"Human Rights as an Essential Part of Our Daily Lives" was the title of a conference held on December 10, 2025, hosted by UPF Czech Republic on the premises of the Czech Association of Scientific and Technical Societies, to commemorate World Human Rights Day. In these turbulent and unpredictable times, when many people feel growing uncertainty, dissatisfaction, and alienation, the value of human rights, often taken for granted, is highly relevant.
The conference had two panels:
1: Why we talk about human rights (history – development- meaning).
Dr. Roman Joch, director of the Civic Institute, outlined the many perspectives of human rights. According to the traditionalist view, humans are born defenceless and dependent on how they are treated by the community in which they live. Historicism, or progressive theories of history, claim that behavioural norms change and that there are no unchangeable values. The religious view is that God created the world and gave people a certain moral code (e.g. Ten Commandments) which contributed to the later emergence of human rights. Socrates spoke of natural rights and four virtues: moderation, courage, prudence, and justice. John Locke said that people have rights because they are human beings. The French Revolution brought about the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, in which rights are granted – but also can be revoked - by the state which resulted in the totalitarian morality of the 20th century.
Prof. Harald Scheu, member of the Legislative Council of the Czech Republic and university professor, spoke about the interpretation of freedom of religion in the light of secular logic (with selected examples from the case law of the European Court of Human Rights).He focused on various models of the state – religion relationship.The first model is strict separation of state and church. The second recognizes a certain state – religion cooperation in the form of concordats. A third is the dominance of the church, as in Denmark or Greece, for example.The European Court of Human Rights takes a neutral position on religious matters. However, the definition of neutrality has not been outlined by the court: is it the absence of preferences (equal treatment of all), the absence of coercion by the state, or the absence of the removal of religious symbols?
PhDr. Juraj Lajda, president of UPF Czech Republic, referred to the long evolution of the human rights agenda. The 1648 Peace of Westphalia brought about religious tolerance, fundamentally changed the political map of Europe and gave rise to the modern order of international relations. On the other side of the Atlantic were the Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower Compact of 1620, the Virginia Declaration and the 1976 Declaration of Independence stating that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Then came the establishment of the League of Nations, superseded by the United Nations with its Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.Article 18 states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.” Separation of church and state means that the state will guarantee and protect religious freedom but will not interfere in the affairs of the church or religious communities. Respecting human rights elevates people's spiritual and moral lives and is a tool for creating a better society and world, where harmony, cooperation, and selflessness prevail over narrow selfish interests.
2: Human rights and freedom of religion.
Mag. Martin Slezák, lawyer, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, spoke on the topic "Czech law on churches: a dinosaur trampling on freedom of religion." He discussed in detail the law on the registration of churches and religious societies in the Czech Republic. The Czech law is essentially based on the Austrian model and represents a certain improvement over its predecessor. For state registration, the signatures of 300 members are required, but even in this case, the church cannot fully exercise its rights (marriage, teaching in schools, visiting prisons, etc.) as can an established church. Additionally, the state requires many internal documents, and dissolution is at any time possible. Slezák compared the conditions for state registration in the case of an association or non-governmental organization on the one hand and a church on the other. Three members are required to register an association, while 300 are required for a church and he sees this as state interference in religious society. When an association is dissolved, its property is forfeited to whomever the association designates. In the event of the dissolution of a church, its property is forfeited to the state.
Mag. Nina Nováková, Member of Parliament (2021-2025) spoke about "Human rights from the perspective of the individual." No legal force or regulation should have greater authority than human rights, she said. Human dignity is inviolable and must therefore be respected and protected. Human rights are independent of the individual. Who is the source of human rights? For a Catholic, the answer to this question is simple: dignity does not come from men but was given by God or the Absolute, who chose me as his partner. Humanity should not lose its humanity. On what do human rights depend? Who grants them? If God has given us our dignity, then it is a commitment for us which no one can take away. Unfortunately, the younger generation today is easily willing to give up its dignity. Today's world needs to find its meaning. History shows us that the problem is not religion itself, but that the abuse of ideology can have disastrous consequences.
The last speaker was Leoš Strnad, spokesperson for the Falun Gong Association in the Czech Republic who spoke about "26 years of persecution of Falun Gong." He introduced the philosophy of the Falun Gong movement, an ancient teaching to foster mankind’s spiritual development based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. There were once 100 million practitioners in China but in 1992, the Chinese Communist Party began persecuting and repressing adherents which significantly impacted the movement. Measures such as the burning of books and the forced signing of petitions of renunciation of the teachings were employed as the Communist Party seeked to maintain its power. The terms "sect" or "cult" are often used in public to justify persecution. Supporters and sympathizers face many attacks.
The conference inspired a lively discussion among the participants. The persecution of the Family Federation in Korea and Japan was mentioned, and it was acknowledged that there is often indifference from the public towards such issues. Although difficult to change this attitude, it is necessary that people speak up in the face of injustice or wrongdoing. It would be helpful if persecuted minorities showed solidarity and cooperation with each other.