Education
1 March 2012
Speaking at a seminar in Brussels yesterday, EHF president David Pollock suggested that all states in Europe were progressing, from different starting points and at different speeds, towards secularism. He was commenting on part of an EU-financed study on Identities and Modernities in Europe, a collaboration between several universities across Europe, part of which had looked at religion in schools in Bulgaria, Croatia, France and the United Kingdom – see here. He said: “From the time of… read more »
21 October 2011
Eytan Reif of Initiative Religion ist Privatsache in Austria has informed us of a new case about crucifixes and other religious practices in kindergartens that it is hoped will partially counter the effect of Lautsi v Italy. He writes: A new complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) was filed a short while ago in a new attempt not only to free Austrian public kindergartens of crosses or crucifixes but also to put… read more »
2 October 2011
Remus Cernea of the Asociaţia Umanistă Română informs us of a new case from Romania to the European Court of Human Rights regarding religious symbols in schools (case number 54529/09, Moise (3) c/Romania). He writes that it is quite different from the Lautsi case for at least three reasons: – the Lautsi case was lost in the Italian courts, whereas the Moise case was successful in the Romanian National Council for Combating Discrimination. The… read more »
22 December 2010
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held a special conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vienna on 9-10 December 2010. The EHF was represented at this Special Human Dimension Implementation Meeting by Vera Pegna and by Hans Christian Cars, who is taking over from her as our permanent representative with OSCE. They have recorded their impressions of the meeting. Also linked from here is the full text of the interventions they… read more »
1 July 2010
A case before the European Court of Human Rights that could have marked a milestone for secularism in Europe reached a sad end in March 2011 when an appeal by Italy to the Grand Chamber of the Court succeeded in reversing the Court’s original judgement in November 2009. The Court’s judgement argued that the display of the crucifix did not amount to “indoctrination” and was therefore permissible. A summary and detailed critique of the judgement… read more »
30 June 2009
‘Teaching religious and convictional facts – a tool for acquiring knowledge about religions and beliefs in education: a contribution to education for democratic citizenship, human rights and intercultural dialogue’ Report by Andrew Copson on the Council of Europe 2009 ‘San Marino’ colloquium I attended this exchange on behalf of the European Humanist Federation. Also attending as representatives of non-religious convictions (which, strangely, is the phrase the council is using in English rather than ‘beliefs’, even… read more »
6 June 2009
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1E 6HD This conference was jointly sponsored by the EHF, the British Humanist Association (BHA), the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) the South Place Ethical Society (SPES) to celebrate ‘Darwin 200’ – the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’. See here an enthusiastic report on a blog about the conference. PROGRAMME 10.00 Welcome from… read more »
5 June 2009
Luc Devuyst chats with EHF President David Pollock Presentation by Luc Devuyst, secretary general, RIBZ at the Open Meeting on 5 June 2009 Preliminary remarks: In 1959 a school-pact was signed by the different political parties and adopted by the Parliament by which the parents of pupils in public schools have the right to choose a specific life-stance course: a religious one or a non-confessional one. At the beginning of each school-year parents can change… read more »
Presentation by John Keast (UK contributor to the Council of Europe project on religious dimension of intercultural education) at the Open Meeting on 5 June 2009 The purposes of this presentation are, firstly, to disseminate information about work I have been involved in with the Council of Europe and the Anna Lindh Foundation, and secondly to identify issues concerning religion, education and dialogue. The Reference Book had a long gestation period from 9/11. It began with… read more »
31 March 2009
Across Europe there is huge variation in the treatment of religion and belief, including non-religious beliefs, in schools. This derives from the differences from place to place in religious, cultural and historical backgrounds. There are many ways in which these differences show themselves, including:- (a) school legal or administrative structures Schools may be run by the state or other public authorities (e.g., local councils), or by bodies such as charities or trusts, including churches or… read more »