Ján Figeľ

Author: Marek Olšanský

  • Nous avons besoin d’un ‘changement climatique’ dans les questions relatives à la liberté religieuse

    Interview avec Ján Figel’, ancien envoyé spécial de l’Union européenne pour la liberté de religion

    Pour la deuxième fois depuis son introduction en 2019 par les Nations unies, la « Journée internationale pour les minorités religieuses victimes de violences » a été célébrée le 22 août. Le bilan sur la situation des personnes persécutées dans le monde entier en raison de leur religion est loin d’être positif. L’œuvre internationale de bienfaisance catholique L’Aide à l’Église en Détresse (AED) s’est entretenue avec l’homme politique slovaque Ján Figel’, dont le mandat de délégué spécial de l’UE pour la liberté de religion a récemment pris fin.

    Attention: la traduction française n’a pas été corrigée

    Que pensez-vous de la Journée internationale pour les victimes de violences en raison de leur religion ?

    La Journée internationale pour les victimes de la persécution religieuse est d’une grande importance dans le calendrier des commémorations internationales parce que ces victimes de persécution religieuse sont nombreuses, elles se chiffrent par centaines de millions de personnes. La persécution en raison de la religion augmente dans le monde et beaucoup de millions d’autres personnes sont discriminées pour cela. Il est extrêmement douloureux qu’aujourd’hui encore, il y ait en ce monde des victimes de véritables génocides. Par le passé, la liberté de culte avait souvent été négligée, ignorée ou à peine considérée dans les accords internationaux, mais de nos jours, la liberté de religion et de culte représente l’épreuve décisive pour l’état véritable des droits de l’être humain.

    Quelle pourrait être la meilleure manière de commémorer cette journée ?

    Les témoignages de survivants de persécutions religieuses sont extrêmement importants. Des manifestations, des conférences, des séances en lignes, des séminaires et des webinaires ont été organisés. Tous ces événements devaient servir en premier lieu à aiguiser notre conscience de l’importance de la liberté de culte pour tous les êtres humains et de nous souvenir des victimes de la persécution religieuse. Car ceux qui perdent la mémoire perdent aussi leur identité et leur orientation. Ensuite, il est primordial de ce concentrer sur une éducation prônant la coexistence dans la diversité, car vivre ensemble représente tellement plus que d’exister côte à côte. Et enfin, les États et les autorités nationales doivent promouvoir la justice et l’équité pour tous, qui engendrent la paix. Les mêmes droits civiques pour tous, par exemple, sont une expression formidable d’égalité pour tous, autant pour la majorité de la société que pour les minorités.

    Quelles sont les expériences que vous avez vécues lors de votre jeunesse dans un pays communiste, sous le régime soviétique de l’ancienne Tchécoslovaquie ?

    J’ai passé la moitié ma vie sans être libre. C’était vraiment une situation inhumaine et des temps très difficiles. Je m’appelle Ján Figel’ comme mon oncle, le frère de mon père. Dans les années 1950,il a été assassiné par les services secrets de l’ancien État staliniste qu’était la Tchécoslovaquie. La liberté est une forme d’expression de la dignité humaine, et celle-ci constitue le fondement de tous les droits de l’homme. Renier la liberté de l’être humain revient donc à renier la dignité humaine.

    Pourquoi est-il important de protéger la liberté de religion ?

    La liberté de religion et de culte marque le degré de liberté le plus élevé. Elle est définie comme liberté de religion, de culte et de conscience. Elle est donc d’égale importance autant pour les croyants que pour les non-croyants. C’est un droit humain central et un droit de grande envergure, puisqu’il est lié à la liberté d’expression, la liberté d’opinion, de réunion et de rassemblement. Si la liberté de religion est supprimée, d’autres droits et libertés seront également supprimés. Voilà pourquoi nous devons plus que jamais veiller à protéger la liberté de religion, pas seulement parce qu’elle touche aussi d’autres droits fondamentaux, mais parce qu’elle constitue le test décisif pour tous les autres droits de l’être humain.

    Comment pouvons-nous protéger la liberté de religion et les êtres humains qui sont persécutés à cause de leur foi ?

    C’est notre devoir de protéger les victimes de la persécution. Il est de notre responsabilité humaine, mais c’est aussi dans l’intérêt fondamental de tous. Nous devons mieux prendre conscience de l’importance de la liberté de religion. Les médias devraient consacrer beaucoup plus d’informations à ces situations et thématiques. Il est de notre responsabilité de donner une voix à tous ceux qui n’en ont pas et ne peuvent pas se défendre. Je souhaiterais en appeler à la communauté internationale : Le monde a besoin aujourd’hui d’un « changement climatique » des questions autour de la liberté de religion, car la situation se présente très négative et empreinte de souffrances. Dans le monde entier, des millions de personnes souffrent de la persécution religieuse, et la tendance est très inquiétante. Ces deux faits gravissimes devraient éveiller au sein de la communauté internationale une plus grande conscience du respect de la liberté de religion et de la nécessité de défendre la dignité humaine pour tous les êtres humains, dans le monde entier.

    Interview avec Ján Figel’, 31.08.2020 / Journée internationale pour les minorités religieuses victimes de violences par Josué Villalón

  • Necesitamos un ‘cambio climático’ de la libertad religiosa

    Entrevista con Ján Figel’, ex enviado especial de UE para la libertad religiosa

    ACN, Josué Villalón.- El pasado sábado 22 de agosto se celebró el Día Internacional de las víctimas de la violencia basada en la religión o creencia. Es el segundo año que se celebra esta jornada, establecida por las Naciones Unidas en 2019. El balance de la situación de las personas perseguidas en el mundo por su religión no es bueno. La fundación pontificia Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN) ha hablado con el político eslovaco Ján Figel’, que recientemente ha finalizado su cargo como enviado especial de la Unión Europea para la libertad religiosa.

    ¿Qué opina sobre el Día Internacional de las víctimas de la violencia basada en la religión?

    El Día Internacional de las Víctimas de la persecución religiosa es muy importante para el calendario de conmemoraciones internacionales. Porque hay muchas víctimas de persecución religiosa, podemos hablar de centenares de millones. La persecución en el mundo está creciendo, muchos otros millones sufren discriminación. Y es un fenómeno muy doloroso que también deja víctimas de genocidio en el mundo actualmente. En el pasado la libertad religiosa era frecuentemente desatendida en los acuerdos internacionales, quedaba abandonada y se le daba poco valor, pero actualmente la libertad religiosa o de creencia es la prueba de fuego de cuál es la situación de todos los derechos humanos.

    ¿Cuál sería la mejor manera de celebrar este día?

    Son muy importantes los testimonios de supervivientes de la persecución religiosa. Se han celebrado manifestaciones, conferencias, encuentros online, seminarios y webinars. Estos eventos deberían servir primero para hacer crecer en nosotros la conciencia de la importancia de la libertad religiosa para todos, y recordar a las víctimas de la persecución religiosa. Perder la memoria es perder la identidad y nuestras orientaciones. En segundo lugar, es muy importante enfocarnos en una educación para vivir juntos en la diversidad, porque vivir juntos es mucho más que sólo existir juntos. Y en tercer lugar, los estados y las autoridades de los países deben promover la justicia para todos, porque la paz es fruto de la justicia. Por ejemplo, la igualdad de ciudadanía es una gran expresión de la igualdad para todos, para la mayoría de la sociedad, pero también para las minorías.

    ¿Cómo fue su experiencia, habiendo vivido su juventud bajo el régimen soviético de la antigua Checoslovaquia, en un país comunista?

    He vivido la mitad de mi vida sin libertad. Fue realmente una situación inhumana y un tiempo muy difícil. Yo tengo el mismo nombre, Ján Figel’, que mi tío, el hermano de mi padre. Él fue asesinado en los años 50 por los servicios secretos del entonces estado estalinista de Checoslovaquia. La libertad es expresión de la dignidad humana, y la dignidad humana es el fundamento de todos los derechos humanos. Por tanto, negar la libertad del ser humano es negar la dignidad humana.

    ¿Por qué es importante proteger la libertad religiosa?

    La libertad religiosa o de creencia es la máxima expresión de la libertad. Está definida como la libertad de religión, de creencia y de conciencia. Por eso, es importante tanto para creyentes como para no creyentes. Es un derecho humano central y es un derecho expansivo porque está conectado con la libertad de expresión, de opinión, libertad de reunión y de asociación. Si la libertad de religión se suprime, otros derechos y libertades también quedan suprimidos. Por tanto, necesitamos cuidar la libertad religiosa más que nunca, no solo porque afecta a otros derechos, sino porque es la prueba de fuego de todos los demás derechos humanos.

    ¿Cómo podemos defender la libertad religiosa y a las personas perseguidas por sus creencias?

    Tenemos el deber de defender a las víctimas de la persecución. Es nuestra responsabilidad humana, pero también es un interés básico para todos. Debemos ser más conscientes de la importancia de la libertad religiosa. Los medios de comunicación deberían dar mucha más cobertura a estas situaciones y a estos temas. Es nuestra responsabilidad dar voz a los que no tienen voz y no se pueden defender. Me gustaría hacer un llamamiento a la comunidad internacional: el mundo hoy necesita un “cambio climático» de la libertad religiosa porque la situación es muy negativa y dolorosa. Millones de personas en todo el mundo sufren la persecución religiosa y las tendencias son preocupantes. Estas dos malas noticias deberían despertar a la comunidad internacional para tomar más conciencia sobre el respeto a la libertad religiosa y defender la dignidad humana para todos y en todas partes.

    Interview with Ján Figel’, 31.08.2020 / International Day of Victims by Josué Villalón

  • Wir brauchen einen ‚Klimawandel‘ in Fragen der Religionsfreiheit

    Interview mit dem ehemaligen EU-Sonderbeauftragten für Religionsfreiheit Ján Figel’

    Am 22. August wurde zum zweiten Mal nach seiner Einführung durch die Vereinten Nationen im Jahr 2019 der „Internationale Gedenktag für die Opfer von Gewalt aufgrund von Religion oder Glauben“ begangen. Die Bilanz bezüglich der Lage der weltweit aufgrund ihrer Religion verfolgten Menschen ist nicht gerade positiv. Das Internationale Hilfswerk Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) sprach darüber mit dem slowakischen Politiker Ján Figel’, dessen Mandat als Sonderbeauftragter der Europäischen Union für Religionsfreiheit erst kürzlich auslief.

    Was denken Sie über den Internationalen Gedenktag für die Opfer von Gewalt aufgrund von Religion oder Glauben?

    Der Internationale Tag zum Gedenken an die Opfer religiöser Verfolgung ist für den Veranstaltungskalender internationaler Gedenkfeiern deshalb von großer Wichtigkeit, weil es viele Opfer religiöser Verfolgung gibt; wir können von Hunderten Millionen Menschen ausgehen. Die Verfolgung aufgrund der Religion nimmt in der Welt zu, viele weitere Millionen Menschen werden aufgrund dessen diskriminiert. Es ist etwas sehr Schmerzhaftes, dass es noch heute in der Welt Opfer von regelrechtem Völkermord gibt. In der Vergangenheit wurde die Religionsfreiheit in internationalen Abkommen oft vernachlässigt, übergangen oder kaum gewürdigt, doch heute ist die Religions- und Glaubensfreiheit der Lackmustest für den Status der Menschenrechte.

    Wie ließe sich dieser Tag am besten begehen?

    Sehr wichtig sind die Zeugnisse von Überlebenden religiöser Verfolgung. Es wurden Demonstrationen, Konferenzen, Online-Sitzungen, Seminare und Webinare veranstaltet. Diese Veranstaltungen sollten in erster Linie dazu dienen, in uns das Bewusstsein für die Bedeutung der Religionsfreiheit für alle Menschen zu schärfen und der Opfer religiöser Verfolgung zu gedenken. Denn wer das Gedächtnis verliert, verliert seine Identität und seine Orientierung. Zum zweiten ist es sehr wichtig, sich auf eine Erziehung zum Zusammenleben in Vielfalt zu konzentrieren, denn zusammen zu leben ist viel mehr als nur zusammen zu existieren. Und drittens müssen Staaten und nationale Behörden Gerechtigkeit für alle fördern, denn Frieden ist die Frucht der Gerechtigkeit. Zum Beispiel sind gleiche Bürgerrechte ein großartiger Ausdruck der Gleichheit für alle, sowohl für die Mehrheit der Gesellschaft als auch für Minderheiten.

    Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie als junger Mensch in einem kommunistischen Land gemacht, unter dem sowjetischen Regime der ehemaligen Tschechoslowakei?

    Mein halbes Leben habe ich ohne Freiheit gelebt. Es war wirklich eine unmenschliche Situation und eine sehr schwierige Zeit. Ich heiße Ján Figel wie mein Onkel, der Bruder meines Vaters, der in den 1950er Jahren vom Geheimdienst des damaligen stalinistischen Staates Tschechoslowakei ermordet wurde. Freiheit ist ein Ausdruck der Menschenwürde, und die Menschenwürde ist die Grundlage aller Menschenrechte. Die Freiheit des Menschen zu verleugnen, bedeutet daher, die Menschenwürde zu verleugnen.

    Warum ist es wichtig, die Religionsfreiheit zu schützen?

    Die Religions- oder Glaubensfreiheit ist der höchste Ausdruck der Freiheit. Sie wird definiert als Religions-, Glaubens- und Gewissensfreiheit. Daher ist sie für Gläubige und Nicht-Gläubige gleichermaßen wichtig. Es ist ein zentrales Menschenrecht und ein weitreichendes Recht, weil es mit der Freiheit der Meinungsäußerung, der Meinungs-, Versammlungs- und Vereinigungsfreiheit verbunden ist. Wird die Religionsfreiheit unterbunden, so werden auch andere Rechte und Freiheiten unterdrückt. Deshalb müssen wir mehr denn je für Religionsfreiheit sorgen, nicht nur, weil sie andere Rechte berührt, sondern weil sie der Lackmustest für alle anderen Menschenrechte ist.

    Wie können wir die Religionsfreiheit und die Menschen verteidigen, die wegen ihres Glaubens verfolgt werden?

    Es ist unsere Pflicht, die Opfer von Verfolgung zu schützen. Es ist unsere menschliche Verantwortung, aber es liegt auch im grundlegenden Interesse aller. Wir müssen uns der Bedeutung der Religionsfreiheit stärker bewusst werden. Die Medien sollten viel mehr über diese Situationen und Themen berichten. Es liegt in unserer Verantwortung, denjenigen eine Stimme zu geben, die keine Stimme haben und sich nicht verteidigen können. Ich möchte an die internationale Gemeinschaft appellieren: Die Welt braucht heute einen „Klimawandel“ in Fragen der Religionsfreiheit, denn die Situation ist sehr negativ und leidvoll. Millionen von Menschen auf der ganzen Welt leiden unter religiöser Verfolgung, und der Trend ist besorgniserregend. Diese beiden schlimmen Tatsachen sollten in der internationalen Gemeinschaft ein größeres Bewusstsein für die Achtung der Religionsfreiheit und die Verteidigung der Menschenwürde für alle Menschen überall auf der Welt wecken.

    Interview with Ján Figel’, 31.08.2020 / International Day of Victims by Josué Villalón

  • Europe and the challenge of religious freedom

    The European Union’s Special Envoy for promoting the Freedom of Religions and Belief outside of Europe will soon be appointed. Maragaritis Schinas, vice-president of the European Commission, announced the Office’s re-establishment in a tweet on July 8.

    The announcement brought to a close what had been at times a very lively debate.

    The president of the European Commission originally decided not to appoint somebody in the role of advisor to her in the capacity of special envoy “at this time”.

    Then, after protests from many organizations, the Commission reversed itself. The position is still vacant, so everything is still up in the air and anything could happen: Why, then, is it so important to have a special envoy for religious freedom in Europe?

    The special envoy’s Office was established in 2016, right after Pope Francis had been awarded the Charlemagne Prize. Jan Figel became the Special Envoy. During his mandate, Jan Figel traveled worldwide, opened bridges of dialogue, and had a crucial role in the liberation of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani woman who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy and then acquitted.

    Many backed the re-establishment of the position. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and president of the Committee of the Bishops of the European Union (COMECE), noted that “in some countries, the religious oppression reached the level of a genocide” and for this reason “the European Union must continue to campaign for religious freedom, with a special envoy.”

    This semester, Germany is president of the Council of the European Union. So 135 German members of Parliament asked the government to use the position to press the EU to restore the Office.

    Austrian members of Parliament signed a joint resolution with the same goal, and Jewish, Orthodox, and Muslim labels protested against the cancellation of the position.

    It was then expected that the new European Commission was going to renew the mandate. It did not happen at first. In June, the Commission sent a letter to the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, a convenor of NGOs and individuals from any faith that works for religious freedom.

    In the letter, the Commission confirmed that they would advance religious liberty according to the 2013 EU guidelines, which recognize the human right to freedom of religion and belief and understand that right under European law to mean that everyone is free to believe, not to believe, change their beliefs, publicly witness their beliefs and share their beliefs with others.

    In the letter, the Commission also said that violations were going to be monitored by the EU delegation. The delegation and Eamon Gilmore, special representative for human rights, were supposed to report on the violations.

    After that, and all the protests, the Commission changed its mind and announced that the Special Envoy position for religious freedom was going to stay. Everything, by the way, is still suspended. We yet do not know who will be the next special envoy, and under which mandate.

    There is another issue. The special envoy takes care of religious freedom outside of the EU, but religious liberty is at risk within the EU borders. There are many pieces of evidence that religious freedom is subtly dwindling in Europe.

    Religious freedom inside the EU border is guaranteed under the EU charter of fundamental rights which is policed by the EU fundamental rights agency in Vienna. In addition, all the member states of the EU are constrained by fundamental democratic principles for which the commission can hold them to account if their laws don’t correspond.

    And yet, there are cases that show that show that religious freedom is at stake.

    The most recent cases came from Finland and Sweden.

    Päivi Räsänen, a member of Finnish Parliament and former minister, faces four investigations after tweeting a Bible passage questioning that the Evangelical Church in Finland sponsored the Pride 2019.

    Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, two Swedish midwives, appealed to the European Court for Human Rights because they found unemployed and could not apply for any job since they refused to help to perform abortions. The appeal was, however, declared inadmissible.

    These are not the only cases, and it is not a new situation. It is worth remembering that the Holy See personally took the floor in 2013. Following the discussion of two cases at the European Court for Human Rights, the Holy See sent a note and widely explained why the religions are not “lawless areas” but instead “spaces of freedom.”

    The two cases that brought about the Holy See’s note are Sindicatul’ Pastoral cel bun’ versus Romania and Fernandez Martinez versus Spain. Both of them provide food for thought even today.

    The first case was about a labor union formed in 2008 by the clergy in an Orthodox Church diocese to defend their “professional, economic, social, and cultural interests” in their dealings with the church.

    When the Romanian government registered the new union, the church sued, pointing out that her canons do not allow for unions and arguing that registration violated the principle of church autonomy.

    A Romanian court agreed with the Church, and the union challenged the court’s judgment in the European Court for Human Rights. The union argued that the decision not to register violated Article 11 of the European Convention, which grants a right to freedom of association.

    In 2012, the chamber reasoned that, under Article 11, a state might limit freedom of association only if it shows “a pressing social need,” defined in terms of a “threat to a democratic society,” This did not happen in Romania. So the chamber faulted the Romanian court, and Romania appealed to the Grand Chamber – the final EU judicial appeal venue.

    The second case regarded Fernandez Martinez, a Spanish instructor of religion. In Spain, public schools offer classes in Catholicism, taught by instructors approved by the local bishop. Fernandez Martinez did not get his bishop’s approval. A laicized priest, Fernandez Martinez, took a public stand against mandatory priestly celibacy. When the school dismissed the instructor, he brought suit under the European Convention. His dismissal – he argued – violated his right to privacy, family life, and expression.

    A section of the European Court ruled against him, because in withdrawing approval – the section stated – the bishop had acted “in accordance with the principle of religious autonomy”; the instructor had been dismissed for purely religious reasons, and it would be inappropriate for a secular court to intrude.

    These two cases – the “Vatican foreign minister”, then-Archbishop Dominique Mamberti noted – “call into question the Church’s freedom to function according to her own rules and not be subject to civil rules other than those necessary to ensure that the common good and just public order are respected.”

    One should say that this is a vexata quaestio (an already widely discussed issue), with significance far beyond Europe.

    Europe, however, is living in a particularly worrisome situation. The Observatoire de la Christianophobie in France and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christian in Europe report an increasing number of cases that are food for thought.

    Religions became even more vulnerable after the coronavirus outbreak. Many provisions of various governments to counter the spread of the infection also jeopardized freedom of worship. It was an emergency, and everybody understands that, but at the same time, it is always essential to re-establish a principle, in order not to set a precedent.

    While watching over the religious freedom in other countries, it would be good that Europe had some more proper monitoring of the situation within its borders.

    As the Holy See keeps saying, religious freedom is “the freedom of all the freedoms,” a litmus test for the state of liberty in each country. The appointment of an EU special envoy for religious freedom will be a welcome thing, therefore. It is yet to be seen, however, what will be the precise mandate and the powers of the Office. It would be good to expand its scope to address the violations of religious freedom within the EU, as well.

    * Catholic News Agency columns are opinion and do not necessarily express the perspective of the agency.

    https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/europe-and-the-challenge-of-religious-freedom-4200

  • EU politicians and religious leaders demand reinstatement of religious envoy

    The previous religious envoy was influential in securing the release of the Pakistani Christian, Asia Bibi, from a death sentence in 2019.

    Calls are growing for the European Union to reinstate its Special Envoy on Religious Freedom, after the post was abolished by the new Brussels Commission under Ursula Von Der Leyen.

    “In some countries, religious oppression has now reached the level of genocide,” said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, president of COMECE, which represents the EU’s Catholic Bishops Conferences. “Vulnerable religious minorities and groups are at risk, and the EU must continue campaigning for religious freedom, with its own representative included.”

    The cardinal made the comments to German’s Deutsche Welle agency on Sunday, as 135 German parliamentarians from various parties urged their country to use its new tenure of the EU’s rotating presidency to press for restoration of the post, and as conservative members of the European Parliament tabled similar demands in a letter to Von Der Leyen.

    Austrian MPs also called on their government in a joint resolution last week to ensure the EU Commission’s decision was reversed. Meanwhile, the EU move was also criticised by Orthodox and Muslim leaders, as well as by the president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Pinchas Goldschmidt, who told Deutsche Welle it had “sent the wrong signal” when religious minorities were being “increasingly targeted by extremists and the free exercise of religion is being undermined”.

    The Slovak Jan Figel was appointed Special Envoy under a 2016 European Parliament resolution to work alongside the EU’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, and was believed influential in the subsequent opening of religious rights offices by governments in Britain, Denmark and Germany, as well as in securing release of the Pakistani Christian, Asia Bibi, from a death sentence for alleged blasphemy in 2019. However, supporters complained he had been denied office space and funds in Brussels, and that his one-year renewable mandate had been too brief to formulate any long-term plan.

    In an early June letter to the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, the EU Commission said it was committed under 2013 guidelines to advancing religious freedom, but added that violations would now be “monitored and raised regularly by EU delegations”, as well as by Eamon Gilmore, Special Representative for Human Rights.

    However, in their appeal, the German parliamentarians said they “greatly regretted” Figel’s dismissal and called on their country to use its EU presidency from 1 July to ensure his “previously successful work” continued. “As a pioneer of universal human rights, to which the EU is committed globally, the Commission must not look away”, the Bundestag members said. “At a time when persecution of religious minorities of all faiths is increasing, we need a strong European voice.”

    The chairman of the German bishops’ World Church Commission, Archbishop Ludwig Schick of Bamberg, said he would also write to the EU Commission, demanding the Special Envoy’s reappointment, as well as to MEPs urging them to campaign accordingly.

    In a letter last week to Catholic bishops in Nigeria, Cardinal Hollerich said COMECE would demand “intensified EU assistance and cooperation” with authorities and institutions in the African country, including its churches, to stop violence and persecution against local Christians.

    https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/13129/eu-politicians-and-religious-leaders-demand-reinstatement-of-religious-envoy-

  • Eurokomisia čelí kritike za zrušenie pozície vyslanca EÚ pre náboženskú slobodu

    Rozhodnutie Európskej komisie pod vedením Ursuly von der Leyenovej pranierujú politici aj náboženskí predstavitelia.

    Európska komisia (EK) sa rozhodla nepredĺžiť mandát osobitného vyslanca EÚ pre podporu slobody náboženstva alebo viery mimo EÚ, ktorým bol Slovák Ján Figeľ.

    Svoje rozhodnutie zdôvodňuje v liste adresovanom International Religious Freedom Roundtable (Okrúhly stôl pre medzinárodnú náboženskú slobodu), ktorý zverejnila na svojej webovej stránke právnická organizácia Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).

    „V tejto fáze sa komisárka Urpilainenová (zodpovedná za medzinárodné partnerstvo EÚ, pozn. red.) rozhodla, že na tento účel neustanoví osobitného vyslanca, a Komisia diskutuje o tom, ako najlepšie pokračovať v podpore uvedených cieľov,“ uviedla v liste Chiara Adamová, vedúca oddelenia EK pre rodovú rovnosť, ľudské práva a demokratickú správu vecí verejných.

    Zároveň uznala, že „na celom svete sa útočí na slobodu náboženského vyznania a presvedčenia“, preto je EÚ „odhodlaná podporovať túto základnú slobodu vo svojej zahraničnej činnosti vrátane zahraničných nástrojov“. Spomenula napríklad Európsky nástroj pre demokraciu a ľudské práva, ktorý financoval od roku 2007 projekty vo výške 30 miliónov eur.

    Ozývajú sa poslanci, biskupi aj rabín

    Rozhodnutie EK neobnoviť platnosť mandátu skritizovali politici z rôznych krajín. Rakúsky parlamentný výbor pre zahraničnú politiku minulý týždeň jednomyseľne schválil návrh uznesenia Rakúskej ľudovej strany a Zelených, ktorým vyzval federálnu vládu, aby „sa na európskej úrovni a v príslušných orgánoch snažila zabezpečiť, aby bola znovu obsadená funkcia osobitného zástupcu Európskej komisie pre slobodu náboženského vyznania a presvedčenia mimo Európskej únie“. O navrhovanom uznesení by mal rakúsky parlament rokovať tento týždeň v stredu.

    Podobne 135 členovia nemeckého Bundestagu z rôznych frakcií vyzvali, aby sa pokračovalo v práci osobitného zástupcu EÚ pre náboženskú slobodu. Požiadali nemeckú vládu, aby sa počas nemeckého predsedníctva v Rade EÚ zasadzovala za pokračovanie tejto pozície.

    To isté žiadajú aj poslanci združení v Medziskupine pre slobodu náboženského vyznania alebo viery a pre náboženskú toleranciu v Európskom parlamente: „Mandát pre osobitného vyslanca EÚ sa od decembra, keď Komisia von der Leyenovej začala svoju prácu, neobnovil. Potrebujeme viac náboženskej slobody na celom svete a musíme podporovať pozitívny vývoj v tejto oblasti. Apelujeme preto na predsedníčku Komisie, aby čo najskôr obnovila mandát osobitného vyslanca EÚ.“

    K tomu vyzýva aj arcibiskup nemeckého Bambergu Ludwig Schick. Eurokomisia má v tejto veci podľa neho „zaujať jasnú pozíciu a naďalej vysoko uprednostňovať ochranu náboženskej slobody na inštitucionálnej úrovni“. Rovnaký postoj deklaroval aj kardinál Jean-Claude Hollerich, predseda Komisie európskych biskupských konferencií (COMECE), či hlavný moskovský rabín Pinchas Goldschmidt, ktorý je predsedom Európskej rabínskej konferencie.

    Figeľa v úrade si pochvaľovali

    EÚ vyslala pozastavením tohto úradu zmiešané posolstvo a urobila krok zlým smerom, upozorňuje Adina Portaru z advokátskej organizácie ADF: „Vzhľadom na pozitívny vplyv pozície – modelu, ktorý sa teraz zavádza v mnohých krajinách po celom svete –, je ťažké pochopiť, prečo bola pozícia prerušená. Ľudia na celom svete sú kvôli svojej viere vylúčení, väznení, mučení a zabití. V čase rastúcich obmedzení slobody náboženského vyznania dúfame, že EÚ bude presadzovať toto základné právo inými prostriedkami.“

    Doterajší osobitný vyslanec EÚ pre náboženskú slobodu Ján Figeľ pre Postoj povedal, že pokračovanie tejto pozície je dôležité pre prenasledovaných ľudí vo svete aj pre dôveryhodnosť samotnej EÚ.

    „Táto pozícia je významný príspevok pre mier a udržateľný rozvoj okolo Európy a tiež preventívne opatrenie voči možnej budúcej utečeneckej a migračnej vlne. Bolo veľmi povzbudivé vidieť, ako mnohé členské štáty EÚ nasledovali túto inšpiráciu a obdobne nominovali svojich vyslancov alebo predstaviteľov. Bolo to Dánsko, Spojené kráľovstvo, Poľsko, Nemecko, Litva, Estónsko, Holandsko, Česká republika. Slovensko sa na to pripravuje tiež. Preto vnímam rastúcu potrebu, aby Únia bola v popredí a ponúkla koordináciu a spoluprácu v oblasti politiky a aktivít na podporu náboženskej slobody,“ vyhlásil Figeľ.

    Jeho práca podľa ADF a viacerých novinárov prispela k posilneniu EÚ ako „soft power“ pri podpore náboženskej slobody vo svete, keďže bývalý slovenský politik ako diplomat EÚ „dosiahol niekoľko pozoruhodných úspechov“.

    Za jeden z nich býva označované oslobodenie pakistanskej kresťanky Asie Bibiovej, ktorú odsúdili za rúhanie a čelila trestu smrti. Pakistanská kresťanka vtedy Figeľovi poďakovala za podporu.

    Vznik nového úradu osobitného vyslanca EÚ pre podporu náboženskej slobody alebo viery mimo EÚ ohlásil bývalý predseda Európskej komisie Jean-Claude Juncker. Stalo sa tak vo Vatikáne v roku 2016, kde sa zúčastnil odovzdávania európskej Ceny Karola Veľkého pre pápeža Františka.

    https://svetkrestanstva.postoj.sk/57806/eurokomisia-celi-kritike-za-zrusenie-pozicie-vyslanca-eu-pre-nabozensku-slobodu

  • EU FoRB Day – A call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion

    Seven years ago, the EU Guidelines on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) were adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council. Today, the FoRB community celebrates this informally as ‘EU FoRB Day’ and civil society take this opportunity to call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy.

    This past April came and went with no decision by the Commission on the future of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) outside the EU, which ended on 30 November 2019.

    In January 2019, one of the last resolutions by the last EU Parliament was to lend its support to the renewal. The COVID-19 crisis notwithstanding, the Commission’s hesitation despite letters by MEPs and civil society calling for the renewal of the mandate, sends a signal to Europeans and the international community about its reticence to continue to promote this fundamental right.

    Freedom of religion or belief is enshrined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It protects the right of individuals to practise the religion or belief of their choice, or none at all – a freedom which is under threat in many parts of the world.

    Against this backdrop, the Special Envoy role matters a great deal.

    The mandate has had time to show that it is an effective tool in the EU’s diplomatic arsenal. On this very day in 2013 the EU Member States approved the ‘EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief’ which provide the policy framework for the Special Envoy’s mandate and are essential tools promoting FoRB in the EU’s external relations and in the EU’s international cooperation and development.

    Dr Figel has supported the implementation of these Guidelines, making 17 official country visits to a wide range of countries. Whilst in country, the Envoy would regularly engage with national authorities and institutions, civil society, human rights organisations, as well as religious leaders and communities.

    Moreover, the Special Envoy has illustrated to governments how FoRB can be promoted and protected effectively through the EU’s external action, for example, Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row in Pakistan on unfounded charges of blasphemy, acknowledged the role of the Special Envoy in securing her freedom in her first public appearance following her release. Likewise, Czech national Petr Jašek, who was jailed alongside two Sudanese pastors, also acknowledged Dr Figel’s role in securing his freedom.

    Key to such success is the manner in which the EU Special Envoy is viewed as a neutral broker by many countries, which in turn has been critical in fostering dialogue among opposing actors. As a result, the European Commission had sent a strong signal to all international and multi-lateral partners about the efficacy and concrete results the Special Envoy yields for the EU and the wider international human rights-based approach. Not renewing the mandate would send mixed messages and forgo four years of constructive work.

    Today, as the FoRB community commemorates the seven-year anniversary of the EU Guidelines on FoRB, the EU should honour this fruitful diplomatic post by renewing the mandate; it owes it to itself, Member States and to its founding fathers, whose principles of human dignity and common good are ever-relevant in the continual promotion of FoRB.

    By CSW’s Europe Liason Officer Alessandro Pecorari

    EU FoRB Day – A call for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the European Union
  • VATICANO: VALKENBURG NUOVO AMBASCIATORE DELL’UE

    VATICANO: VALKENBURG NUOVO AMBASCIATORE DELL’UE

    GD – Città del Vaticano, 21 giu. 20 – (ACI STAMPA) – La diplomatica olandese Alexandra Valkenburg è il nuovo ambasciatore dell’Unione Europea presso la Santa Sede, l’Ordine di Malta e le organizzazioni delle Nazioni Unite a Roma, nonché presso la Repubblica di San Marino. Viene dal ruolo di ambasciatore dei Paesi Bassi a Cuba e in Giamaica.

    Valkeburg prende il posto di Jan Tombinski, che è stato la scorsa settimana in visita di congedo.

    Valkenburg è entrata nel ministero degli Affari Esteri dei Paesi Bassi nel 1996. Ha lavorato nel multilaterale a New York e a Paramaribo. Dal 2009 al 2012 è stato capo della cooperazione allo sviluppo in Guatemala; dal 2012 al 2016 è stato capo del dipartimento dei Diritti Umani e affari politici e giuridici, nella direzione delle istituzioni multilaterali e dei diritti umani. Dal 2016, è stata ambasciatore dei Paesi Bassi a Cuba.

    La scelta del nuovo ambasciatore arriva nella settimana in cui la Commissione Europea ha deciso di terminare il mandato dell’Inviato Speciale per la Promozione della Libertà di Religione e di Credo al di fuori dell’Unione Europea. Creato nel 2016, nel giorno in cui Papa Francesco riceveva il Premio Carlo Magno, l’ufficio è stato guidato da Jan Figel. Durante il suo mandato, Figel ha ottenuto alcuni grandi successi, come la liberazione di Asia Bibi.

    Il suo mandato non era stato rinnovato, e si attendeva una decisione della Commissione Europea, che ha deciso alla fine di chiudere l’ufficio, pur dichiarando tra le sue priorità quella della libertà religiosa o di credo.

    Una decisione difficile da comprendere, perché l’ufficio dell’inviato speciale per la libertà religiosa è stato anche replicato in diversi Paesi del mondo. Adina Portaru, consigliere legale per ADF International a Brussels, ha voluto sottolineare che “in tutto il mondo, le persone sono ostracizzate, imprigionate, torturate e uccise per la loro fede. In un tempo di crescenti restrizioni sulla libertà religiosa, siamo speranzosi che l’Unione Europea renderà prioritario questo diritto fondamentale attraverso altri mezzi”.

    ADF International è stato solo una delle molte organizzazioni che hanno sostenuto la necessità di mantenere l’ufficio. L’Inviato Speciale è stato difeso dall’Intergruppo del Parlamento Europeo sulla libertà di Religione o Credo e sull’Intolleranza religiosa, nonché dalla società civile, ed esperti internazionali di libertà religiosa, e dall’Osservatorio sull’Intolleranza e la Discriminazione contro i cristiani.

    Rispondendo ad una lettera degli esperti, la Commissione ha comunque concordato che “insieme con altri diritti fondamentali, la libertà di religione o di fede è messa in discussione in tutto il mondo”.

    La nomina del nuovo ambasciatore dell’Unione Europea presso la Santa Sede è arrivata nella stessa settimana in cui la Commissione Europea ha deciso di chiudere l’ufficio dell’Inviato Speciale per la Libertà Religiosa fuori dall’Unione, raccogliendo le proteste di molti.

    Nel multilaterale, la Santa Sede è intervenuta ad un dibattito sul razzismo presso il Consiglio dei Diritti Umani a Ginevra, mentre a Vienna si è parlato di come la crisi della pandemia lasci spazi aperti alla corruzione.

    di Alessandro Gagliarducci

    https://www.giornalediplomatico.it/Vaticano-Valkenburg-nuovo-ambasciatore-dellaUE.htm

  • COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Special Envoys’ Perspective

    COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Special Envoys’ Perspective

    The following questions were addressed:

    • What is the current state of the art of the missions of Special Envoys?
    • What is the role of Special Envoys in the context of the pandemic?
    • What is the future of Special Envoys?
    • How is the Covid-19 crisis impacting Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the world? Will it eventually change FoRB as we know it?

    Thursday, 28 May 2020 at 3:00 PM CEST

    https://spark.adobe.com/page/4vSJTeJhUd96y/#ep-8-covid-19-religion-and-belief-special-envoys-perspective

  • APPG statement on EU’s Special Envoy on FoRB

    The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) urges the European Commission to renew the mandate of the Special Envoy on FoRB outside the EU.

    Dr Ján Figel was appointed the European Commission’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU, following a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in February 2016.

    The mandate has served as a focal point for promoting FoRB outside the EU, with Dr Figel working alongside the European External Action Service, civil society, religious leaders and governments. Dr Figel has also served as Special Adviser to the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and he has worked extensively with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB, and the UN Deputy Secretary General responsible for Genocide Prevention, as well as his counterparts in European governments and in the US.

    The unique position of the EU Special Envoy has enabled him to be viewed as a neutral broker by many countries. This fact has been instrumental in helping to foster dialogue and make effective interventions. For example, in assisting with the release of Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row in Pakistan due to an unfounded blasphemy allegation. Czech national Petr Jašek, who was jailed alongside two Sudanese pastors and a FoRB activist, also acknowledged Dr Figel’s important role in securing his freedom.

    The Special Envoy has demonstrated how FoRB can be promoted and protected effectively through the European Union’s external action. This helps to explains why, on 15 January 2019, the European Parliament renewed its support for the Special Envoy in its resolution on the “EU guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion outside the European Union”.

    Dr. Figel’s mandate has now expired. The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief urges the European Commission to renew his mandate in order to protect and promote FoRB outside the EU.

    APPG statement on EU’s Special Envoy on FoRB