Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications

Press release No. 09-24/e

5 May 2009

Second meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

The second meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) took place from 5-6 May in Vienna.

Ninety-three European Human Rights experts from civil society discussed the FRA’s Work Programme for 2010 and 2011. The themes “The impact of the economic crisis on human rights” and “Under-reporting by victims of human rights violations: lack of awareness on where and how to report: what Civil Society Organizations and the FRA can do?” were discussed in the plenary.

During the discussion it was stressed that society is facing multiple challenges, with simultaneous food and economic crises. Governments often fail to communicate with people living in extreme poverty.

The meeting posed questions on the impact of the crises on those in extreme poverty, the minimum that allows people to survive today and how the poorest can have access to their fundamental rights.

The development of new social structures was urged, taking into account the needs of the poorest and ensuring that their voices are heard, as human rights must be ensured at all levels. In the times of economic crisis priority needs to be given to equal respect of human dignity. It was stressed that FRA should give greater emphasis during the crisis for gender equality, as women are often among the first who lose their jobs.

An Advisory Panel/Contact Group of the EU Fundamental Rights Platform was created. Nine members were chosen from amongst 22 nominations. Ms Elizabeta Kitanovic, Human Rights Secretary of the CEC Church and Society Commission, was elected as a member of the Advisory Panel. The Panel will help the effective functioning of the Platform, suggesting, where necessary, adjustments and improvements to processes and procedures, thus facilitating a vibrant, healthy dialogue between the Platform and the Director of the FRA. The Advisory Panel will be independent, neither representing political opinions nor views of the Platform or of the FRA.

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 120 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

The Church and Society Commission of CEC links member churches and associated organisations of CEC with the European Union’s institutions, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the UN (on European matters). Its task is to help the churches study church and society questions from a theological and social-ethical perspective, especially those with a European dimension, and to represent common positions of the member churches in their relations with political institutions working in Europe.

For more information:
Ms Elizabeta Kitanovic
Church and Society Commission of CEC
Rue Joseph II, 174
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel. +32 2 230 17 32
Fax +32 2 231 14 13
E-Mail: eki@cec-kek.be