Extensions of Remarks - September 15, 2004

INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Mr. Speaker, 

I would like to enter into the Congressional Record the unanimously agreed upon Concluding Document of the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, which occurred in Brussels, Belgium in early August of this year. 

Over 30 different countries from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America sent parliamentarians to participate in the conference to discuss issues of ethnicity, religion and citizenship, responses to anti-Semitism, terrorism and religious freedom, religious registration laws, trafficking in persons, and women's rights. 

In addition, a number of nongovernmental and religious organizations attended and participated. These kinds of gatherings are vital in building relationships and understanding, and ultimately cooperation and partnership, between peoples of all nations.

The Second Session of the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom encourages the genuine expression of opinions from representatives of the peoples of the world. There is no greater legitimacy than that expressed by peoples in their choice of representatives.

The great variety of cultures, the different paths to God, the diverse ethnic backgrounds, and the disparity of historic goals often lead to conflict and bloodshed between peoples, but should instead be sources of inspiration in our quest for valid solutions.

Religious freedom is the first human right and should not be confined to the private sphere only.

We live in an era characterized by aspirations towards diversity and tolerance but clouded by tragic failures of mutual respect. True religious freedom is more than mere tolerance. It constitutes an embracing of universal human dignity as a consequence of one's religious convictions. Every individual has inherent dignity and worth, and the state is constituted to serve society, not vice versa.

The forceful attempts to build homogenous societies in the last century led to horrendous human sufferings, to the carnage of world wars and to genocide.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the framework for a global compact with great moral authority and the promise of a more just international order.

Lifestyles and social structures rooted in different religions should be preserved in order to maintain peace and harmony on all levels, from the local community to the world order.

Prejudice and repression based on ethnic, religious and cultural background persist. In some cases these insults to human dignity enjoy the authority of law and the state.

Ethnic and religious intolerance are unacceptable and should not be used as a basis for restricting citizenship. A civic covenant and the rule of law constitute the only rational basis for creating a just society.

Any cultural and spiritual invocation of undetermined historic or divine authority as justification for hatred and rejection of others directly and actively violates universally proclaimed human rights.

The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom solemnly reaffirms the right to freedom of religion and belief for each person, and rejects any attempt to restrict fundamental rights on the basis of religious, ethnic or cultural identity including restrictions or forcing any religious dress.

Anti-Semitism is a global concern and never a function of Jewish conduct. Reducing the magnitude of Jewish suffering throughout history to politics alienates and distorts our own humanity.

The alarming signs of recurrence of Anti-Semitism, especially in some advanced societies of Western Europe, indicate a deep-rooted prejudice.

The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom condemns hatred on the basis of religious, ethnic or cultural identity, including restricting or forcing religious dress.

Security has become a global problem. No nation is able to protect its citizens and territorial integrity without international solidarity.

The very concept of great power changes its contour in an environment where fringe groups are able to disrupt and damage the very structure of a society.

Where freedom of religion and belief is protected by governments and valued by citizens, religion-based terrorism will not take root. It may take advantage of a free society, but sustained support will not emerge.

Freedom of religion is an antidote to terrorism--especially religion-based terrorism. It encourages a theological and political awareness of the need to accept pluralism.

Discriminating on the basis of religious beliefs or discrediting religious practices are contrary to respect for fundamental human dignity. They destabilize society by creating a climate of tension, intolerance, opposition and suspicion.

Respect for freedom of religion and belief is an effective means of promoting national and international security and stability.

The gravest danger in the world today comes from fanaticism and extremism that exploits ideals of spiritual and religious movements.

Manipulation of religion and spiritual beliefs for violent and terrorist purposes, including murder and destruction of properties, is unacceptable.

The global pandemic of HIV/AIDs constitutes a terrible assault on human rights and demands effective action and enforcement of international commitments for education, prevention, care and treatment.

Trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, is recognized as a form of enslavement which violates fundamental human rights.

Steps need to be taken to ensure that the offense of trafficking in persons is recognized globally as criminal, and to prevent further trafficking in persons.

It is imperative to strengthen international institutions and to create new instruments that will address and protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.

The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom appreciates the work of the Secretariat and recommends to it that it consult the maximum number of countries in the elaboration of its future programs.

The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom encourages parliaments and governments to nurture environments of free expression and respect for human dignity.

In this spirit the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom is grateful to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his generous appreciation of our work:

``It is therefore appropriate that this sort of initiative becomes the foundational undertaking of an international civilization, where complementarity between people is substituted for confrontation and where faith in the paramount necessity of cooperation overcomes the illusion of self-reliance and autarchy.''

The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom accepts the proposal of the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to host the Third Session in 2005.