13 Amendments of Janina OCHOJSKA related to 2021/2055(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that churches, faith- based organisations (FBOs) and religious associations have a majorplay a role in the social fabric of developing countries, are - next to NGOs, civil society organisations and humanitarian organisations - 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 experienced;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, in accordance with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and that right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas religious freedom is not only about belonging to one of the existing religions, but also the freedom to challenge existing beliefs or create new ones, as well as the freedom not to belong to any religion or to change religion voluntarily;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to makinclude the fight against the persecution of religious minorities a priority into 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 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. 5a. Points out that violence against religious minorities during conflict can also make them vulnerable to further attacks in refugee settings due to misinterpretations of humanitarian principles of neutrality and universality and widespread assumptions held about religion as either non-essential or divisive;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Is of the opinion that humanitarian actors should be trained in the sensitivities of religious identity for religious minority groups in displacement settings to enhance more inclusive aid and protection for a range of refugee populations;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to develop the necessary 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.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Affirms its unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities everywhere in the world, including their right to change or choose their religion or belief, or reject it, in respect of the principles of equality and non- discrimination; condemns in the strongest terms all persecution, violence, incitement to violence and terrorism targeting any minority on the grounds of religion and belief, or the lack thereof;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that, regardless of their religion and belief, it is essential to promote and ensure the inclusion of all citizens in their societies and in political and cultural life and ensure that their personal rights and freedoms are respected;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned about the persecution and serious human rights violations against Muslim minorities; is particularly concerned about the persecution of and discrimination against the Rohingya, crackdowns against whom intensified following the democratisation of Burma in 2012, with mosques, schools and homes being torched and the people themselves persecuted; points out that, as a result, they were forced to flee their homes, and a few years later genocide against the Rohingya was committed in Arakan by Burmese Buddhist nationalists;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that persecution of religious minorities in Asia is commonplace in many countries, especially in those with communist regimes, and that blasphemy laws are a cause of particular concern, particularly in Pakistan and fear and severely restrict freedom of expression, particularly in Pakistan, where any attempts to amend or reform the laws have been stifled by threats and assassinations, and efforts to raise the issue in the media are met with threats, including from government representatives;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Deplores the plight of the 180 000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, whose activities were banned by the Supreme Court in 2017, and points out that any attempts to assemble to read the Bible were subject to an additional ban a year later, and that as a result they cannot meet openly, and face prison sentences of between 2 and 10 years if they do attend such meetings; condemns the actions taken against Jehovah’s Witnesses by the police and security services, including searches of private homes, criminal proceedings, house arrest, travel bans and ultimately the conviction and imprisonment of several hundred people;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines that women and girls belonging to religious minorities have been specifically and increasingly targeted with the purpose of inflicting harm on their community as a whole; stresses that they are particularly exposed to violent attacks, kidnapping, sexual violence, forced conversion, forced and early marriage and domestic incarceration, and that lockdown measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic have made their human rights situation even more precarious, as well as further restricting access to information and contact with them;