for anyone the other rights
also guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights;
6.2.2.
uphold freedom of conscience in the workplace while ensuring that access to
services provided by law is maintained and the right of others to be free from
discrimination is protected;
6.2.3.
respect the right of parents to provide their children with an education in
conformity with their religious or philosophical convictions, while
guaranteeing the fundamental right of children to education in a critical and
pluralistic manner in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights,
its protocols and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights;
6.2.4.
enable Christians to fully participate in public life;
6.3. protect
the peaceful exercise of freedom of assembly, in particular through measures to
ensure that counter-demonstrations do not affect the right to demonstrate, in
line with the guidelines on freedom of assembly, of the European Commission for
Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and the Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR);
6.4. uphold
the fundamental right to freedom of expression by ensuring national legislation
does not unduly limit religiously motivated speech;
6.5.
publicly condemn the use of and incitement to violence, as well as all forms of
discrimination and intolerance on religious grounds;
6.6. combat
and prevent cases of violence, discrimination and intolerance, in particular by
carrying out effective investigations in order to avoid any sense of impunity
among the perpetrators;
6.7.
encourage the media to avoid negative stereotyping and communicating prejudices
against Christians, in the same way as for any other group;
6.8. ensure
the protection of Christian minority communities and allow such communities to
be registered as a religious organisation, and to establish and maintain
meeting places and places of worship, regardless of the number of believers and
without any undue administrative burden;
6.9.
guarantee the enjoyment by Christian minority communities of the right to
publish and use religious literature.
Sursa : http://assembly.coe.int
http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=21549&lang=en
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