Activities of Patrizia TOIA related to 2021/2055(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion
Amendments (14)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas women of belief and religious minorities are particularly at risk of increased discrimination and violence linked to intersectional factors such as gender,caste, ethnic background, power imbalances and patriarchy;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. whereas minorities on the ground of belief or religion often lack adequate national representation in developing countries and legislation often excludes the needs and interests of these minorities, with local governments employing a range of extra-legal measures that persecute, delegitimise or stigmatise minorities on the ground of belief or religion;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. whereas the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated persecution and violence against belief and religious minorities in some countries; whereas furthermore the health crisis is likely to provide an excuse to adopt persecution measures for purposes unrelated to the fight against the pandemic; whereas belief and religious minorities have become particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and mortality due to unequal access to adequate medical care;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. whereas social media platforms are increasingly exploited as spaces for incitement to hatred and violence; whereas belief or religious minorities continue to be subject to hate speech online and offline from individuals across the political spectrum;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that churches, faith- based organisations (FBOs) and, religious associations and institutions have a major role in the social fabric of developing countries, are important partners in delivering humanitarian assistance to hard- to-reach communities and greatly contribute to sustainable development and to achieving the SDGs, in particular SDGs 3 and 4; further notes that churches, religious institutions and FBOs deliver in social sectors where shortcomings in state services are experienced; recalls in this regards the need to provide FBOs and religious associations with adequate resources in ODA and national budgets in order to support them in carrying out these services;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Urges the EU to recognise that religious leaders and faith-based organisations are not only key partners in the implementation of humanitarian, development and peace projects, but also have a privileged role in the design, monitoring and evaluation of such initiatives, due to their expertise based on their deep embeddedness in local communities, their direct contact with people experiencing poverty and exclusion, as well as their long history of providing humanitarian assistance;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that churches, religious institutions and FBOs are frequently the only providers of healthcare and other social services in remote areas of sub- Saharan Africa and in conflict-prone settings such as northern Mozambique and other crisis zones;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the activities of churches, religious institutions and religious leaders in the field of conflict management and mediation, and in fostering reconciliation, dialogue and peace; highlights that inter-religious dialogue is crucial, notably in conflict areas, to foster peace and reconciliation;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to make the fight against the persecution of religious and belief minorities a priority in the programming of activities related to EU development assistance, in line with the areas of cooperation for geographic and thematic programmes of NDICI-Global Europe;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to develop the necessary reaction and sanction mechanisms to combat effectively violations of freedom of religion or belief, including discrimination or legal restrictions based on religion or belief in its partner countries, as well as any kind of impediment to freedom of thought, religion or belief, freedom of association and freedom of expression.
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses the need to eliminate discrimination against religious and belief minorities in the field of employment, education, access to justice and effective remedies, housing, and healthcare; underlines the need to work with human rights institutions and organisations to monitor the compliance, examine complaints and contrast laws and policies that discriminate or persecute minorities on the ground of belief or religion;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Calls on the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and Member States to work with third countries towards the adoption of measures to prevent and fight hate crimes, in full compliance with international standards on freedom of expression and freedom of belief and religion;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Underlines the importance of civil society initiatives in tackling the persecution of minorities on the ground of belief and religion, and in promoting a holistic approach that encompasses human rights, conflict resolution, human development, as well as interfaith and interreligious initiatives;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Stresses the need for churches, religious institutions and religious communities to respect, uphold and promote fundamental human rights, while opposing, at any levels, all attempts to jeopardize or deny these rights, especially in relation to the condition of minors, women, the elderly, the most vulnerable and marginalized, and other ethnic, social or religious minorities;