Weekend Seminar - International Conference - The House of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

Weekend Seminar International Conference The House of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, 29. May 2017

this area. There were representatives of anchored in the Universal Declaration

F By Juraj Lajda ollowing the World Family the civil society sector dealing with the of Human Rights. He mentioned that Congress in Budapest last week family issues who try to minimize the the children have the right for a good Hon. Nina Nováková, member of negative consequences of some and loving, functional and healthy the Czech Parliament in cooperation governmental decisions concerning the family environment which the with the Czech chapter of the Universal family. The purpose of this discussion legislature can hardly cover. The Peace Federation convened a half day is to protect family, Mrs. Novaková European court does not deal with international conference on the topic explained. There are some clashes national legislature, only deals with the Where is the Borderline between the between the area of parental question if the rights of parents were Responsibility of the Parents and State responsibility and the responsibility of restrained. in Education of Children. This event the state. In other words, the question is how far the state can intervene with the Mrs. Lynn Walsh, co-chair UN NGO took place n the Czech Parliament in rights and responsibility of the parents Committee on the Family and Prague on the 29th May 2017. in education their children. As an representative of the Office of the Over 20 participants from the field of example, Hon. Nováková mentioned a Family UPF spoke about the experts took part in this event. There case when a doctor prescribes a importance of parent’s involvement in were representatives of civil society, contraception to a 14-year girl without children’s education. Parents adopted family organizations, Christian seniors notifying the parents. the myth that children need other or political party. children for socialization, said the The first speaker Prof. Dr. Harald speaker. We created friendly society The conference was opened by Hon. Scheu from the Law Faculty of the nor parental society. The prevailing Nováková who explained the purpose Charles University in Prague spoke concept is that the children should be of this meeting with relevant people in about children’s rights as they are liberated from their parents as soon as

possible. No state, nor government can reason. There are more such cases. The replace family with various preventive substitute the parents. The parents are education of children is the programmes. People are losing self- the foundation for the education of the fundamental right of parents and the confidence to be a parent. The solution whole personality, concluded her state should respect that, concluded Mr. is to change it and give back the parents speech L. Walsh. Clarke. their trust. In conclusion Mrs. Jochová mentioned that often the people who Mr. Robert Clarke,director of Mrs. Jana Chalušová from the Parents have no children decide about the European Advocacy, Association Forum informed shortly about their family policy. Defending Freedom International activities. They are doing campaigns in Vienna, pointed out that according to order to wake up the parents to be In a fruitful discussion which followed the UN the parents have the prerogative aware of their role in education of afterwards the participants could to decide the type of education for their children and to finish with the so called express their views and determination children. The state should respect the “silent parents “. They try to anchor in to protect the family. In summary, the parental rights. Concerning the home the law the role of parents in education participants agreed that the parents schooling the speaker emphasized that of children. should be responsible for religious and the parents should have this possibility. sexual education and state should not In Germany home schooling is Mrs. Jana Jochová from the Alliance replace in this area the family. It is forbidden. The view that the state for Family said that the family based on important not only to protect the family knows what is best for the child is very the relationship between husband and but also the religious freedom which is dangerous. Mr. Clarke mentioned some wife is mostly in danger. The an inseparable part of this process. The study cases from Norway where the responsibility of parents is the bigger series of events on family issues will Norwegian Child Welfare Services the more harmful influences exist. continue. Barnevernet took away 5 children from When family does not function one Romanian family without a serious properly various institutions try to