[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2004

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Congressional 
Record the unanimously agreed upon Concluding Document of the 
Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, 
which occurred in Brussels, Belgium in early August of this year. Over 
30 different countries from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and 
Latin America sent parliamentarians to participate in the conference to 
discuss issues of ethnicity, religion and citizenship, responses to 
anti-Semitism, terrorism and religious freedom, religious registration 
laws, trafficking in persons, and women's rights. In addition, a number 
of nongovernmental and religious organizations attended and 
participated. These kinds of gatherings are vital in building 
relationships and understanding, and ultimately cooperation and 
partnership, between peoples of all nations.

 Concluding Statement of the Second Session of the Interparliamentary 
   Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, August 7, 2004, 
                           Brussels, Belgium

       The Second Session of the Interparliamentary Conference on 
     Human Rights and Religious Freedom encourages the genuine 
     expression of opinions from representatives of the peoples of 
     the world. There is no greater legitimacy than that expressed 
     by peoples in their choice of representatives.
       The great variety of cultures, the different paths to God, 
     the diverse ethnic backgrounds, and the disparity of historic 
     goals often lead to conflict and bloodshed between peoples, 
     but should instead be sources of inspiration in our quest for 
     valid solutions.
       Religious freedom is the first human right and should not 
     be confined to the private sphere only.
       We live in an era characterized by aspirations towards 
     diversity and tolerance but clouded by tragic failures of 
     mutual respect. True religious freedom is more than mere 
     tolerance. It constitutes an embracing of universal human 
     dignity as a consequence of one's religious convictions. 
     Every individual has inherent dignity and worth, and the 
     state is constituted to serve society, not vice versa.
       The forceful attempts to build homogenous societies in the 
     last century led to horrendous human sufferings, to the 
     carnage of world wars and to genocide.
       The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the 
     framework for a global compact with great moral authority and 
     the promise of a more just international order.
       Lifestyles and social structures rooted in different 
     religions should be preserved in order to maintain peace and 
     harmony on all levels, from the local community to the world 
     order.
       Prejudice and repression based on ethnic, religious and 
     cultural background persist. In some cases these insults to 
     human dignity enjoy the authority of law and the state.
       Ethnic and religious intolerance are unacceptable and 
     should not be used as a basis for restricting citizenship. A 
     civic covenant and the rule of law constitute the only 
     rational basis for creating a just society.
       Any cultural and spiritual invocation of undetermined 
     historic or divine authority as justification for hatred and 
     rejection of others directly and actively violates 
     universally proclaimed human rights.
       The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and 
     Religious Freedom solemnly reaffirms the right to freedom of 
     religion and belief for each person, and rejects any attempt 
     to restrict fundamental rights on the basis of religious, 
     ethnic or cultural identity including restrictions or forcing 
     any religious dress.
       Anti-Semitism is a global concern and never a function of 
     Jewish conduct. Reducing the magnitude of Jewish suffering 
     throughout history to politics alienates and distorts our own 
     humanity.
       The alarming signs of recurrence of Anti-Semitism, 
     especially in some advanced societies of Western Europe, 
     indicate a deep-rooted prejudice.
       The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and 
     Religious Freedom condemns hatred on the basis of religious, 
     ethnic or cultural identity, including restricting or forcing 
     religious dress.
       Security has become a global problem. No nation is able to 
     protect its citizens and territorial integrity without 
     international solidarity.
       The very concept of great power changes its contour in an 
     environment where fringe groups are able to disrupt and 
     damage the very structure of a society.
       Where freedom of religion and belief is protected by 
     governments and valued by citizens, religion-based terrorism 
     will not take root. It may take advantage of a free society, 
     but sustained support will not emerge.
       Freedom of religion is an antidote to terrorism--especially 
     religion-based terrorism. It encourages a theological and 
     political awareness of the need to accept pluralism.
       Discriminating on the basis of religious beliefs or 
     discrediting religious practices are contrary to respect for 
     fundamental human dignity. They destabilize society by 
     creating a climate of tension, intolerance, opposition and 
     suspicion.
       Respect for freedom of religion and belief is an effective 
     means of promoting national and international security and 
     stability.
       The gravest danger in the world today comes from fanaticism 
     and extremism that exploits ideals of spiritual and religious 
     movements.
       Manipulation of religion and spiritual beliefs for violent 
     and terrorist purposes, including murder and destruction of 
     properties, is unacceptable.
       The global pandemic of HIV/AIDs constitutes a terrible 
     assault on human rights and demands effective action and 
     enforcement of international commitments for education, 
     prevention, care and treatment.
       Trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, 
     is recognized as a form of enslavement which violates 
     fundamental human rights.
       Steps need to be taken to ensure that the offense of 
     trafficking in persons is recognized globally as criminal, 
     and to prevent further trafficking in persons.
       It is imperative to strengthen international institutions 
     and to create new instruments that will address and protect 
     the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
       The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and 
     Religious Freedom appreciates the work of the Secretariat and 
     recommends to it that it consult the maximum number of 
     countries in the elaboration of its future programs.
       The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and 
     Religious Freedom encourages parliaments and governments to 
     nurture environments of free expression and respect for human 
     dignity.
       In this spirit the Interparliamentary Conference on Human 
     Rights and Religious Freedom is grateful to His Majesty King 
     Mohammed VI of Morocco for his generous appreciation of our 
     work:
       ``It is therefore appropriate that this sort of initiative 
     becomes the foundational undertaking of an international 
     civilization, where complementarity between people is 
     substituted for confrontation and where faith in the 
     paramount necessity of cooperation overcomes the illusion of 
     self-reliance and autarchy.''
       The Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and 
     Religious Freedom accepts the proposal of the delegation of 
     the Kingdom of Morocco to host the Third Session in 2005.

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