WUNRN
http://www.religiousfreedom.eu/our-work/press-releases/
Via Human Rights Without Frontiers
European Parliament Intergroup Presents Its First Freedom of Religion or Belief World Report
Important Report Components for WOMEN, FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
Direct Link to Full 69-Page 2014 Report:
http://www.religiousfreedom.eu/file/2015/06/2014-Intergroup-Report-FINAL.pdf
Dennis de Jong MEP, Co-President
of the EP Intergroup on FoRB & RT and co-author of the Intergroup's report
said: "For the report we have made a thorough analysis of all available
material. Unfortunately, we can only conclude that violations of freedom of
religion or belief have become more frequent and intense. Despite the adoption
of the EU-Guidelines on the protection of FoRB, it still depends very much on
the individual priorities of embassies and delegations whether the EU and its
Member States raise the issue of freedom of religion or belief with third
countries and take appropriate action. On the basis of the current report, the
Intergroup will closely monitor the developments, especially in the countries
of concern, and put pressure on the EEAS and the Member States to take more
effective action. To this effect we included both institutional and country
specific recommendations in the report."
The report which was well received by the European Institutions,
religious or belief groups and civil society comprises chapters on freedom of
religion or belief in five regions of the world and documented violations
committed by states, non-state actors or both. The report also has a thematic
chapter on violence against places of worship and holy places. The Intergroup
included this chapter to raise awareness of the targeting of sites by
totalitarian and extremist groups in attempts to eradicate religious or belief
communities in certain countries. In its concluding chapters the report lists
institutional recommendations for more effective promotion and protection of
FoRB in the European Union's (EU) external policies as well as country-specific
recommendations regarding identified countries of particular
concern.