A Proven Defender of Human Dignity: Dr. Ján Figeľ Strengthens FOREF’s Global Voice
Vienna, June 1st 2025 – FOREF Europe is pleased to announce that Dr. Ján Figeľ has officially accepted the position of President of FOREF Europe. This marks an important milestone in FOREF’s journey to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) across Europe and beyond.
Dr. Figeľ brings to FOREF a wealth of experience and a lifelong commitment to human rights. As a former European Commissioner (2004–2009), founder of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in 2008, and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia (2010–2012), he has consistently championed democratic values and social responsibility. In 2016, he became the EU’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU, a pioneering role that set a precedent for several EU member states to follow.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Figeľ has been a staunch advocate for interreligious dialogue, religious literacy, and social responsibility. He has played a key role in securing the release of FoRB prisoners in countries such as Cuba, Iran,Pakistan, and Sudan. Currently, he serves on the International Council of Experts of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.
Dr. Figeľ’s dedication to religious liberty is grounded in his belief in the universal right to human dignity—a principle he has championed through initiatives like the Punta del Este Declaration on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere. One of his deep concerns is the global persecution of Christians, now recognized as the most persecuted faith community worldwide, with over 300 million Christians facing various forms of discrimination, violence, and oppression. He has consistently emphasized the urgent need to address this crisis while upholding the rights of all faiths and beliefs.
What drew Dr. Figeľ to FOREF was its principled, independent, and non-partisan approach to human rights advocacy, as well as its emphasis on public service. FOREF has consistently defended religious liberty for all faiths and beliefs, guided by the conviction that everyone, everywhere, deserves freedom of conscience.
Reflecting on his new role, Dr. Figeľ expressed his deep respect for FOREF’s work and its commitment to principled advocacy. “Freedom of religion or belief is inseparable from human dignity,” he emphasized. “FOREF is a proven leader in defending this fundamental right.”
As we welcome Dr. Figeľ, we also honor the exceptional leadership of our two previous presidents:
Prof. Christian Bruenner (2005–2014), a distinguished legal scholar, former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Graz, Member of Parliament, and President of the Austrian Rectors’ Conference. Prof. Bruenner co-founded FOREF Europe with Peter Zoehrer in 2005 as a civil society formation under Austrian law, laying the foundation for its principled, rights-based approach to religious liberty.
Dr. Aaron Rhodes (2015–2025), an internationally respected human rights advocate and former Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Dr. Rhodes expanded FOREF’s international network and strengthened its global impact. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to human rights, he was awarded honorary citizenship by the Republic of Austria.
Both former presidents served with distinction, each guiding FOREF for a decade and building a solid foundation for its continued success. Importantly, both Prof. Bruenner and Dr. Rhodes will continue to serve on FOREF’s Scientific Advisory Board, which constitutes a powerful resource of expertise and experience for the organization’s future work.
As FOREF looks ahead, we are confident that Dr. Figeľ’s leadership will bring new energy and vision to our mission: giving a voice to the voiceless, promoting human dignity, and defending freedom of religion or belief for all.
MCC Visiting Fellow Jan Figeľs latest writing covers the nature of Human Dignity and how a proper understanding of it can lead to peaceful coexistance.
For our positive and constructive coexistence in the world of diverse nations and communities, peace is a cornerstone. True and lasting peace is a fruit of justice. The core of justice is based on the respect of fundamental human rights. The most central among rights is freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). It is a litmus test of all other rights. Because if this is respected, other rights and freedoms have chance to be respected as well. FoRB has private and public dimension; it concerns lives of individuals and communities alike. FoRB covers various forms – worship, observance, teaching… If FoRB is violated, the same happens to other rights and freedoms as well. The crime of crimes is a genocide, coming after intolerance, discrimination and persecution. I many regions of the world religious or ethnic minorities suffer. Nine out of ten genocides in worldwide history were aimed against religious minorities.
Secondly, FoRB is the deepest expression and measure of personal freedom. It is defined by international law as freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This is triune expression of human rationality, morality and spirituality (religiosity). If this deepest internal freedom is disregarded, then subsequent external freedoms are disrespected even more: e.g. freedom of opinion, expression, media, association, assembly, ownership… Totalitarianism starts by abuse of FoRB for all.
Due to indivisible unity and importance of everyone’s rationality, morality and spirituality, there is a deep and strong nexus between FoRB and human dignity. And dignity is the foundational principle of human rights. Dignity is a fact from which our rights and duties are derived.
Today, the agenda of human rights is hijacked by various groups representing ideologies, violent extremism or ethical relativism. We also tend to forget or neglect our human duties towards the other and towards society.
In order to make our era more humane, we must return to the original meaning of key documents, principles and definitions on this subject.
1) There is a strong and deep nexus between human dignity of all and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all.
Following are four basic sources that articulate the priority of human dignity – two secular documents, and two documents inspired by faith:
a) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Preamble: Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, …
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
b) The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000)
It recognizes dignity as the first founding value of the Union and respects and protects dignity in the Article 1 of Chapter 1.
c) Vatican II Council Declaration on Religious Freedom “Dignitatis Humanae” (1965)
“The Council… declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person.”
d) The Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Muslim Majority Lands (2016)
God bestowed dignity on all human beings regardless of their race, color, language or belief… This dignity requires that human beings must be granted freedom of choice. … All people – regardless of their different natures, societies, and worldviews – share the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood in humanity.
2. Respect of human dignity is a meeting point for religious and secular humanists.
The convergence of different traditions and concepts leads from a common ground to a common good. The Biblical, Judeo-Christian tradition states that mankind is created in the likeness and image of God. Christian faith moreover declares, that God became a man and uplifted humans to become heirs of heaven. Karamah (in Arabic) in Islam has Quranic roots, when angels are asked to bow in front of Adam.
Dignity is the highest worthiness that each person possesses and therefore transcends the whole material world. Each human being is a person: a unique being with intellectual, spiritual and material dimensions. Only a person can have rights and duties. A person is always a subject with reason, conscience and freedom.
3. Rights cannot work without duties.
We should promote awareness and respect of human duties. A culture of human dignity brings together two ancient ethical rules:
The Silver Rule: „Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.“ This is a basis of justice, reciprocity, tolerance, equal treatment.
The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is a source of compassion, acceptance, solidarity, charity and love.
The dignity of each person represents a balance and interdependence of rights and duties, freedom and responsibility. Freedom without responsibility cannot thrive. My dignity is a call for my duties – as father, husband, neighbor, citizen.
4) Equal citizenship as a fruit of equal dignity.
Equal dignity as a moral principle has a socio-political implication: equal, fair, inclusive, dignified citizenship.
In dignity we are ALL EQUAL. In identity we are ALL DIFFERENT (people of the past, presence, future). This is not a problem; this is the principle of creativity (in opposition to copying or cloning).
5) Dignity is the best theme for learning how to live together, not merely to exist together.
Reason and faith, science and religion in quest for truth, working for common good of people, can drive our civilization forward. Dignity is a daily learning process through which we discover what it means to be human in every situation. It is the best permanent lesson on rights, responsibilities and reciprocity.
Respect of dignity of all and promotion of dignity for all is the best road to lasting peace and dignified life in our times.
Jan Figel
May 10, 2025
Author was the EU Commissioner, founder of the EIT and the first Special Envoy for FoRB outside the EU. He initiated the Declaration on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere (www.dignityforeveryone.org). Currently lectures as a MCC Visiting Fellow.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) presides over and addresses the Jamia Ahmadiyya Convocation, grants an audience to Mr. Jan Figel from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, meets a delegation of Ansar departing for a cycling expedition to Spain, inaugurates Hadeeqatun Nisa in Islamabad and meets a group of Jamia students from Canada.
Portrait in Faith – Jan Figel has the demeanor of someone who is neither in a hurry nor easily rattled. He carries with him the quiet assurance of someone who has spent decades working through intricate negotiations, shaping delicate frameworks, and quietly, but firmly, standing up for those whose voices have been silenced. As the European Union’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief, Figel has become a linchpin in the often contentious and challenging realm of international religious rights. His work, marked not by rhetoric but by pragmatic action, stands as a testament to the power of sustained, principled diplomacy in the face of the world’s greatest injustices.
Born in Slovakia, Figel grew up in a Europe at a crossroads, where the forces of history, religion, and politics collided and where the yearning for greater personal freedoms had only recently emerged from the shadows of Soviet control. It was in this environment that he developed an early interest in human rights, particularly religious freedom, a concern that would guide his professional life. Having studied at the University of Bratislava and earning a law degree, Figel’s path toward political and diplomatic work became almost inevitable, for his sense of justice and his belief in the fundamental right of every individual to follow their conscience were central to who he was.
In the late 1990s, Slovakia was emerging from decades of Soviet-dominated totalitarian rule, and Jan Figel became involved in the Slovak political system at a time when the country was navigating its newly gained independence. His early political career was shaped by a determination to help build a society where freedom of expression and freedom of belief were fundamental rights, rather than privileges or anomalies. Figel’s understanding of religious liberty was always broader than the narrow confines of one’s personal faith; to him, it was about the very architecture of a free society, about creating a public space in which all voices could speak without fear of persecution or discrimination.
Jan Figel’s deep commitment to these ideals took him to the European stage in 2004, when Slovakia joined the European Union. His ascent was swift, and soon he was appointed as Slovakia’s Minister for Transport, Posts, and Telecommunications. However, his devotion to human rights remained steadfast, even in a role that required him to focus on infrastructure. When the opportunity arose to advocate for greater religious freedoms on the EU stage, he found himself drawn once again to the global conversation on religious liberty.
In 2016, after serving as Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and as a key figure in EU diplomatic circles, Figel was appointed as the European Union’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief. In this capacity, he has served as both a voice of advocacy and a mediator, navigating delicate international waters where religious freedoms are threatened by authoritarian regimes, radical ideologies, and growing intolerance.
At the heart of Figel’s work lies an understanding that religious freedom is inextricably linked to the health of democracy itself. In countries where religious rights are under attack, it is not only faith that suffers — it is the entire social fabric. Without the ability to believe freely, without the space to practice and express faith openly, individuals are deprived of a central aspect of their humanity. It is this conviction that has made Figel a tireless advocate for the rights of minority faith communities, particularly in regions where those communities are most vulnerable.
His approach to diplomacy is distinct. While others may shout or appeal to emotion, Figel’s method is more akin to the patient work of a mediator. He has always been someone who seeks common ground, looking for opportunities to build bridges rather than tear down walls. In the halls of the United Nations, at conferences of religious freedom advocates, or in meetings with foreign diplomats, Figel’s voice is calm but firm, composed but unwavering. He is not a politician who seeks to dominate the conversation, but rather one who understands that the best outcomes are often those reached quietly, through thoughtful negotiation and a commitment to shared values.
One of Jan Figel’s most significant achievements as the EU Special Envoy has been his advocacy for the persecuted religious minorities in the Middle East. The region has seen a rise in violence against religious groups, particularly against Christians, Yazidis, and other smaller sects, as extremist ideologies have taken root. Figel has been vocal in bringing these issues to the attention of the international community, urging European leaders to take a stand in support of religious minorities. In doing so, he has proven to be not just an advocate, but a translator of the world’s suffering — bringing it into the halls of power, ensuring that those who are often overlooked are not forgotten.
But Figel’s influence extends beyond the Middle East. He has also worked tirelessly to promote religious freedom within the European Union, ensuring that laws and policies within the EU respect the right of individuals to practice their faith without fear of discrimination. The rise of populism and nationalism in Europe has led to a growing climate of suspicion and intolerance, with religious minorities increasingly finding themselves marginalized. Figel’s work in this area has been instrumental in pushing back against these forces, reminding European leaders that religious freedom is not just an abstract concept but a foundational pillar of the EU’s values.
He has also played a critical role in establishing and advancing interfaith dialogues, recognizing that true religious freedom is not just about legal rights, but about fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. Figel has been a strong proponent of building relationships between people of different faiths, believing that through dialogue and cooperation, common ground can be found even among the most divergent beliefs. In a world increasingly divided by ideological and religious lines, Figel’s work is a reminder that peace does not emerge from the absence of disagreement, but from the willingness to engage and seek understanding despite it.
Despite the gravity of his work, Figel remains a deeply humble figure. His demeanor is far from the typical profile of a diplomat or political leader. There is no sense of grandiosity in his actions; rather, he appears more concerned with the results of his efforts than with their visibility. He is known for his deep listening, his ability to hear what is unsaid, and for his quiet persistence in the face of resistance. This humility, combined with his unshakable commitment to human rights, has earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues, even those who disagree with him on other issues.
In describing himself, Jan Figel once remarked, “I am a humble and weak man in service to my God and neighbour.” This statement encapsulates the essence of his character — a man whose service to others is not borne out of a desire for recognition or power, but out of a deep, unwavering belief in the importance of serving something greater than himself. It is this sense of humility that has shaped his entire approach to religious freedom — he does not view himself as a hero or a savior, but as a servant, quietly working for justice, without fanfare.
For Figel, religious freedom is not an abstract ideal but a matter of daily life. It is a cause that he has dedicated his life to, and one that he pursues with the kind of quiet intensity that is often overlooked in a world that favors spectacle over substance. His work is not about seeking glory or power, but about ensuring that people around the world can live their lives according to their deepest convictions — without fear, without repression, and without violence.
Today, Figel remains dedicated to the belief that religious freedom is essential not just for the flourishing of individuals, but for the future of society itself. His work continues to shape the contours of European policy on religious freedom, even as he quietly works behind the scenes to support those whose rights are under threat.
To engage with Jan Figel is to encounter someone whose values are not contingent on the current political winds, but on a deeper understanding of the world’s enduring struggles. His is a diplomacy of principle, not posturing; of conviction, not convenience. In a world filled with noise, Figel’s quiet resolve stands as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of truth, justice, and religious freedom is a path that requires patience, courage, and, above all, the unwavering belief that these values can, and must, be defended.
In the end, Jan Figel’s work is not about achieving personal success or recognition. It is about creating a world where people of all faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs can live in freedom and dignity. And in this quiet pursuit, he continues to build, brick by brick, a more just and peaceful world for future generations.
The bloc has “lost its credibility as a commercial power guided by human values,” human rights activist said.
Between 2016 and 2024, the European Union spent upwards of €150 million on education in Pakistan, according to a 2024 report entitled Pakistan, Education System, Curriculum and EU Funding,authoredby Sallux/ECPM (the European Christian Political Movement).
The ECPM report contains over 40 pages of excerpts and pictures from textbooks which show that the views expressed in Pakistan’s official curriculum are not compatible with the EU values expressed in its Charter of Fundamental Rights.
This misuse of EU taxpayers’ money was revealed at a gathering at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva during the recent 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) encourages developing countries (such as Pakistan) to pursue sustainable development and good governance. Eligible countries must implement 27 international conventions on “human rights, labor rights, the environment and good governance”.
The EU is currently Pakistan’s second most important trading partner as, two years ago, it accounted for 15.3% of Pakistan’s total trade. Pakistan is a major beneficiary of the trading opportunities offered by the EU’s GSP. Since January 1, 2014, Pakistan has benefited from generous tariff preferences (mostly zero duties on two-thirds of all product categories) under the so-called GSP+ arrangement.
The event at UN headquarters, titled “Human Rights in Pakistan: Education Under Siege—Ideology, Intolerance, and the Erosion of Human Rights in Pakistan,” spotlighted the country’s Islamic extremist education system and its escalating human rights abuses. It was organized by CAP Freedom of Conscience, a French NGO with special consultative status to the UN, Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), and Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD).
Former EU Commissioner Ján Figeľ, also the first EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Relief outside the EU, said in his keynote address that “Pakistan’s constitutional and penal structures—particularly the blasphemy laws—are uniquely harsh and foster widespread discrimination.”
Figeľ cited a case where Pakistani Islamic clerics forced a college professor, Sher Ali, to publicly renounce teaching a number of beliefs and ideas as against Islamic law. One such idea was Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. In 2022, Ali’s car was attacked with a magnetic bomb, leaving him in a wheelchair for months.
“Pakistan is the largest beneficiary of GSP+ preferences, yet there has been little improvement in human rights,” he said. “ The EU must reassess the cost of this silence.”
His call was backed by Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers. “This is not education—it is ideological coercion,” Fautré said. “The EU’s credibility is at stake. If Europe is to remain a human rights actor, it must ensure that public funds do not enable the erosion of pluralism and academic freedom.”
By accepting de facto this situation and by failing to sanction Pakistan’s non-implementation of the GSP+, the EU has misused the money of the EU taxpayers and has lost its credibility as a commercial power guided by human values.”
Fautré listed some of the “persistent egregious human rights violations that have remained unchanged for 10 years,” including the fabrication of blasphemy cases against Christians, Ahmadis, and other religious minorities; acts of violence and mob violence against members of minority religious communities; and the persistence of madrassah religious schools, beacons of indoctrination and extremism, which are out of control of the state.
Akey topic addressed by speakers was the ‘Single National Curriculum (SNC),’” which was introduced in 2020 in Pakistani state schools.
“[The curriculum] drew strong criticisms from education experts and human rights defenders for its lack of inclusivity, the over-emphasis on Islamic religious content at the expense of religious minorities, the subliminal ideology of Islamic supremacy and poor pedagogy,” Fautré noted.
The human rights organization Open Doors also referred in its 2024 report to Pakistan’s “increasingly Islamizing culture” and educational system:
The introduction of a ‘Single National Curriculum’ in schools denigrates religious minorities and enforces the teaching of the Quran and subjects like Mathematics and Science in an Islamized manner. Thus, religion is permeating school education, dividing children and families. Radical Islamic groups are flourishing … and are used by various political groups as allies.
Inna Chefranova, Executive Director of theEuropean Facilitation Platform, addressed the plight of girls from religious minorities who are subjected to abductions, forced conversion, and forced ’marriage.’ She cited the case of a 13-year-old Catholic girl, Arzoo Raja, who was abducted, converted to Islam, and forcibly married to an older man in 2020, illustrating the consequences of Pakistan’s judiciary and education system.
“The EU cannot continue to provide GSP+ privileges while systemic abuse persists. Monitoring without enforcement fails victims,” Chefranova said. “Education should be a tool of inclusion, not indoctrination. Until reforms are implemented, support should be conditional on measurable progress.”
A recorded message from MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen, Co-Chair of the EU Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief, was also shared during the event.
“We fund education in Pakistan, yet we disavow responsibility for what that education teaches. That is unacceptable,” Ruissen noted.
A 2024 inquiry made by Ruissen to the European Commissionconfirmed that EU taxpayers’ money had been provided to “religious seminaries” in Pakistan. Referring to the inquiry, Ruissen called for parliamentary action. He noted that “the EU must integrate these concerns into the upcoming GSP+ review. We cannot subsidize hate and exclusion.”
As a result, the EU enables a discriminatory and extremist curriculum which leads to the further Islamization of the Pakistani population. The EU is also supporting the oppression of everyone in the country who is not an Islamist, an abusive culture that is transported to Europe through mass migration. Sadly, it appears that the EU has—to a certain extent—become an enabler of Islamization in both the Old Continent and overseas.
On 26 March, CAP/ Liberté de conscience and Human Rights Without Frontiers organized a side-event about the situation of Human Rights in Pakistan. The keynote speaker was Mr Jan Figel, EU Commissioner for Education (2004-2009) and former EU Special Envoy of Freedom of Religion or Belief (2016-2019). Here are the main insights of his presentation.
HRWF (19.04.2025) – “Pakistan is a big country with a big potential. It’s a nuclear power but also a relatively poor state. The European Union has a special relation with this country due to the GSP+ trade agreement which is normally or basically oriented towards the least developed countries to facilitate their exports to Europe. In this regard, Pakistan is by far the largest partner of the European Union and the biggest beneficiary of this arrangement. The impact of the European Union policy should and can therefore be significant.”
The EU, freedom of religion or belief and human dignity in Pakistan
“Freedom of religion or belief is a very central human right. It’s in the centre of the whole list of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The centrality of Article 18 is very important and the content is very particular. It is in fact freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.
It speaks about human rationality, morality and spirituality. It is important for all, believers, non-believers, for people from A to Z, which means from Atheists up to Zoroastrians. It is for all, not only some, not only majorities, not only minorities. It is for all.
And it is actually a litmus test of all human rights because it is internal, it is the deepest freedom of a human being. In addition, there is a very close or deep nexus between religious freedom and human dignity.
As I said, Article 18 speaks about rationality, morality and spirituality of each human person. And human dignity is the basis of freedom, peace, justice and equality. It’s the precondition of a dignified life.
And of course, human dignity is a fact from which human duties and human rights are derived.
It is mentioned five times in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and also in many constitutions, including the constitution of India, Pakistan and my country, Slovakia. The problem is that for many people in Pakistan human dignity is not respected today.””
The roots of the disregard of human dignity
“The reasons are mostly linked to the state policies which started or were inherited from the time of Zia ul Haq’s government in Pakistan and the military junta which came with the Islamisation of the state to keep the ideology in power, not only with guns. For example, the penal code was moved to an extreme level. It is indeed very exceptional to have a penal code providing for death penalty or lifelong imprisonment on blasphemy charges. It’s unique and mandatory. It means a lot of damage for peaceful coexistence and cohabitation. I would say politically that the legacy of Zia ul Haq in Pakistan is today more important than the legacy of Ali Jinnah, the founding father, the dreamer, the visionary of a future Pakistan being a tolerant and pluralistic country.
Unfortunately, I have seen personally, being there several times, that extremist movements are stronger than political parties. They can paralyse the state, state authorities and law enforcement in the country.
The justice system is functioning but it is slow and relatively weak. Education, which is so important, is marked by ideology, intolerance, supremacy of one religion. It serves or works against inclusion of all. Madrasas are institutions of radicalisation.”
The impact of the disregard of human dignity
“Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus and other minorities are under pressure and discrimination in Pakistan. There are extensive attacks on a daily basis and of course there are damages on places of worship, cultural heritage and so on. Pakistan is regrettably very often in the leading group in negative rankings about the situation of human rights or religious freedom reports.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom put Pakistan in the CPC category, Countries of Particular Concern. Also Aid to the Church in Need or Open Doors and other NGOs.
Positive change or difference is however possible. I was several times in Pakistan. When I was there, it was not to interfere into domestic issues but it was for a dialogue between mature partners, with respect but also with clear principles: mutually beneficial and win-win policies, working together and even achieving some improvements.
The GSP+ was and remains a very important and great instrument as it grants enormous trade privileges to Pakistan. My message was mainly that in Pakistan a status quo is not enough and cannot be taken for granted and with satisfaction. Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s a general principle.
It’s not only in Pakistan but it is everywhere. And therefore, to modernise, mobilise and work on justice for all is important. A personal experience as an example.
A lady was sentenced twice to death and spent nine years on the death row. Her family who was under enormous threats was taken care by another family. In 2019, we managed to save the caretaking family with the kids first, then the mother, her husband and also another family, a Muslim family which was also under existential threat as they had helped me as interpreters in the Punjab.
So, this religious intolerance or hatred is damaging for all, not only for minorities, but also for majorities. I wanted to mention this case to stress that the European Union did life-saving work. The EU can do it, it can help, it can really make a difference even in countries like Pakistan but it must be more systematic.”
Pakistan’s controversial school education system
“Ladies and gentlemen, the silence of the European Commission in times of persecution and violent extremism is often painful, which is the case with Pakistan. The promotion of societal segregation from early childhood is against human rights, peaceful coexistence and social inclusion of minorities. EU’s financial assistance to detrimental religious education in Pakistan should therefore be stopped immediately. We too often hear soft words and messages from the European Union and United Nations agencies but courageous and efficient action and deeds are missing or fail to follow.
From 2004 to 2009, I was an EU Commissioner for Education. My input to the current or next generations of the world 20 years ago was the Erasmus Mundus Project, the best ever university exchange and mobility program. I also implemented the Bologna Process which aims to make it possible for academic qualifications to be recognized EU-wide and 16 years ago I launched the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a life-long learning program.
The message of this program was that ‘education unites.’ This sort of education is needed in Pakistan for Pakistani, for people living and struggling there. Not in exile or elsewhere in the world but at home in Pakistan.” They could hereby be better off, they could be richer and they should be richer.”
A call to the EU and the UN
“I call on the UN agencies, the European Parliament and the Commission to review their education support for Pakistan and I call on the EU to review its GSP+ agreement with Pakistan, this year, with an unquestionable commitment to human dignity for all and human rights for all, including for religious and ethnic minorities. It is now without delay that it must start.”
Peace in Europe is needed and possible. It is the basis of stability, the goal of security and a precondition for prosperity of countries. On May 9, 1950, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman came up with a plan to create the European Coal and Steel Community as an offer to defeated Germany and other countries. It was a surprise to many, an illusion or an unrealistic plan to others. Communists attacked Schuman as a traitor of France. But since 1950 this peace community grew into a 27-member European Union with a single market, the Schengen system, and a common currency.
By linking the production and trade of commodities essential for the economy and for waging war, the peaceful interest of the perpetual enemies prevailed. Over 75 years, from Kanzler Bismarck through Kaiser Villiam II. to Reichsführer Hitler they had repeatedly exterminated millions of soldiers and civilians.
Before his death, Schuman – Father of Europe reminded that
“we must create Europe not only in the interests of free nations, but also to welcome the nations of the East, who, after being freed from the oppression to which they are subjected, will ask us for acceptance and our moral support”…
The first democratic Chancellor of Germany Konrad Adenauer also thought similarly: “A united Europe was the dream of a few, the desire of many and has become a necessity for all.” However, for several reasons, process of forming a peaceful Europe as a whole remains an unfinished reality. The common European house, often spoken of by R. Schuman and later by Soviet President M. Gorbachev, has not been built. We have a bloody, tragic war here again, which was fully launched by the invasion of Russia in February 2022, but its roots are much deeper. For more than 10 years, there is the so-called Second Cold War. Let us remember that three European wars in the XX Century became global ones – the First, the Second and the Cold. The West won the Cold War, but we did not win peace. Ukraine and the collective West are not winning over Russia in the current war. Immense damage and negative long-term consequences are growing every day. Many commentators, experts and politicians describe it as a so-called proxy war between the USA and the RF carried out on the territory of Ukraine.
The principles of the Schuman Plan have not been exhausted. They are like the roots from which the tree or the human community live. Roots – that is not the past, that is the present and the future. Roots are necessity. Calls are voiced from the capitals of Western Europe to increase armaments, to re-arm Europe, to increase defense spending. Indebted states and weakened economies will not get strengthened by this shift. With a policy of deterrence, we may win or at least draw in this Second Cold War, but we will surely not win peace.
It is necessary to treat the causes, not the symptoms of the conflict. 75 years ago, the peace process was initiated by France and Germany as the long-term enemies. Today it is a challenge for the two military-industrial and biggest nuclear powers in our civilizational space. The USA and Russia have been in confrontation for a decade now. After a significant change in foreign and domestic policy in the USA with inauguration of President D. Trump and the Republican majorities in the Senate and House of the Congress, decisions are quick, often surprising or controversial, but strongly focused on ending the war.
Where I see a path to peace? Transformation of relations begins with dialogue. It has started. Continues with mutually beneficial, win-win cooperation and is directed towards a qualitative change in relations – towards a new community of nations. This long-term vision is not about leaders – Trump or Biden, nor about Putin or Zelensky. Leaders are mortal, they come and go. Peace is in the interests of nations that persist and must shoulder the hardships of war and burden of human losses. Countries and borders use to change in wars. But the most valuable are people. The value of a person goes beyond material dimensions. Therefore, it is important to seek the end of fratricidal devastation by seeking a new quality of relations, focused on the dignity of each person, family, nation and community. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army Oleksandr Syrskyi has parents and a brother living in Moscow. They are Russians. This example speaks painfully.
The dialogue between the USA and Russia should focus on crucial commodities and resources for the conduct of confrontation, conflict and war – on energy, natural resources, information technologies, and protection of intellectual property. The combination of said resources and commodities and related infrastructure into common markets should be offered to other countries as well. Activities of these common markets will boost economic growth and competitiveness of participating countries.
This community will connect Alaska with Kamchatka through Europe and Central Asia. The Northern Hemisphere Community or West-East Community will span over three continents, with Europe in the center. History, close relations and interests speak in favor of a new and decisive action for the global development in the XXI Century. This would create the largest multinational community focused on peaceful cooperation in the world. This would indeed represent a Great Deal for participating nations. It would have a positive impact on the Middle East, Africa and other regions of the world. Such a community would bring unprecedented development to the participating states, economies and regions. It is not against the interests, continuation and better functioning of the EU. Part of such a qualitative change worthy of a more humane XXI Century is also a shared security architecture, which does not exclude a future defense alliance.
This vision of rapprochement and cooperation between the West and the East will take a long and demanding process. It is in line with the image presented by the great Pope St. John Paul II of Europe breathing with both lungs – the Western and the Eastern. Today the West is sick with ethical relativism and new ideologies, and the East is bleeding in fratricidal conflict. This image gives recognition to the Christians spiritual heritage of European continent.
Perhaps such a vision may seem surprising or improbable at this moment, perhaps unacceptable to some. US Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote about Schuman Plan in his memoirs as “a breathtaking step towards the unification of Western Europe, which he could not even understand at first.” Today, we take the EU for granted…
We need such a breathtaking U-turn in the current situation. Crisis and ongoing tragedy may turn into a historical disaster or into a new beginning for the qualitative change of relations. Within the framework of such a Great Deal, an acceptable solution for peace in Ukraine, for the return of refugees and for the dynamic and successful reconstruction of the destroyed territories will also be found more easily and more quickly.
It is precisely the Central Europe, which have often been in the history the battlefield in wars between powers from the West and from the East. Central European nations remember invasion and occupation, the loss of freedom and independence, but also restoration of freedom democracy, successful transformation and integration into a common Europe. Therefore, Europe should play an active, constructive and creative role for its own better future. The EU needs to become a peace maker and producer, more than a peace fruit and consumer. Creative and constructive efforts for peace must outweigh extensive war efforts. Therefore, we in the West need above all more wisdom and more courage for a reasonable and responsible policy, rather than only more money for ammunition and armaments. We need statesmen and leadership who see the big picture and look into the distance, to the next generations. Concerning future, I recommend neither a cheap optimism, nor a dark pessimism, but first of all we must stay committed. Peace, security and prosperity in our civilizational space is possible and achievable!
This keynote address by Ján Figeľ, former EU Commissioner and the first EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union, was delivered during a side event at the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on 26 March 2025.
The event, titled “Human Rights in Pakistan: Education Under Siege – Ideology, Intolerance, and the Erosion of Human Rights in Pakistan,” was organised by CAP Liberté de Conscience (France), Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), and Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD).
Figeľ’s intervention focused on the centrality of freedom of religion or belief as a core human right, essential to dignity, peace, and social cohesion. He examined Pakistan as a case study, citing systemic religious persecution, discriminatory education policy, and the politicisation of religious ideology. He also addressed the European Union’s responsibility, given Pakistan’s status as the largest beneficiary of the GSP+ trade arrangement, and called for a principled and consistent EU approach.
The keynote concluded with a call for concrete action, including the review of EU assistance programmes and education support to Pakistan, with a clear commitment to human dignity and universal human rights.
COMMENTARY: Seventy-five years ago, Robert Schuman’s vision for economic partnership among the combatants of World War II led to the creation of the now 27-member European Union. A new West-East economic and trade community could make Schuman’s goal of lasting peace a reality.
French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman delivers a speech during a press conference at The Quai d’Orsay prior to the publication of the north atlantic pact in Paris on March 18, 1949. (photo: News Photo / Getty Images)
March 25, 2025
Peace in Europe is needed and possible. But as the Cold War of the last century demonstrated, there is a difference between an end to open hostilities and real peace. The best way to achieve the latter is through multilateral agreements that prioritize economic and trade cooperation and the common good.
This was the vision that Robert Schuman had in the aftermath of World War II. Today we recognize Schuman as a modern-day “Father of Europe.” But on May 9, 1950, when he was the French foreign minister, his proposal to invite Germany and other countries to form a cooperative European Coal and Steel Community — shrewdly creating a common market for the very commodities necessary for waging war — was dismissed by many as illusory. Communists attacked Schuman as a traitor of France.
Declared “Venerable” by Pope Francis in 2021, Schuman persevered, as great statesmen do. And over the next 75 years, his peace community grew into a 27-member European Union with a single market — the Schengen system — and a common currency.
Before his death in 1963, Schuman emphasized that “we must create Europe not only in the interests of free nations, but also to welcome the nations of the East, who, after being freed from the oppression to which they are subjected, will ask us for acceptance and our moral support.” The first democratic chancellor of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, thought similarly. “A united Europe,” he observed, “was the dream of a few, the desire of many and has become a necessity for all.”
However, for several reasons, the formation of a peaceful Europe remains an unfinished project. The now-three-year-old war in Ukraine testifies to this tragic reality.
The bloodshed must stop. Yet the nations of Western Europe are making a critical mistake if they applaud those who say the solution is to boost defense spending and rearm themselves. Indebted states and weakened economies will not be strengthened by this shift. With a policy of deterrence, we may win or at least achieve a draw in this Second Cold War, but we will surely not win peace.
The principles of the Schuman Plan have not been exhausted. They are like the roots from which the tree of the human community draw life.
Transformation of relations begins with dialogue, which is now underway on the initiative of the new Trump administration in the United States. It is paramount, though, that these efforts be directed toward the creation of a new community of nations.
In that vein, the dialogue between the United States and Russia should focus on establishing common markets, open to other countries and designed for the participants’ mutual benefit, for the crucial commodities needed to wage war. This would encompass not only natural resources and energy but information technologies and the protection of intellectual property.
Such a Northern Hemisphere Community or West-East Community would connect Alaska with Kamchatka through Europe and Central Asia, spanning three continents — with Europe at its center. It would bring unprecedented development to the participating states, economies and regions.
This kind of framework need not supplant or rival the EU. But part of such a qualitative change, worthy of a more humane 21st century, is the need for a shared security architecture, which does not exclude a future defense alliance.
This long-term vision is not about leaders, who come and go. Peace is in the interests of nations that persist and must shoulder the hardships of war and the burden of human losses. The value of a person goes beyond material dimensions. Therefore, it is important to seek the end of fratricidal devastation by seeking a new quality of relations, focused on the dignity of each person, family, nation and community. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, has parents and a brother living in Moscow. They are Russians. This example speaks painfully.
This vision of rapprochement and cooperation between the West and the East will require a long and demanding process. It is in line with the image presented by the great Pope St. John Paul II of Europe breathing with both lungs — the West and the East. Today the West is sick with ethical relativism and new ideologies, and the East is bleeding in fratricidal conflict.
Perhaps such a vision may seem surprising or improbable at this moment, perhaps unacceptable to some. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote about the Schuman Plan in his memoirs as “a breathtaking step towards the unification of Western Europe, which he could not even understand at first.”Today we take the EU for granted.
We need such a breathtaking U-turn in the current situation. Crisis and ongoing tragedy of war may turn into a historical disaster or into a new beginning for the qualitative change of relations. Within the framework of such a Great Deal, an acceptable solution for peace in Ukraine, for the return of refugees and for the dynamic and successful reconstruction of the destroyed territories will also be found more easily and more quickly.
We in the West need above all more wisdom and more courage for a reasonable and responsible policy, rather than only more money for ammunition and armaments. We need statesmen and leaders who see the big picture and look into the distance to future generations.
Concerning the future, I recommend neither a cheap optimism, nor a dark pessimism, but first of all we must stay committed. Peace, security and prosperity in our civilizational space is possible and achievable!
