CNEF publishes report on respect for religious freedom in France for the attention of the Human Rights Committee

In a report published Thursday, May 6 for the attention of the Human Rights Committee, the National Council of Evangelicals of France, formulated several alerts and suggestions concerning respect for freedom of religion and belief in France.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee will examine the human rights situation in France during its 132nd session to be held in June-July 2021. With the support of the World Evangelical Alliance ( WEA ) and the European Evangelical Alliance ( EEA ), the National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) submitted a report to the attention of the Human Rights Committee as part of this review.

In this report, the CNEF issues 11 alerts about three developments in freedom of religion and belief in France . The organization is particularly concerned about the changes induced by the bill confirming respect for the republican principles on freedom of religion, the consideration of the freedom of religion of young people during the cohesion stay of the Universal National Service as well as respect for the freedom of religion applied within the framework of national education.

The National Council of Evangelicals of France also offers the Human Rights Committee
suggestions for questions to put to the French government .

  • Regarding the bill confirming respect for republican principles, which modifies the 1905 law on cults, the CNEF suggests that the government describe "the impact of the modifications" on "cults, associations and their vitality" as well as their compliance with article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • The CNEF also encourages the Human Rights Committee to ask the French government for a description of the “measures taken by the state” to protect the freedom to manifest one's beliefs in public, while the separatism bill seems to have an impact on this. law.
  • Thirdly, the evangelical organization suggests urging the government to "describe how in the supervision of young people during the cohesion stay, the religious freedom of young people and their parents is guaranteed, in law as well as in practice".
  • And finally, the last suggestion of the CNEF is related to national education and particularly points to article 10 of the Blanquer Law (L.141-5-2 of the Education Code). He asks that the government describe in this context, how "the freedom of expression, manifestation and propagation of the religious convictions of students, parents or third parties in or around public places of education is respected" .
The National Council of Evangelicals of France warns about the impact that the bill “consolidating the principles of the Republic” could have on freedom of worship and on religious associations since it was made public in November 2020 . Throughout the various documents submitted to the French government or published on its site, the organization has repeatedly called for a balance “fairer between the separation between religions and the State” .

Camille Westphal Perrier
INFO CHRÉTIENNE
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