Human Rights
16 April 2013
The government dismisses criticism of its policies as liberal lies, but attacks on the media, threats to the independence of the central bank and racism suggest otherwise. Viktor Orban announcing the victory of his party, Fidesz, in the parliamentary elections in Budapest, Hungary, April 2010. Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP Among the foreign dignitaries attending Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday will be a man who many feel shouldn’t be representing his country. But it will be a… read more »
31 January 2013
Judges have made awards totalling more than €4 million in three human rights complaints brought against France. The European Court of Human Rights Chamber judgements were published today. The decisions, which are not final affect the following cases: The Religious Association of the Pyramid Temple/Association Cultuelle Du Temple Pyramide v. France (application no. 50471/07) The Association of the Knights of the Golden Lotus/Association Des Chevaliers Du Lotus D’Or v. France (no. 50615/07) The Evangelical Missionary… read more »
23 January 2013
The ultra-nationalists parties at the European Parliament, including the British National Party, could be barred from receiving around £330,000 worth of funding from the EU, if around 70 more MEPs support a change in the funding rules. The cash, which is due to be awarded in a fortnight, , is the subject of a campaign by British anti-fascist movement Hope Not Hate, who are trying to get MEPs to block far-right groups in The Alliance of European… read more »
15 January 2013
REUTERS The EHF welcomes the European Court of Human Rights’s judgement about supposed “Christian discrimination” and joins its member organisations BHA’s and NSS’ analysis about it : BHA applauds European Court of Human Rights in upholding equality and human rights principles against false ‘Christian Persecution’ cases The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has published its judgements in the cases of Chaplin v. the United Kingdom, Eweida v. the United Kingdom, Ladele v. the… read more »
10 January 2013
EU Commissioner Reding responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, answered Parliamentary Questions on blasphemy laws within the European Union Questions : By MEPS Sophia in ‘t Veld (ALDE) , Joanna Senyszyn (S&D) , Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL) , Marietje Schaake (ALDE) “The recent wave of violence in the Muslim world following the online posting of a video depicting Mohammed has led numerous EU leaders to defend freedom of expression and opinion against accusations of blasphemy. At… read more »
7 December 2012
Muslims Pressing for Blasphemy Laws in Europe by Soeren Kern November 30, 2012 at 8:00 am The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a bloc of 57 Muslim countries, is pressuring Western countries into making it an international crime to criticize Islam or Mohammed – all on the name of “religious tolerance.” The Dutch parliament has approved a motion to revoke a law that makes it a crime to insult God. Free speech activists say the move represents… read more »
31 October 2012
Read the EHF’s press release on the candidacy of Tonio Borg as European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy. Tonio Borg’s nomination as European Commissioner would be a disgrace for the EU On October 16th, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, from Malta, resigned after an anti-fraud inquiry linked him to an attempt to influence tobacco legislation. Malta has now nominated its Foreign Affairs Minister, Tonio Borg, to replace the former… read more »
By Raphael Vassallo, journalist for Malta Today Secular groups plan to protest against the Commissioner-designate Candidacy is ‘certainly very bad for the image of Malta in Europe’ says secularists who will protest Borg nomination. Tonio Borg. The nomination of Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg to replace John Dalli on the Commission has not gone down well with NGOs representing Europe’s secular liberal interests, and protests are planned to coincide with his screening by the European… read more »
30 October 2012
Tonio Borg has been nominated by Malta to replace former Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection John Dalli after his resignation on 16 October 2012. Despite Tonio Borg’s well-known stands against women’s, LGBT’s and migrants’ rights, President José Manuel Barroso approved his nomination. It still has to be agreed by the European Parliament and European Council. We believe that this candidacy is clearly damaging for Europe and seriously concerning for the quality of health services enjoyed… read more »
4 October 2012
On the 1st of October 2012, the European Humanist Federation (EHF) and its Belgian member organisation, le Centre d’Action Laïque (CAL) attended the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM), in Warsaw. HDIM, Europe’s largest annual human rights and democracy conference, is organized every year by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) as a platform for OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation, civil society, international organizations and OSCE structures to take stock… read more »