Atheist Ireland attends OSCE human rights meeting in Poland

Michael Nugent

Jane Donnelly, David Nash and I attended the OSCE Human Rights meeting in Warsaw in Poland this Monday on behalf of Atheist Ireland. The overall meeting lasts two weeks, covering various aspects of human rights, but we only attended for the day that the meeting was discussing freedom of conscience, religion or belief. It was a combination of formal sessions and opportunities to make contacts with members of State delegations and NGOs, and to lobby relevant people about our issues.

This is my speech to the main session of the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msJ8HWvTNCc

We also hosted a side event, at which we spoke in more detail about religious oaths, secular education and blasphemy laws. These are the points that we made at the side event:

Michael Nugent on human rights of atheists, and the current situation regarding blasphemy laws internationally
http://www.atheist.ie/2012/09/atheist-ireland-attends-osce-meeting-in-poland-to-challenge-spread-of-blasphemy-laws-and-promote-human-rights-of-atheists/

Jane Donnelly on the need for secular education to protect equally the human rights of atheists and religious alike
http://www.atheist.ie/2012/10/jane-donnelly-promotes-need-for-secular-education-at-osce-human-rights-meeting-in-poland/

David Nash on the history and philosophy or blasphemy laws, and the dangers of the Irish blasphemy law in particular
http://www.atheist.ie/2012/10/david-nash-discusses-the-irish-blasphemy-law-at-osce-human-rights-meeting-in-poland/

Former Supreme Court Justice Catherine McGuinness was among the attendance at our side event, and she spoke about the need to remove our blasphemy law. So was The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mr. Heiner Bielefeld, and Jane had an opportunity to speak with him about the Irish Education system and the human rights of secular parents and their children.

This was our second year attending this event, and we believe it is a useful contribution to advancing the cause of secularism in Ireland and internationally.

Obliq

Fab:pac: Thank you for going, thank you for speaking. Must listen to the other links later. That was the most reasonable and articulate speech I've heard in a long time. Looking forward to the longer ones (later)

Michael Nugent

Obliq wrote: »

Fab:pac: Thank you for going, thank you for speaking. Must listen to the other links later. That was the most reasonable and articulate speech I've heard in a long time. Looking forward to the longer ones (later)

Thanks, Obliq.

At the moment, the other links are just to the text of what we said.

We'll have video of them online hopefully by tomorrow and I'll post the video links here also.

[-0-]

Nice job.

UDP

Well done Michael.

Lucy8080

I often wonder who is subject to blasphemy laws? Surely not a disbeliever! I would imagine only the signed up can breach what they have signed up to!

Why are government ministers being dishonest about the contracts/oaths.. verbal/written... that they are making? Can we not trust their words?

is power so enchanthing?

i am slightly confused though...AI wants inclusivity and parts of the muslim world want respect for all prophets!


I suspect both sides may need to think again!

or ,possibly ,to their horror, find they are on the same page.

PopePalpatine

^ I actually wonder who campaigned FOR Ireland's blasphemy laws. I have a feeling that it's the Galactic Empire Iona Institute.