The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics Key to Secularism in Europe

(UK) National Secular Society

News Release

23 April 2013

Victory for campaigners as Government outlaws caste discrimination

The National Secular Society has welcomed news that the UK Government has climbed down following its defeat last night in the House of Lords and agreed to make discrimination on grounds of caste unlawful.

Last night (Monday) peers voted to retain their original amendment making caste a protected characteristic (as an aspect of race) under equality law via a new clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. The vote was won by 181 votes to 168.

The Government has now conceded on the principle and has tabled an amendment which requires the Secretary of State to bring forward regulations to include Caste as an aspect of Race (under Section 9(5) of the Equality Act 2010) two months after the enactment of the Enterprise Bill.

Last week the Commons voted to reject the amendment by 64 votes. Earlier the peers had voted in favour of the amendment by 103 votes.

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society (NSS), commented: “We are delighted that the Government has committed to ensure that discrimination against caste will enjoy the same statutory protection as other protected characteristics. Too many British citizens have suffered caste based discrimination. Our equality legislation will now send out a clear signal that it will no longer be tolerated, and offers hope to the tens of thousands of British Asians whose lives are blighted by such prejudice.

“The ‘Informal conciliation’ solution proposed by the Government, possibly in deference to high caste (and high influence) Hindus, was woefully inadequate for such deep-seated discrimination that can ruin people’s lives.

“We particularly regret the Government’s refusal until today to follow the UN’s recommendation (pdf) to bring in this legislation, especially as to do so was an international obligation. A few months ago, the NSS delivered a legal opinion we had commissioned to the Government that confirmed that the UK was in breach of its international treaty obligations by not outlawing caste. We had worked with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) to raise this matter at the UN in Geneva, assisted by its head of mission, Roy Brown.

“This is a victory for the Lords and their emphasis on protecting Human Rights. Special thanks go to Lord Avebury, Lord Harries of Pentregarth and Baroness Thornton for promoting this cause, which the National Secular Society has been campaigning on for several years since the first world Conference on Untouchability (pdf) convened by IHEU in London in 2009.

“We are proud that the UK is the first European country to pass this legislation and hope that other nations where caste discrimination is practised will follow the example of India, and now the UK.”

For further details on this issue, please see our briefing on caste discrimination (pdf).

Quoted on BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22267147

On the 25^th of April the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics (EPPSP) posted a meeting on freedom of religion or belief in external EU-policies.

In her introductory speech EPPSP Chair Sophie in ‘t Veld (NL, ALDE) clarified the issues at stake: “How can the European Union and its’ member states actively assure the protection of freedom of religion and promote a secular democracy via external policies through for example the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the staff in embassies?”

EPPSP Vice Chair Dennis de Jong (NL, GUE) stressed the importance of some aspects concerning freedom of religion: the freedom to change religion or belief, the collective right of the exercise of this liberty. According to the guidelines for the EU officials of European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU does not promote any religion or belief. Human rights are there to protect people no institutions. The EU must demonstrate absolute neutrality in religious matters. The question of how to protect non-organized non-believers deserves our attention as well. “All religions and beliefs, also non-religious beliefs, deserve protection” Mr de Jong concluded.

Mr Lorenzo Zucca, Reader in Jurisprudence at King’s College London demanded that attention should be given to the “real problems”: rights of women and children and the protection of ethnic (not only religious) minorities. He warned for the European “hubris” while promoting and introducing (“imposing”) our secular values to non-Western countries. He also touched upon the difference of freedom of religion within the EU and in foreign affairs. Mr Zucca also stood still at the uniqueness of the right of religion: does it need special protection?

Mr Robert-Jan Uhl, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief stated that the freedom of religion is recognized in various international conventions and treaties (going back to Helsinki, 1975). He explained some basic elements of the freedom: right to build places of worship, prisoners’ rights to moral and spiritual assistance, the legal personality of religious organizations. According to Mr Uhl, the EU could do more on the right of religious objection for instance. He stressed the need for more training of EU officials when working abroad. Also, he said the EU applies sometimes double standards: for ex. blasphemy laws, recognition of religious organizations, and protection of individuals.

In his intervention MEP Michael Cashman (UK, S&D) stated that religion is a private matter and that imposition of religion or religious values on others is simply unacceptable. End must be made to the intolerance towards homophobia by religions.

Questions from the audience concerned the inclusion of non-believers rights in the Human Rights council of the United Nations (and the role of EU institutions). Some severe critique was uttered on the attitudes of the representative of the EEAS.

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, chair of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics (EPPSP) cordially invites you to the Platform’s next lunchtime meeting:

Freedom of religion in external EU policies

Thursday 25th of April 2013

12h30 – 14h00

European Parliament, ASP 5G1

In the presence of:

Mr Dennis de Jong,Member of the European Parliament (GUE/SP) and vice-chair of the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics

Mr Robert-Jan Uhl, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights´s Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Mr Lorenzo Zucca, Reader in Jurisprudence and specialized in the relation between law and religion in the European public sphere, King´s College London

The purpose of this meeting is to get better insight into the freedom of religion and belief via external policies. How can the European Union and its’ member states actively assure the protection of freedom of religion and promote a secular democracy via external policies through for example the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the staff in embassies?

Programme:

11h45    Accreditation at the entrance of Place Luxembourg

12h00    Lunch 12h30    Start of the event: welcome note and introduction of the panellists by Ms Sophie in ‘t Veld 12h40    Introductory speech Mr Lorenzo Zucca

12h50    Introductory speech Mr Robert-Jan Uhl

13h00    Introductory speech Mr Dennis de Jong

13h10    Debate among panellists and audience

13h55    Conclusions by Ms Sophie in ‘t Veld

14h00    End of the event 

The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics is a cross party working group of members of the European Parliament. The Platform addresses issues relating to the relationship between religion, philosophical convictions and politics. The EPPSP organizes public meetings on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policy issues, such as education, sexual and reproductive health rights, development aid, research and ethics, freedom of speech, gay rights and women’s rights. Representatives from both civil society and the EU institutions play an active role in the debates and initiatives coming out of the Platform. The EPPSP is a Platform for all those who favour the secular nature of the EU institutions, and the strict separation of church and state at EU level.

Please register and email your full name, ID no. and date of birth to Leonne van Vlimmeren – Sophie.intveld-office@europarl.europa.eu before the 21st of April. For those who have already confirmed their attendance, we took notice of your registration.

www.politicsreligion.com

During the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics (EPPSP) on “Women in Changing Societies”, the case for religious and secular states in relation with women’s rights has been discussed. What challenges do women face in current societies, be it secular or religious, and how should the European Union respond? Sophie In ‘t Veld, the chair of this platform, moderated the panel debate.

Vicky Claeys (European Network Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation), Annegret Laakmann (co-founder of Frauenwürde) and Anka Grzywacz (representative of Catholics for Choice Europe) contributed as speakers with knowledge and examples that made the panel debate instructive and profound.

The speakers started the panel debate with the point of view that the topic of women’s rights in secular and religious societies is one that is highly politicized. Also important for the speakers was to start with the acknowledgement that the issue does not only contain abortion, but also includes less invasive cases such as having access to assistance, family planning and their way of clothing.

At the start of the debate all speakers and Sophie In ‘t Veld stated that religion has still too much influence on policy decisions of national governments and this is sometimes in contravention with the rule of law. Annegret Laakmann pointed with her introductory speech at the fact that the church inGermanyhas its’ own labour law policy that overrides public German law and sometimes infringes the rights for women. This situation is even more striking, since the church is the second biggest employer inGermanyafter the state. Vicky Claeys argues therefore that it is of the greatest importance that the personal freedom of women is emphasized. A woman should for example be able to have multiple options to receive the help and needs that she asks for. Above all, Claeys believes that the financial crisis has led to more opposition and the worsening of women’s rights.

Second, the speakers and Sophie In ‘t Veld concluded that it is important to acknowledge that there exists a major difference between the ideas of the higher echelons of the religious communities and there followers. The influence on the state and rule of law mostly comes from these higher ranks within the religious hierarchy. Anka Grzywacz argues that it is important that the higher ranks of the religious hierarchy should more truly represent the will and the thoughts of the whole religious community. Therewith, the rights for women would already improve a lot in more religious societies.

The problem is, when looking to the functioning of the European Union, the EU seems not to be able to act decisively enough in these matters. Although Anka Grzywacz emphasizes that this has to improve and Laakmann showed that more and more German women seek to find the acknowledgement of their rights via the European Courts in Luxembourg and Strasbourg, Sophie In ‘t Veld elaborated that the European Commission as it stands now, will not have enough courage and political will to improve these fundamental rights for women constructively.

Sophie In ‘t Veld concluded the panel debate by underlining that this issue is not only one of a secular state, justice and the rule of law, but also includes the importance of decisiveness and a taking for granted of the rights that women should be able to all personally receive.