WCC NEWS: Dialogue on politicization of religion and rights of minorities

Dialogue on politicization of religion and rights of minorities

Heiner Bielefeldt, keynote speaker at the WCC-sponsored international consultation on "Politicization of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities" in Geneva.

17 September 2013

Work for the rights of religious minorities should be done in the spirit of universalism, said Prof. Dr Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in his address at the opening session of a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation on 16 September in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Minority rights are human rights,” he said.

Bielefeldt called the focus on the central values of human rights a paradigm shift away from the mere protection of religious minorities. He argued that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free, with equal rights and dignity. Therefore these principles should guide the understanding of minority rights.

Bielefeldt’s address set the tone for the WCC’s consultation, which will continue until 18 September. Organized by the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), the event is focusing on “Politicization of Religion and Rights of Religious Minorities”.

In his address, Bielefeldt questioned the “labelling” of minorities. He quoted examples from several countries where people are numerically a minority and have special vulnerabilities but, he said, they insist on being defined “citizens” rather than a “minority”.

“All human beings have equal rights but not all human beings live in equal circumstances,” he said. Bielefeldt added that freedom means “respect for the self-understanding of the human beings; therefore the self-understanding of religious minorities must be fully respected”.

Bielefeldt also stressed the importance of creating spaces for religious diversity without creating divisions or exacerbating existing fragmentation.

He said, these are long term projects but can be accomplished through inter-religious communication and building trust through public institutions.

The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit also addressed the opening session, introducing the theme of the WCC’s upcoming assembly, “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”. He said that the issues of religious freedom and minorities are part of the daily struggles of the churches. He emphasized the need for a critical analysis of the politicization of religion, relevant to the minority religious communities.

Tveit mentioned the WCC’s long term engagement in promoting religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities. He mentioned churches’ initiatives for collaboration with civil society and faith based organizations in advocacy at various levels.

The opening session was chaired by the vice-moderator of the WCC Central Committee, Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima.

The consultation will discuss the content of a proposed statement on the politicization of religion and the rights of religious minorities, which will be presented at the WCC 10th Assembly, to be held from 30 October to 8 November in Busan, Republic of Korea.

Audio recording of the presentations from Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and Prof. Dr Heiner Bielefeldt

WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, by the end of 2012 the WCC had 345 member churches representing more than 500 million Christians from Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other traditions in over 110 countries. The WCC works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway.

Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press
Visiting address: 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

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