Report on event on “The Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the World”

Report on event on “The Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the World”

European Parliament event on “The Situation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the World”

Christel Ngnambi – This event had been planned for October 2013 but fell through because of an MEP’s office. Among EPRID, we had been spreading the word and I had been chosen to speak on behalf of civil society. My speech focussed on the progres we have achieved in recent years and the work of the EU (the European Parliament and European External Action Service (EEAS) in particular) as well as the UN and U.S. – the United Sates Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief were sharing the platform along with me with the host MEPs. The event was a significant success with more than 100 participants, and many follow-up conversations, photos, radio and TV interviews. The Ambassador of Canada was there in person (I was the only one to acknowledge his presense by the way!) and the day finished with a dinner at his residence. The dinner was a very interesting experience, despite the fact that I’d had to end up walking quite a long distance and arrive late. The Ambassador warmly welcomed me as I arrived and told me that “Now, the interesting conversation could start” (laughs!). The dinner brought together USCIRF, the UN Special Rapporteur, an EEAS representative, the European Commission representative, Marina Zaitsava for the European Parliament, an Anglican Church representative, a Canadian Embassy worker and a representative of the office of the Canadian Ambassador for Religious Freedom. Interestingly, most of the conversation centred on how Europe can ‘practice what it preaches’ and better honour freedom of conscience within the borders of the EU. Issues like anti-religious sentiments, religious discrimination, diversity in Europe, secularism, freedom of conscience and reasonable accommodation were quite amply discussed, with the active participation of the Canadians around the table. (For information, religious freedom has been selected as one of the focus areas of Canadian foreign policy back in 2012.) What’s more, the points of view emerging as we discussed were espousing quite well what EEA has been lobbying for and arguing for the last three years. The conversation itself was a measurable sign that decision-makers are moving on this issue. One of the participants said, very rightly, that it would have been almost impossible to have such a deep conversation of that kind even one year ago. Clearly, EEA’s Vision 2020 activities for the last two years have seriously helped steering the proverbial boat in the right direction.

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