Activities of Pierrette HERZBERGER-FOFANA related to 2021/2055(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion
Amendments (13)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that churches, faith-based organisations (FBOs) and religious associationsivil society as a whole haves a major role in the social fabric of developing countries, areis an important partners in delivering humanitarian assistance to hard-to-reach communities and greatly contribute to sustainable development and to achieving the SDGs, in particular SDGs 3 and 4; further notes that churches and FBOs deliver in social sectors where shortcomings in state services are experiencedsocial services corresponding to SDGs 3 (good health and well-being) and 4 (quality education);
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that the persecution of minorities on grounds of religion or belief is often intertwined with some other grounds of distinct nature, in particular those linked to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and caste; calls on the EU to ensure that in all contexts the intersection of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief with other drivers of exclusion, marginalisation and poverty are clearly mapped and addressed comprehensively;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the activities of churches and religious leaderinter- faith initiatives, including non-religious, secular, humanists and atheists organisations in the field of conflict management and mediation, and in fostering reconciliation, dialogue and peace; highlights that such inter-religiousfaith dialogue is crucial, notably in conflict areas, to foster peace and reconciliation;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Strongly deplores that non- religious, and secular and humanist organizations are facing growing persecution, including unprecedented waves of incitement to hatred and killings, in a number of countries worldwide; denounces as well that countless individuals and civil society organisations are under assault for peacefully questioning, criticizing or satirizing religious beliefs; stresses that this ongoing violation of their freedom of thought and of expression occurs across geographic and cultural borders, including within EU Member States;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Condemns activities from religious cults addressed to the diaspora from developing countries which use schemes to profit financially from the vulnerabilities of migrant communities in Europe and promote biased worldviews, often integrating homophobia, transphobia and misogyny;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Denounces all forms of violence and coercion, including public expression of hostility by religious leaders, perpetrated against women, girls and LGBT+ persons justified with reference to religious practice or belief; calls for the repeal of discriminatory laws, enacted with reference to religious considerations, that criminalize adultery, that criminalize persons on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, that criminalize abortion in all cases or that facilitate religious practices that violate human rights;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Deplores the ongoing rollback and regression on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, especially those marginalised on the grounds of superstition (e.g., witchcraft), and rights of LGBT+ persons inside and outside the EU, notably under the guise of religious principles or doctrine; notes that intersectional factors, including religion and belonging to minority groups, increase the risk of discrimination under this regressive trend;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to make the fight against the persecution of religious minoritminorities on the grounds of religion or beliesf a priority 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; in this regard, calls on the Commission to support civil society organizations and social campaigns and programmes that promote understanding and awareness of non-majority religion and belief groups, especially humanists and atheists in countries where they face particularly serious forms of discrimination;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to develop the necessary reaction and sanction mechanisms as provided for by the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime to combat effectively serious 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.;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that the political and legal separation of religion and State is a prerequisite for the full enjoyment of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law; calls on the EU to ensure that its development programmes and budget support to national and local authorities in third countries are consistent with the principles of secularism, including in the field of education, and strictly refrain from reinforcing government legislation and policies that favour one belief or religious group over others;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Condemns human rights violations, sexual abuse, sectarianism, as well as financial misconduct of religious missions and leaders in several developing countries; calls on the European Commission to undertake a comprehensive mapping and monitoring of religious missions on site to ensure that these structures act with respect for the local population and avoid any type of violation or abuse;