We hope to determine examples of finest practices to advertise FoRB, mentioned Daniel Holtgen
Message from Daniel Holtgen as Council of Europe’s Spokesperson and Particular Consultant on antisemitic, anti-Muslim and different types of non secular intolerance and hate crimes, when attending on fifth July 2022, to the Worldwide Ministerial on Freedom of Faith or Perception hosted by the International and Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace of the UK.
Daniel Holtgen mentioned in a Twitter submit:
“Delighted to attend Freedom of Faith or Perception #FoRBMinisterial in London and to symbolize the Council of Europe. Wonderful initiative of @UK_FoRBEnvoy Fiona Bruce. Wishing you and all members a profitable convention.”
Watch the complete video beneath
Full message (unique transcript by The European Instances):
Excellences, girls and gents. Good morning.
The Council of Europe was based within the aftermath of the Holocaust as the primary European group to advertise democracy, the rule of legislation and human rights.
Freedom of faith or perception and the prohibition of discrimination are protected by the European Conference on Human Rights, signed by all of our 46 member states, and a few have spoken in the present day.
The combat in opposition to discrimination, together with on grounds of faith or perception, is a key goal of the Council of Europe in the present day. Nobody ought to be focused for what they imagine or don’t imagine.
In response to rising anti-Semitism and different types of anti-religious discrimination, our Secretary-Basic, Marija Pejčinović Buric, determined to advertise the council work the Council of Europe’s work in these areas with a particular consultant on anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and different types of non secular intolerance, which does embody human rights violations in opposition to Christians too.
I used to be appointed to this place on the finish of 2020. Final yr, our discrimination anti-discrimination physique ECRI put ahead a advice on stopping and combating antisemitism. And amongst different issues, we urge governments to punish anti-Semitic crimes on-line, simply as crimes offline.
This yr, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, so the 46 member states, adopted a advice to governments on passing on remembrance of the Holocaust and stopping crimes in opposition to humanity.
It represents essentially the most detailed and up-to-date steering on how to make sure remembrance by way of historical past, instructing, schooling, music, artwork, civic schooling, and public coverage at a time when there are fewer and fewer survivors to bear direct witness.
We see Holocaust remembrance as an important contribution to the combat in opposition to antisemitism. As regards anti-Muslim racism, ECRI has now issued a advice on stopping and combating anti-Muslim racism, and I believe it’s essentially the most complete worldwide steering on the difficulty because the report of the UN particular rapporteur, Ahmed Shaheed, who is an efficient colleague and we have now labored properly with him.
The advice consists of the discovering of a survey by my workplace on the character and dimension of anti-Muslim abuse on the Web. The outcomes point out that on-line hate speech in opposition to Muslims in Europe is growing quickly and is criminally related as a result of it consists of incitement to violence and dying threats.
Guaranteeing freedom of spiritual apply is a rising problem as new restrictions concerning Jewish and Muslim non secular slaughter are being launched in several elements of Europe in the present day. We imagine UK laws and apply could be a constructive instance in our efforts to seek out urgently wanted options.
And within the subsequent months, we additionally intend to look at the contribution that interfaith teams and dialogue and cross-community teams could make to stop hate speech and promote tolerance, particularly amongst younger folks. By evaluating promising initiatives in our Member States, we hope to determine examples of finest practices which will help to advertise freedom of faith or perception in our more and more numerous societies.
