Activities of Jan-Christoph OETJEN related to 2021/2055(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion
Amendments (12)
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that churchesRecalls that freedom of belief and religion are fundamental human rights, enshrined in the EU Charter of fundamental rights and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; recognizes the importance of freedom of belief and freedom of religion for an inclusive society and for the full and entire achievement of the 2030 SDGs; acknowledges that institutions of and places of worship, faith- based organisations (FBOs) and religious associations have a major role in the social fabric of developing countries, are important partners in delivering humanitarian assistance to hard-to-reach communities and can greatly contribute to sustainable development and to achieving the SDGs, in particular SDGs 3 and 4; further notes that churchesinstitutions and places of worship and FBOs deliver in social sectors where shortcomings in state services are experienced;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that combatting discrimination against all minorities regardless of their traditions, belief or religion, and promoting and protecting their rights, contribute vastly to social and political stability, poverty reduction, democratic governance, and conflict prevention;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Considers that freedom of belief and freedom of religion is only possible with the assurance of personal and human freedom, including the right to sexual and reproductive health and the right to self-determination, regardless of origin or sexual orientation;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Condemns the criminalization and other punitive treatment of minority traditions in legal systems through the instrumentalisation of religion; Condemns the use of religion and religious interpretation to the detriment of human rights, through the institutional persecution of belief- or religious minorities and for the legal and social restriction of sexual health and of gender and sexuality;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that FBOs cover approximately 40 % of healthcare and a significant part of education in sub-Saharan Africa alone1 , while their role remains mostly unrecognised; emphasizes that healthcare and education provided by FBOs must be provided to all persons in need, regardless of their religious background, ethnicity, gender or orientation; condemns the severe restrictions on sexual and reproductive healthcare by religious institutions and associations, which are translated into restrictive laws and penal codes; _________________ 1 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/1 0665/43884/9789241596626_eng.pdf
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that churchesinstitutions and places of worship and FBOs are frequently the only providers of healthcare, and other social services in remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa and, in conflict- prone settings such as northern Mozambique and otherand in crisis zones;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the activities of churchesinstitutions and places of worship and religious leaders in the field of conflict management and mediation, and in fostering reconciliation, dialogue and peace; highlights that inter-religious dialogue is crucial, notably in conflict areas, to foster peace and, reconciliation and an inclusive society on all levels;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Reminds institutions and places of worship, FBOs and religious leaders of their responsibility and role in preventing hatred and violence directed towards religious or belief minorities; calls on all institutions and places of worship, FBOs and religious leaders to promote a tolerant and non-discriminatory discourse and to contribute to constructive exchanges between communities, regardless of their belief or religion, minority and majority alike;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to makcontinue the fight against the persecution of religious minorities and to priorityize, promote and protect freedom of belief, assembly, expression and speech in the programming of activities related to EU development assistance, in line with the areas of cooperation for geographic and thematic programmes of NDICI-Global Europe;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recognizes that LGBTQI+ communities are a part of faith traditions; Recognizes that as all human beings, LGBTQI+ persons have a right to freedom of expression, speech, belief and religion; reiterates the importance of the role that religious authorities can play to ensure that religion and tradition are not utilized to discriminate, criminalize or exclude persons based on their sexual orientation and gender identity;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen legal and institutional protection mechanisms to ensure that human rights of members of minorities on the basis of belief and religion, as well as those of women, children and members of the LGBTQI+ community are ensured and to guarantee that others in vulnerable situations, such as migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons are fully protected on the basis of their fundamental rights and are not subjected to discrimination on the basis of their belief or religion;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to develop the necessaryan adequate accountability, reaction and sanction mechanisms to combat effectively violations of freedom of religion or belief, including discrimination or legal restrictions based on religion or belief in its partner countries, as well as any kind of impediment to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of association and freedom of expression.