Belgium

A good starting point are the building blocks of a well-functioning modern society: the implementation of the rule of law, free and fair elections, a multi-party system, a free press, an independent justice, religious freedom, respect of minorities, sustainable economic policies to the benefit of all, good education opportunities, etc.

Hosted by a member of the EU Parliament in Brussels, Flavio Zanonato, Women's Federation for World Peace Europe (WFWP-Europe) brought over 130 participants from throughout Europe to debate the theme, "Engaging Civil Society to Build Security and Cohesion in Europe" on June 29, 2016. Supporting organisations included the World Youth Alliance, the Universal Peace Federation and Women without Borders.

Intervention of Hon. Erna Hennicot Schoepges, Former President of the Luxembourg Parliament and EU Committee on Culture and Education.

Intervention of Mr David Fraser Harris, Secretary General, UPF Middle East and North Africa, at the WFWP conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on 29 June, 2016.

Intervention of Ms. Geertrui Lanneau, Senior Regional Specialist on Labour Mobility and Human Development, Intl Organization on Migration, Brussels, at the Geneva Conference on Multiculturalism and Peace in September 2011.

Ms. Bouchra Belguellil, associate researcher at the Institute for Prospect and Security in Europe, discusses the topic, "« Djihâd », does it have a gender?".

Intervention of Mrs. Souad Sbai, Journalist, Professor, former Italian Parliamentarian.

Intervention of Ms. Dolgor Solongo, Officer-in-Charge, Implementation Support Section I (Asia and Europe), Terrorism Prevention Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna.

Wecoming remarks by Hon. Flavio Zanonato (Host), European Parliamentarian (MEP).

Intervention of Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, Vice President, Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), on the theme "Engaging Youth Constructively".

Presentation of Dr Edit Schlaffer, social scientist and founder of Women without Borders in Vienna, Austria in 2002

Brussels, Belgium- The UPF, Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP), and the European Economic and Social Committee organized a European Leadership Conference at the European Parliament in Belgium on the theme "What More Can Europe Do to Advance Human Rights?" December 4 and 5, 2012.

Is there a distinction to be made between “cults” or “sects” and religions? Should religious freedom be only accessible to so-called historical religions and their members? Should other minority religious or spiritual movements called “sects” or “cults” be denied the enjoyment of the provisions of international declarations and covenants guaranteeing freedom of religion or belief?

I would like to use these brief remarks to offer some perspectives on the notion of “multiculturalism,” and to share my concerns, as a human rights advocate, about threats to fundamental human rights in Europe posed by some interpretations of multiculturalism.

The UN Convention  on the Rights of the Child (United  Nations  1989, CRC) is a binding international  contract in the framework of the United Nations, and thus obliges legally the ratifying  nations  – indeed  all UN  members  besides  the  United  States  and  Somalia  – to implement  its  provisions.  This  is a mayor  milestone  to  recognise  children,  i.e.  everyone under  the  age  of  18,  as  citizens  with  human  rights,  and  consequently  responsibilities. Through  this  convention,  children  are  conceived  as subjects  of society  – like  all human beings  – and  not anymore  as mere  objects  of protection  (Verhellen  2000).

Ms. Illario Esposito, member of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth and Trainer in Human Rights Education, first showed a video about the Advisory Council on Youth for the Council of Europe dealing with human rights (see www.coe.int/enter). She explained that In terms of human rights education, the Council of Europe speaks about all the issues that young people are facing today.

The European Union is often criticized by people like me for a wide range of alleged policy and administrative failures regarding human rights.  Today, however, I would like to use this opportunity to attest to the importance of Europe’s role in promoting and protecting human rights, which I can do on the basis of my own experience and reflection.

Distinguished guests, Ambassadors for Peace, Ladies & Gentlemen! As Chair of Universal Peace Federation in Europe, it is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to extend a warm welcome to you all to the European Economic and Social Committee here in Brussels and to our European Leadership Conference on the theme “What more can Europe do to improve Human Rights?”

Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, who started by citing the courage of the Mirabal sisters, four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. On November 25, 1960, three of the sisters were assassinated. In 1999, the sisters received recognition by the United Nations General Assembly, who designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in their honour.

Mr. Jura Nanuk, founder and president of the Central-European Religious Freedom Institute (CERFI) based in Budapest, Hungary, spoke on the topic of “Religious Freedom in Hungary and the New Law on Minority Faiths”. Mr. Nanuk said he was inspired to start his institute by an anonymous quote, “Sometimes I want to ask Godwhy He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, but I’m afraid He may ask me the same question.”