ECLJ: Protect Religious Beliefs & Stop Abortion Agenda
ECLJ to U.N. Protect Religious Beliefs of Individuals
Our international efforts continue to put the spotlight on religious freedom and protecting the rights of individuals in countries throughout the world. This week, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) submitted a legal analysis on the United Nations resolution "Combating Defamation of Religions" in response to the invitation of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR).
The very controversial concept of "Defamation of Religions" was designed by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and primarily focuses on the protection of ideas and religions generally, rather than protecting the rights of individuals to practice their religion, which is the chief purpose of international religious freedom law.
ECLJ Representative Gregor Puppinck tells me that the ECLJs examination of the OIC measure reveals some disturbing findings. The OIC concept of religious freedom conflicts sharply with the international bill of human rights. Further, the implementation of domestic laws to combat defamation of religion in many OIC countries reveals a selective and arbitrary enforcement toward religious minorities, who are often Christians. And, as we know, these violations frequently result in the death penalty.
In its legal analysis, the ECLJ explains why the concept of "defamation of religions" is in direct violation of international law concerning the rights to freedom of religion and expression, and how it is incompatible with the universal philosophy of human rights. Emphasizing that a proper respect for religions is necessary, the ECLJ insists on the urgent need to stop the arbitrary enforcement of the law.
The ECLJ is calling on the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the U.N. to oppose the model of "defamation of religions" and, instead, to focus on Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) adopted in 1966 as the proper framework to consider the issue.
The ECLJ's legal analysis concludes by urging the U.N. to "develop clear guidelines within the context of Article 20 with regard to laws that would set the least restrictive limitations of freedom of speech that would help to respect and protect the religious beliefs of individuals."
In addition to its legal analysis, the ECLJ has compiled and submitted a list of recent incidents worldwide involving the concept of defamation of religion. The ECLJ submission will be used by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the U.N. Human Rights Council on the implementation of the resolution "Combating Defamation of Religions" and to submit a study compiling relevant existing legislations and jurisprudence concerning defamation of and contempt for religions to the Council at its ninth session (September 2009).
This is an important opportunity to stand in support of the religious rights of individuals around the globe who are often targeted and sometimes put to death because of their religious beliefs.
ECLJ to Council of
The ECLJ has expressed its concern about a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that promotes abortion as a preventative alternative to the abandonment of children. At issue is a report and resolution entitled: "Preventing the First Form of Violence Against Children: Abandonment at Birth." The pro-abortion agenda contained in the resolution was discovered only after close review by the ECLJ and other non-governmental organizations.
In articulating its concern about the pro-abortion message, the ECLJ expressed its deep opposition to the qualitative assessment of life provided by the report and resolution--particularly promoting abortion over protecting life as a result of being born into inadequate social and financial circumstances.
In its filing, the ECLJ stated: "Whereas the aspiration of preventing abandonment of infants is an honorable and necessary societal goal, the ECLJ is extremely concerned with the politicization of the Draft Report and the unnecessary promotion of 'abortion rights.'" The ECLJ also highlighted a point made by the Constitutional Court of Poland that argued: "Under no circumstances should the personal situation and life conditions of a child be placed above the child's right to life."
The PACE report states that "Abandonment of children raises the question of access for women to contraception and abortion." The report continues saying that "A proactive policy to prevent the abandonment of newborn babies should recognize a woman's full right to freely choose pregnancy, which means legal and easier access to contraception and abortion . . .."
In its submission, the ECLJ made clear that promoting abortion as "a proactive policy to prevent the abandonment of newborn" is wrong and concluded that "it is institutionally unacceptable for the Parliamentary Assembly to promote such a worldview with its underlying shadow of social eugenics." In hopes of drawing attention to the pro-abortion agenda of the report and resolution, the ECLJ memorandum was issued prior to PACE discussing and voting on the resolution, which is scheduled to occur on June 27, 2008.
The ECLJ has warned about the ever-increasing culture of abortion - specifically in
The ECLJ is an international law firm dedicated to protecting human rights and religious freedom in
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