Human rights must not ‘go down’ because ‘EU has other priorities’

Human rights must not ‘go down’ because ‘EU has other priorities’

By Michael Ireland, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service, www.assistnews.net

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (ANS, July 7, 2016) -- The European Parliament Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance (FoRB & RT) launched on June 30 its third annual report on the state of freedom of religion or belief in the world for 2015, according to World Watch Monitor (www.worldwatchmonitor.org).

The Intergroup of the European Parliament on Freedom of Religion or Belief seeks more political will in the promotion of religious freedom.

“This is a document to change the reality through the European Union institutions,” explained its co-president, Peter Van Dalen, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

World Watch Monitor says the document gives recommendations for the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Council and the European Commission. Van Dalen, however, encouraged everyone to look beyond those pages because “people are suffering.”

More to be done in the other EU institutions

World Watch Monitor reports the intergroup co-presidents welcomed the fact that the European Parliament is increasingly aware of this human right being violated throughout the world. They are nonetheless “not content” with the other institutions. “The [FORB] guidelines were embraced by us, but the [European] Delegations [i.e. EU “embassies” in the countries] do not even know them,” complained fellow co-president MEP Denis de Jong.

The guidelines were written by the EEAS as a tool for the EU officials and member states. A piece of research mentioned in the report from Professor François Foret (Université Libre de Bruxelles) shows that there are very low levels of awareness of the EU Guidelines at the Delegation level.

“Human rights should not be a hobby, they should be a core task for a diplomat [who should] engage with civil society and religious leaders,” said de Jong, who asked for both training and more political will. “We should not allow that human rights ‘go down’ because the EU has other priorities.”

From the human rights unit of the EEAS, Nicole Reckinger said they will “take these comments seriously,” as they launch the process for reviewing the guidelines.

The internal-external coherence of EU policies

The World Watch Monitor report stated the newly-appointed EU Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union, the former education commissioner Ján Fige, also attended the event to present his mandate, which will be “external-oriented via areas of international cooperation and development.”

World Watch Monitor said Fige’s priority region is the Middle East, but also South-East Asia and Northern and Central Africa. He will be under the supervision of the development commissioner, Neven Mimica, and will report back to the “Article 17 interlocutors” – that is, the churches and religious communities, and the philosophical and non-confessional organizations that meet regularly for dialogue with the European Commission.

In its report, World Watch Monitor said Mr. Fige spoke about the importance of the coherence of the policies in the European Union: “We should do at home what we want to see outside,” he said.

The Intergroup report also highlights that the EU’s ability to persuade “third countries” (those outside the EU) will depend on “our own ability to consistently uphold these domestically.” The Intergroup’s official remit, however, only includes EU’s external relations.

Civil society, an essential player

The EU Special Envoy congratulated both the European Parliament as “the institution to raise awareness” and the NGOs attending the event as a “global force.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, whose mandate is soon to finish, also encouraged civil society. “All meaningful changes in a country come from the society,” he said, calling for a strategy of “winning the hearts of the majorities” to protect the minorities.

Heiner Bielefeldt is a German philosopher, historian and Catholic theologian. He is Professor of Human Rights and Human Rights Policy at the University of Erlangen. Bielefeldt assumed his mandate as Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on August 1, 2010.

Professor Bielefeldt warned against the “danger of resignation and of becoming cynical, especially when it comes to religion.” He explained his experiences when visiting Sierra Leone, where every religious community is involved in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “There are people living together without conflict, we should not close our hearts, minds or borders,” he added.

Report round-up

Below, World Watch Monitor highlights the report’s primary institutional and country-specific recommendations for the EU.

Institutional recommendations

- To the European External Action Service:

Further training needed for diplomatic staff in the EU Delegations: awareness of the Guidelines for the promotion of FoRB. Ensuring mandatory training for at least one staff person per Delegation.

Evaluation of the implementation of the guidelines, particularly in the countries highlighted in the report.

Country-specific FoRB action plans

Support for civil society, including religious or belief organizations that promote FoRB.

- To the European Commission:

Extension of the Special Envoy’s mandate to the end of the European Parliament’s term (summer 2019). Ask to work in cooperation.

Engage in an informal dialogue with the Intergroup.

-To the European Council:

More follow-up on the many references given to the protection of FoRB.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs to engage directly with religious leaders.

Failed states

Listed countries are: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen.

The Intergroup report states that because of lack of government, it is difficult to develop policies to protect FoRB. “The Intergroup encourages special attention to the position of religious minorities in the context of peace-building,” it said.

Ensure that no weapons are delivered to one of the parties in the internal conflict.

Emergency humanitarian aid.

Intergroup focal countries

The countries have been selected on the basis of: human rights violations by the governments or the lack of positive action by the governments to protect religious communities from persecution; and according to the leverage the EU can have.

The countries listed in this group are: Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Brunei, Maldives. Each country has one or two specific recommendations for the EU institutions.

Country profiles

There are 53 countries selected where FoRB is seriously under threat. The data was gathered through civil society organizations, and the Intergroup selected the focal countries (above).

Photo Captions: 1) The Intergroup at work in Brussels (Courtesy World Watch Monitor). 2) Heiner Bielefeldt. 3) Michael Ireland.

About the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net) since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia.** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). To help partner with Michael in ministry, log-on to: https://ACTINTL.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael

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