Human Rights and Children in the 21st Century in Prague, The Czech Republic

U PF-Czech Republic under auspices of Nina Nováková, MP Lajda, secretary general of UPF Czech commemorated the Day of by UPF in cooperation with the Civic Republic mentioned that this is already Human Rights and the 70th Forum, European Women’s Union and the fourth conference in the Czech anniversary of the UN by organizing UN Information Centre in Prague, and Parliament focused on family issues an international conference on the was supported by the Topaz organized by UPF in the last one and theme, “Human Rights and Children in foundation. half years. Many of the regular the 21st Century“ in the Czech participants created a feeling of Parliament on the 14th December The conference had two panels: one community. He mentioned that 2015. High level speakers contributed focused on human rights in general and discussing the family shows that there to the success of the conference. Five of in the second panel the speakers is something wrong with the family and the panellists were members of the discussed the application of human we need time and again to speak about Czech Parliament (1 man and 4 ladies). rights in protecting family and children that. Even though many people say that Moreover, there were speakers from in the society. There were around 70 the family is the basic unit of society, Slovakia, Austria, academia and civil participants in the audience. we could not create many healthy and ideal families in the world until now.

Still there is a long way to go to achieve second set of human rights declaration: am here today, he said. The this goal. The family became too the Cairo Declaration on HR in Islam international human rights are individualistic and especially if we (CDHRI) proclaimed in 1990 and developing. Originally there are 3 basic speak about human rights for children signed by more than 40 nations of the human rights: right for life, religious there is a tendency is to separate these Organisation of the Islamic right and right of conscience and right rights from the family as a unit. Cooperation (OIC). This declaration is of ownership. In the modern history we The first panellist was Dr. Michal based on the sharia law. The lack of were fighting against many regimes – Broža, director of the UN Information awareness by Western politicians about Soviet Union, Islamic state, China, Centre in Prague. He mentioned that CDHRI has already caused many Russia. The West has disintegrated among the many important days misunderstandings in negotiating with because they always invent more proclaimed by the UN, the Human Islamic countries. Also when speaking human rights and do not concentrate Rights Day is the most respected one. about human rights we do not speak so on these 3 basic human rights. As a Since 1950 all nations can remember much of the children’s rights. Yet, consequence, the human rights become this day. He mentioned also the 70th children are more vulnerable and the relative and we are not able to keep the anniversary of the founding of the UNO question is how to protect them. The basic and original human rights. this year. Two years ago we UDHR declares the dignity of The second panel was opened by Mrs. remembered the 20th anniversary of individuals and basic rights for freedom Gabriela Pecková, MP and a medical the establishment of the position of the of speech, conscience, change of doctor. She focused on the topic of the High Commissioner for the Human religion. But the most fundamental new technologies in medicine, Rights and since that time the situation right is the right for the religious especially in genetic engineering. New improved in many countries freedom as expressed in the Art. 18. technologies have surely a great concerning the protection of children, Many call this right as “mother of all potential to heal many diseases but can women and tortured people. Dr. Broža rights“. This concept guarantees the be misused. In history we could see that reminded us of the the four basic right to change ones religion and also the technological progress not always principles which were introduced by not to force somebody else to accept contributed to the development of President Roosevel: Freedom of speech, some religion. Mr. Zoehrer has also people. It is necessary to take into the religion, liberation from poverty and outlined four major challenges to consideration the ethical and legal fear. All these principles are anchored protect human rights in our current aspect of the situation. She spoke on in the Universal Declaration of the situation. the topic “Children and their right for Human Rights. In the end he The next speaker was Dr. Martin privacy” in connection to the new mentioned the UN Agenda 2030 for Dilong, expert on foreign affairs and technologies. sustainable development. human rights in the Christian Next speaker was Mrs. Jitka Professor Harald Scheu form the democratic party in Slovakia who spoke Chalánková, MP and medical doctor. Faculty of Law of the Charles on the topic “Constitutional Protection “Family is a much older institution University in Prague explained that of Marriage and problems of the than the state and that is why the children are vulnerable and that is why persecuted religious minorities “. There family has right for freedom to educate they have a right to be protected. The was a novelization of the Slovak their children. The state must not concept of human rights is derived Constitution on the 4th June 2014 determine how to educate the children. from the concept of man which was where “Marriage is a unique The state should protect the family and influenced by the Enlightment. Reason relationship between man and woman” not to interfere, otherwise family is and conscience form the base of the and Slovak republic protects this, said under the threat of totalitarity. The human being. Human rights belong Dr. Dilong in the beginning of his state can interfere only in special also to those who do not have reason speech. The Bible says that “In the cases”, said the speaker at the and conscience. They are not beginning God created man and beginning. Unfortunately, in numerous individualistic and autonomous rights women…” and the Jewish tradition European countries many institutions but it is a right of children to receive always protected a woman, he and self-appointed organizations are protection. This protection is based on continued. The protection of marriage misusing their authority. Children the paternalistic principle, i.e. is not an ideology but it has practical became for them a commercial responsibility of the subject, said Prof. reasons. It is not a matter of one group commodity which should be protected, Scheu. The protection of children’s but of all (not only Christians). The especially against their own biological rights cannot do without the biggest problem is not migration and parents. It is necessary to recognize paternalism. However, it is necessary to terrorism but the demographic what is really the best for the child. set the limits of this paternalism. development. Religious freedom is not Mrs. Chalánková is involved in the a privilege but one of the fundamental cause of so called Norwegian children Mr. Peter Zoehrer, director of freedoms of humans. If we promote FOREF Europe and director of UPF when 2 children were taken away from religious freedom all other problems a Czech mother. Human Rights mentioned that the term can be solved, concluded the speaker. “human rights“ is a modern one and Mrs. Radomíra Keršnerová from usually we recall to The Universal The last speaker on the first panel was the National centre for family spoke Declaration of Human Rights Marek Benda, MP. He mentioned, about the situation in the families and proclaimed by the UN GA in Paris on that the “Candle demonstration” which how to harmonize taking care of the 10th December 1948. “Universal took place in autumn of 1988 in small children while having a Human Rights“ has become a myth. Bratislava was an expression of protest profession and a job. The reason is, that since 1990 we have a against communism. Thanks to this I

Mrs. Markéta Adamová, MP spoke education aims at development of inseparable. Some parents about the current situation of the human personality including the moral unfortunately resign on the education immigrants from the viewpoint of and ethical values. The education is not of their own children. On the other protecting the children’s rights. She free from neutrality. Culture is passed hand there are parents who want to visited the detention camp in Czech on through internalizing to the next avoid the state system of education (i.e. Republic where she could meet some generations. We should pass on the compulsory vaccination). The state families of immigrants. In some cases, culture of European integrity which is tries to educate children. There are the children were isolated from their based on humanism, Christianity and many subjects for children dealing with parents because the parents were in antics, emphasized the speaker. The education – such as education to process of investigation for crossing the immigrant wave is a great challenge for health, to democracy, media education border illegally. Until the situation is us but we should educate the etc. The state should respond solved the children remain separated. immigrants about the foundations of differently and strongly support She mentioned that the detention camp our European culture. functional and healthy families in order tries to care for the children well. The last speaker was Mrs. Jana to prevent the non-functional families. Nevertheless, the Czech government Jochová, director of the Committee The conference had a very good should be prepared to accept more for Defence of Parents Rights. In the response from the audience. The immigrants. beginning she put a question: Whom do panellists expressed how necessary this Mrs. Nina Nováková, MP as the next the Czech children trust most when kind of event is in order to raise the speaker said that the children should be they have a problem? According to awareness regarding human rights & taught about the human rights from statistical research 56% trusts the family. A few expressed their desire to their childhood. Human rights can be parents, 6, 8% the churches and 6, 4 % hold similar events in other cities / applied only in the relationship. The teachers. Human rights are best countries. education at schools is very important. realized in the family, she continued. According to the Czech law the Parents and children rights are