Respect for minorities, beliefs and religions, Brussels - Main contents

© Kevin Bergenhenegouwen

This hearing will examine the state of international law on freedom of thought, conscience and religion and study lessons learned from past policies and actions that have contributed towards its protection. Participants will also discuss best practices of interreligious dialogue for promoting tolerance and fighting against discrimination based on religious motivations.

The EU must continue its efforts to protect freedom of thought, conscience and religion, without fostering a particular belief, both inside and outside its borders.

Location: Room: SPAAK 5B001

Last updated: 17-02-2020

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  European Parliament

  2019 - 2024

  Subcommittee on Human Rights

  PUBLIC HEARING

  Respect for minorities, beliefs and religions

  Monday, 17 February 2020, 17.00 - 18.30

  Room: SPAAK P5B001 European Parliament, Brussels

  DRAFT PROGRAMME

  17.00 - 17.10 Opening remarks by Ms Maria Arena, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights

  17.10 - 17.20 Dr. Erin Wilson, Associate Professor of Global Politics and Religion, Vice Dean and Director of Education, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Groningen, Netherlands

  17.20 - 17.30 Mr Muhammad Nuruddeen Lemu, Director of Research and Training, Da’wah Institute of Nigeria, Islamic Education Trust, Minna, Nigeria

  17.30 - 17.40 Ms Marcela Szymanski, Editor-in-Chief, Report “Religious Freedom in the World” and Head of the EU Office and Advocacy, Aid to the Church in Need -ACN International

  17.40 - 18.20 Debate

  18.20 - 18.30

  Concluding remarks by Ms Maria Arena, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights

The Subcommittee on Human Rights is responsible for:

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  Evaluating the implementation of EU instruments in the field of human rights and democracy, the right to hold the Commission and the Council accountable for for their activities in this area.
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  Ensuring the continuous dialogue with international agencies working in the field of human rights in order to guarantee consistency between EU and international instruments in this field.
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  Providing a platform for the analysis of human rights claims related to specific topics and/or regions and using this platform for input on human rights and democracy in reports to the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, agreements with third countries included.
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  Preparation of own-initiative reports on specific human rights instruments.
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  The 'mainstreaming' of human rights claims in the different organs (committees and delegations) of the European Parliament.
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  Organising and preparing the procedure for awarding the Sakharov Prize.
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  Equipping delegations of the Subcommittee.
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  Providing a platform for a permanent dialogue with representatives of civil society.