IHEU writes to ECHR
IHEU sends letter to European Court of Human Rights in Support of Norwegian Complaint
To: The Registrar
European Court of Human Rights
Council of Europe
F-67075 STRASBOURG CEDEX
France
28 November 2002 , London
ECHR-LE1.1R
SCP/kh
Application no.15472/02
Folgera et.alt v.Norway
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT TO NORWEGIAN COMPLAINT
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) expresses its deepest concern for the way Norway arranges religious education and instruction within the public school system.
In 1997 Norway introduced a new compulsory religious syllabus for primary and secondary schools where children are educated overwhelmingly about Lutheran Christianity, while non-Christian minorities are denied the right of exemption from these classes. The discriminatory effect of this is enhanced by the fact that Norwegian legislation has a Christian general clause for the schools.
IHEU is a world wide union, with nearly 100 member organisations in more then 35 countries, working cooperatively with Amnesty International and other Human Rights organisations as well as liberal religious groups. The union and its member organisations strive to promote universal human values and seek to establish freedom of religion and belief in cultures where this freedom is violated - in some countries the violation of this fundamental right is done in a most oppressive and degrading manner.
We are aware that the Scandinavian countries, and not least the famous peace-negotiator Norway, are looked upon as models for democracy. It is therefore most regrettable that the lack of religious freedom in Norwegian schools may legitimate Human Rights violations in undemocratic regimes.
IHEU very much hopes that governments, groups, institutions and courts dealing with freedom and dignity of minorities within today's Europe will realize the harmful effect of discriminatory practices in relation to children's cultural identity, who are the next generation of decision making adults in a growingly multicultural society.
Compulsory indoctrination in the beliefs of the majority religion should not be allowed anywhere in the world and is contrary to established universal standards of Human Rights. Consequently, IHEU supports the complaints before the European Human Right Court.
Babu Gogineni
Executive Director
& Secretary General
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Discrimination in Norway
Since 5th September, 1970 the Norwegian storting ratified the international legal instrument against all racial and other forms of discrimination but this is yet to be seen in practice.
Apart from the issue of discriminatory religious education ,there is a very deep xenophobic approach to immigrants, especially those of Black or African origin.
This situation is more or less enhanced by the apparent over decentralisation of Authority giving some public officials who are racists a free hand to operate and misuse the laws of the land.
Authority is such that one office within the same institution acts without ,as it seems ,coordinating with others. This is very much the case when it comes to dealing with the moral, social and economic welfare of refugees. Also when it comes to refugees the buck stops at and with a saying; this is what the law says! There is normally no use of administrative discretion in these specific cases whereas it is not the case when such issues pertain to Norwegian citizens. This applies not only in the educational sector but even in places of employment. Unfair and unequal remuneration is a common practice and this is normally justified by conditions such as inability to properly communicate in Norwegian or lack of proof of a standard of education that the Norwegian society considers fitting. As a result most immigrant workers work the same hours like the citizens and in some cases even more but receive far less pay .
Take for example the way and manner that the Lindas Kommune in the Hordaland is treating immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. There is no effective communications channel for refugees to get vital information concerning their economic welfare and procedures put in place by the very Kommune are altered without due notice to the refugees and this is all cases cause due economic imbalances that led to defaults in payment of house rents. These houses in most cases are properties of the Kommune and where it is not the Kommune charges an extra fee which it terms as repairs and contingency fees. When repairs are due, they don’t. There are cases of complaints for repairs that have gone over six months but when it comes to rent collection it is pay now or you go out. Already there are pending cases of refugees that will be asked out of houses by 12:00 10th October this year.
Some of them have wives and children and by then it will be the beginning of winter.