Human Rights are one of the key issues that international organisations such as the European Union, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and United Nations deal with.
The CEC member churches advocate for their promotion and for protection of the highest level of international human rights standards inside of Europe, but also outside of its borders.
The CSC monitors and advocates for the implementation of civil and political rights, as well as social, economic and cultural rights vis-à-vis International Organisations and European Institutions. The issues that CSC devotes its attention to include freedom of religion or belief, anti-discrimination legislation etc.
The CSC also makes its contribution to the development of Human Rights Education. A special link on this page will lead you to the resource material for human rights training.
Together with CEC member churches and its associated organisations, CSC is developing its first European churches’ on-line human rights library which should help its members to monitor progress in the development of the human rights concept inside the CEC membership.
Let us work together for creation of a human rights culture!
Workshop Training on social, economic and cultural rights Host: Mag Elizabeta Kitanovic - Executive Secretary for Human Rights and Communication, Church and Society Commission of CEC
Upon request of churches in the Euro Mediterranean region, the Conference of European Churches together with the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy is in the process of organisinga training workshop on social, economic and cultural rights. Read more...
Welcome and Introduction by the organisers Archbishop Kari Mäkinen, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland (in Finnish), Orthodox Church of Finland Fr Heikki Huttunen, Finnish Ecumenical Council Rev Rüdiger Noll, Church and Society Commission of CEC
Human Beings and Human Community Individual vs. Collective Rights: theological perspective Dr Pantelis Kalaitsitsis, Volos Academy – Church of Greece Mr Frank Kantor, (Video) MA Secretary General – The Free Churches group, UK Dr Michael Hjälm (Video) Orthodox Church in Finland, Diocese of Helsinki
Summary and Analysis - "What does it mean for the churches"? Dr Michal Rynkowski - Collaborator of the European Consortium for Church and State Research
L-R Dr Clemens Ladenburger, OKRin Katrin Hatzinger
The growing relevance of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights Dr. Clemens Ladenburger, LL. M. - Assistant to the Director-General, Legal Service of the European Commission
Collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights
Upon request of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN), the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has submitted on 17 January 2013 a “collective complaint” to the European Committee of Social Rights (called below “the Committee”) of the Council of Europe (CoE), which seat is in Strasbourg.
CEC is one of the organisations authorized to lodge a collective complaint under the Revised Social Charter.
It is also on request of the PKN that CEC did not inform so far about this initiative.
The purpose of the complaint is to request the Committee to hold that the Dutch government has failed to fulfill its obligations under the Revised Social Charter to respect the rights of undocumented adults for food, clothing and shelter.
Mag. Elizabeta Kitanovic, CSC Human Rights and Communication Secretary of the newly elected member of the EU FRAAdvisory Panel (2012-2014), second run (nominated by Director Morten Kjaerum 2012)
Human Rights Challenges in the Western Balkans region - Serbian Public discussion
Introduction to the concept of the International Human Rights Law - Serbian Dr. Dejan Pavlovic - Centre for International Humanitarian law & International Organisations of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Introduction to the International Organisations as a tool for the promotion and protection of Human Rights - Serbian Prof. Dr. Tanja Miscevic - Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Introduction to the International human Rights instruments & mechanisms I (UN, OSCE) - Serbian Mr Milos Hrnjaz, ME - Centre for International Humanitarian Law & International Organisationsof the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Introduction to the International Human Rights instruments and mechanisms II (EU, CoE) - Serbian Doc. Dr. Dejan Pavlovic - Centre for International Humanitarian law & International Organisations of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Bible and Human Rights - Serbian H. E. Bishop Prof. Dr. David Perovic - Diocese of Krusevac, Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the Serbian Orthodox Church, University of Belgrade
The whole problem of the connection and relationship of love and justice in the legal according to The Apostle Paul was based on the beliefs that love, as He said, mostly beyond the role of justice as a guiding idea of the general Law. What is their relationship?
The Human Rights working group met with leading expert on freedom of religion or belief Mr. Jean-Bernard BOLVIN from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and discussed the CSC proposal for the new EEAS guidance on freedom of religion or belief in the Representation of the Church of Cyprus who hosted the WG meeting due to the renovation work of the CSC premises.
In the frame of the Everlasting value and permanent actuality of the Edict of Milan part II project.
Novi Sad (Serbia) - 2 to 5 May 2012
H. E. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, President of CEC and Rev Rüdiger Noll, Director of the Church and Society Commission of CEC and Associate General Secretary of CEC will speak at this event.
Dialogue Seminar on "Freedom of Religion : A Fundamental Right in a Rapidly Changing World"
Brussels, 30 March 2012
Co-organised by the Church and Society Commission of CEC (CEC), the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) and the Bureau of European Policy Advisors (BEPA), European Commission
The Christian Understanding of Human Rights - Difficult Questions Dialogue of the Churches in Europe on the Occasion of the International Day of Human Rights
9 -11 December 2011 - Protestant Academy Bad Boll
In Cooperation with:
The Protestant Academy Bad Boll The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) The Moscow Patriarchate The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung e.V.
The human rights working group met on 3-5 November 2011 in Strasbourg and visited the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and had dicussion with Mr Stephanos STAVROS Executive Secretary to ECRI how to strenthen the cooperation in the area of combating the racism and xenophobia in Europe.
The CSC WG, by this occasion, presented the project Human Rights Training Manuel for European Churches.
Churches see the struggle for human rights as a gospel imperative. Their pastoral and diaconal work enables them to speak authoritatively about human rights abuses at the grassroots. The Churches' work for human rights must be not only pastoral and diaconal but also prophetic. Their detailed local knowledge as well as their access to government makes it possible for them to campaign effectively against human rights abuses.
Interruption of the Christmas Divine Liturgy in occupied Rizokarpaso, Cyprus, the 25th of December 2010 "The situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion" the European parliament condemns the tragic events that took place in December in the northern part of Cyprus.
A need, a challenge and a duty is taking place on 27 June in the European Commission in the organization of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in cooperation with the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) in cooperation with the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) & The Bureau of European Policy Advisors (BEPA), European Commission.
Final Press Release - Roma Inclusion: A Need, a Challange and a Duty - This was the topic of the Dialogue Seminar which took place 27 June 2011 at the European Commission. About 12 million Roma live throughout Europe today...
Pressemitteilung - Roma-Integration: Notwendigkeit, Herausforderung und Pflicht
Some contributions:
Mgr János Székely, Auxiliary Bishop of Esztergom-Budapest - English
Archbishop Anders Wejryd, Church of Sweden - English
Bishop Dr. Gusztav Bölcskei, Reformed Church in Hungary - German
Ms Miranda Vuolasranta, National Roma Forum of Finland - English
Mr Paolo Stasolla, Association 21 July, and Ms Dzemila Salkanovic, Roma Cultural Mediator - Italian
Human Rights Seminar: Religious Freedom and Holy Sites in the Republic of Cyprus (Photo: CEC/Elizabeta Kitanovic)
Religious Freedom and the Holy Sites in the Republic of Cyprus
Contributions to the seminar organised in the European Parliament by the Church and Society Commission of CEC and the Representation of the Church of Cyprus to the EU.
Contribution from the Rev. Rüdiger Noll, Director of the Church and Society Commission of CEC and the Associate General Secretary of CEC. "... No wonder, therefore, that the Conference of European Churches at almost all of its Assemblies and at almost each meeting of its governing bodies addressed the issue of the divided Cyprus. And from their own involvement in the history of a divided Europe, the churches knew very well that where there is a political division, justice suffers, the implementation of human rights suffers, people suffer, peace is in danger."
Contribution from the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos II "... We ask the European Union to support our demand strongly and powerfully and to work systematically and effectively in order to restore and ensure respect for religious freedoms in the occupied part of our island; to put an end to the looting and plundering of our sacred sites and monuments and to protect our religious sites. In order for this to be achieved, we repeat, it is necessary that the occupying troops and settlers withdraw from Cyprus."
Contribution from H.E. Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus "... When dealing with such situations in countreis like ours, and in front of so many political and social complications, it is very correct and wise to provide open access to all the religious places that remain signs of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. It is both a humane and a religious gesture."
Contribution from Dr. Antranik Ashdjian, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Armenian National Administration of Cyprus "... Under UN protection, our community has twice so far been allowed to hold pilgrimages to the Monastery of Sourp Magar, on the First Sunday of May 2007 and 2009. The date was symbolic, as it coincided with the traditional feast of the Monastery, but the pilgrimage and subsequent assembly in the desecrated church of the Monastery fell short of the religious ceremonies that were permormed during that day prior to the Turkish invasion of 1974."
Contribution from His Grace Bishop Porfyrios, Director of the Office of the Church of Cyprus to the European Institutions "... The contents of religious monuments have been stolen and a large number of these have been exported for sale to collectors and auction houses. More than 15,000 icons, iconostases, holy implements, gospels, mosaics and murals dating from the 6th to the 20th century have been removed and have disappeared. Only a very few items have been discovered and repatriated."
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Minimal Standards for Churches and Communities of Faith and Conviction, 21 November 2009. German, English
Flyer: Hearing on Minimal Rights for Churches and Communities of Faith and Convictions, Lyon July 2009.
Report from the 13th CEC Assembly, Lyon, July 2009; Workshop on "Human Rights begin within the Churches", Chair: Father Hovakim Manukyan, Rapporteur; Rev. Peter Ciaccio. - Regarding priorities towards Churches, participants expressed their interest and approval of the process to publish and implement the Human Rights Training Manual. They suggested having a Consultation on the subject, human rights seminars and debates. In other words, the CSC should facilitate churches' human rights' trainings in the future and use the Human Rights Training Manual for this purpose. <//span>21 November 2009
Human Rights Courts decision on the case concering the desplay of the crucifix in State schools. 3 November 2009, Strasbourg -In the case of Lautsi vs Italy, the Court found a violation of the right to education taken jointly with the freedom of thought, consicence and religion...
Response to the Request for comments and suggestions for follow-up to the Annual Report 2009 of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches Upon the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) request for comments and suggestions for the follow-up to the Annual Report 2009, in accordance with article 10(4.b) of FRA’s Regulations, the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches, as a member of the Fundamental Rights Platform, would like to congratulate FRA on the work done on the Annual Report 2009, which this time covers a much broader range of thematic areas, taking in other fundamental rights issues which now fall within the scope of the FRA’s expanded mandate. October 2009
Statement of the Conference of European Churches by the occasion of the 2009 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting;Freedom of Religion or Belief for All: The Conference of European Churches welcomes the work done by the OSCE/ODIHR Advisory Panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief in promoting freedom of religion or belief, in undertaking important studies and in providing legal expertise to Participating States. We, therefore, recommend to OSCE Participating States as well as to OSCE Field Operations to... October 1009
Council of Europe’s Recommendation on Human Rights of Members of the Armed Forces - June 2009 This Recommendation concerns human rights and fundamental freedoms of the members of the armed forces in the context of their work and service life. The reference to both work and service life is made by reason of the special characteristics of military life, during and outside working time.
The Report of the Second meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform Vienna (5- 6 May 2009) 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 were glad to see that the EU Fundamental Rights Agency sticks to the commitment to continue the cooperation with the Civil Society.
The CSC of CEC contribution to the 2010 Work Programme of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)- 11 February 2009 As a member of the European Union Fundamental Rights Platform, the Church and Society Commission (CSC) of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) welcomes the invitation to offer suggestions for FRA’s Work Programme 2010. The proposals in this paper have been developed in close cooperation with the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME).
Human Rights Sermon on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary - Anglican Chaplaincy in Strasbourg - Reverend John Murray - 7 December 2008 I am glad that the Conference of European Churches has seen the importance of this anniversary and has produced the cards that you have all received this morning – reminders of the intimate relationship between human rights and the Christian gospel. So that's why I’m talking about human rights this morning. Not because it's a fashionable modern cause, but because it's a deeply Christian cause...
The CSC of CEC remarks on the 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR). 25 November 2008 We kindly invite you to observe this anniversary by using these cards and distributing them in your church, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration by reaffirming our ongoing commitment to human rights. We also invite you to pray for those who need human rights’ protection...
