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Showing posts from 2017

ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING DAY: CURRENT PROSTITUTION POLICIES ANALYSED.

Biased Amnesty International Report revealed Today, we celebrate the 11th EU Anti-Trafficking day .  Human trafficking is a prevalent practice globally, with instances of exploitation and human rights violations being reported in many nations each year . There are an estimated 21 million people in forced or coerced human trafficking worldwide according to the International Labour Organization Estimate on Forced Labour , which was published in 2012.  Moreover, according to the International Organization on Migration, 70% of trafficked victims are led to prostitution. One would expect, that this correlation between trafficking and prostitution, would lead national governments and non-government organizations to join efforts in putting barriers to prostitution. On the contrary, Germany and the Netherlands decriminalized prostitution and Amnesty International published a controversial report that supports the view that the decriminalization of prostitution can help in protec

Fundamental Freedoms in jeopardy in Spain

On Tuesday 19 September, the Spanish Congress will vote on a controversial new LGBTI Non-Discrimination and Equality. Although I am against discrimination, this Bill goes so far that fundamental freedoms as the freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief are in serious jeopardy.  The European Dignity Watch published an  excellent and detailed article that I gladly (with permission of the author Roxana Stanciu) like to share.  The EDW is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in Brussels and is active in the protection of human dignity and family.

Dutch national tv campaign: "Boys and Girls are equal but not the same. Do you let your boy be enough boy?"

In the Netherlands, a new campaign organized by an initiative from the communications and media industry that has been involved in developing awareness campaigns for 40 years and is called SIRE, focuses on the fact that although boys and girls are equal, they are not the same. SIRE is not a governmental organization (as I thought before), but is recognized as the national organization focused on societal issues and has a lot of impact as it broadcast on the national tv channels. The title of the campaign is: "Do you let your boy be enough boy?" 

Historic events to celebrate 50 years reunification of Jerusalem

Hundreds of Christian leaders from 56 countries and Israeli leaders celebrate and pray together for the Peace of Jerusalem at the 1 st Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast. “We are writing a new chapter in the fulfilment of of Isaiah’s prophecies. You are a part of this chapter ” (Yehuda Glick, Rabbi and Knesset Member) Exactly 50 years after the reunification of Jerusalem, between 6-8 June, the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast as well as other related side events took place in Jerusalem. I had the honor to be involved in these events as one of the Founders of the Movement of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast and also on behalf of the ECPM. The events consisted of an opening meeting in the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset), a reception at the residence of the President of Israel, a lunch for Members of (European) Parliament organized by the ECPM in collaboration with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC) and the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF), a concert with (Jewish) Psalms and Christian

International Call to Promote and Protect Families during the Budapest Family Summit

Between 25-28 May 2017, I had the honor of participating in the Budapest Family Summit that consisted of four important pro – family and pro – life events, as a guest of the Hungarian government. The four events were: the Hungarian Demographic Forum , the World Congress of families , the International Forum of Families and the One Of Us Conference . I had the privilege to speak at the Hungarian Demographic Forum which was organized by the Hungarian Government. I participated in a panel that consisted of members of the (European) Parliament and Government Commissioner  Máriusz Révész. It  was chaired by Bence Rétvári, Deputy Minister of Human Capacities. In my remarks at the Demographic Forum, I made a reference to the demographic situation for families in Europe today and underlined the need to uphold the traditional definition of marriage , press for the respect of the sovereignty of the family and rethink our economic model . You can find the full text of my  speech below.

Council of Europe report protects the freedom of parents to raise their children according to their religious beliefs

On the 27th of April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted, by 44 votes to 19, a report   on the protection of the "The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities" . The rapporteur for this report  was ECPM Member Valeriu Ghiletchi (MP, Moldova) . The report calls on Council of Europe (CoE) Member States to protect religious freedoms in each country and to respect the right of parents to raise their children according to their religious beliefs.

New Council of Europe report on domestic workers protects pregnant women and their unborn child

Yesterday, on the 30st of May, the Standing Committee of the Council of Europe adopted the  resolution on "The employment rights of domestic workers, especially women, in Europe" drafted by Romanian MP Viorel Badea. The PACE’s Standing Committee has called on ember States to guarantee the social protection and labour rights of domestic workers, in particular normal hours of work, periods of daily and weekly rest and annual leave, minimum wage coverage, social security protection, occupational safety and health and decent working conditions.  This report also calls to protect pregnant women and their unborn child and the pressure to women to terminate their pregnancies.  Article 4.3. "extend maternity protection and work–family balance to the domestic work sphere, including paid maternity and parental leave, adequate rest periods, time for breastfeeding, childcare facilities and freedom from maternity-based discrimination and ensure that pregnant work

We do not want a Down Free Society but a Down Friendly Society

A CALL TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF PEOPLE WITH DOWN On the 21 st of March, we celebrated the World Down Syndrome Day at the European Parliament . The activities to honour this day started last week, when the Brussels office of ECPM took part in the  Socks' Battle  that was organized to draw attention to the rights of people, and especially children with Down syndrome. Yesterday, ECPM-MEP Marek Jurek co-hosted with MEP Miroslav Mikolášik a well - attended conference with the title: "Are we in Europe doing our best for the health of people with trisomy 21?" The Conference was addressed by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani as well as MEP Pieter Liese. During this conference, I was invited to tell about the NIPT Test that is a serious threath to the future existence of people with Down Syndrome. I also presented a statement we prepared against the use of prenatal testing techniques that target Down syndrome in collaboration with the World Youth A

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe endorses a PACE report on the Oversexualization of Children

A few days ago, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) (which is the statutory decision making body of the CoE) endorsed a report of its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on the oversexualisation of children. It also encouraged its Member States to take concrete steps in protecting children. The rapporteur for this report was ECPM Member Valeriu Ghiletchi (MP, Moldova). His report highlighted the negative consequences of the oversexualisation and objectification of children by the media, marketing campaigns as well as television programmes. Additionally, the recommendations submitted to the Committee of Ministers called for the inclusion of the issue of the oversexualisation of children in their "Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child" (2016-2021). Moreover, it invites the relevant Council of Europe Committees to take more action .  We strongly welcome the endorsement of this report from the Council of Ministers. Now, their recommendations