OSCE, Alm.del - 2010-11 (1. samling) - Bilag 47: OSCE PA - Supplementary Item 1-25

1. Recognising that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy andthe rule of law is at the core of the OSCE comprehensive concept of security,2. Reaffirming that acts of intolerance and discrimination pose a threat to democracyand, therefore, to overall security in the OSCE region and beyond,3. Recalling that participating States have committed themselves to ensure human rightsand fundamental freedoms to everyone within their territory and subject to theirjurisdiction and will therefore provide to all persons equal and effective protection oflaw,4. Reaffirming the inviolable right of the individual to profess his or her faith alone or incommunity, in private and in public life and to live freely according to the dictate ofhis or her conscience,5. Acknowledging the positive contribution of Christians to social cohesion, culturalenrichment and value orientated debate in our societies,6. Welcoming the work done in this field by ODIHR,7. Welcoming the efforts of the Personal Representative of the Chairmanship in Officeon Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intoleranceand Discrimination against Christians and Members of other Religions in risingawareness of this urgent challenge,8. Condemning the problem in its different features, both in the eastern and westerncountries of the OSCE,The Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE:9. Decides to follow up the work started in 2009 at the Expert Roundtable on Intoleranceand Discrimination Against Christians held in Vienna on March 4, 2009;10. Decides to intensify efforts to monitor, research and publicize the need to fight againstintolerance and discrimination throughout the OSCE area, which includes efforts inthe fields of,inter alia,education, media, legislation, law enforcement, and hatecrime; and to work closely with representatives of Christian churches;11. Decides to intensify consultation and co-operation with the Personal Representative ofthe Chairman in Office on national and international level;12. Recommends to initiate a public debate on intolerance and discrimination againstChristians and ensure the right of Christians to participate fully in public life;1

13. Recommends to assess legislation in the participating States in view of discriminationand intolerance against Christians including labour law, equality law, freedom ofexpression and assembly, laws related to religious communities, and right ofconscientious objections;14. Encourages the media not to spread prejudices against Christians and to combatnegative stereotyping;15. Encourages Christian churches to continue their participation in public lifecontributing to defend the dignity of all human beings and to ensure freedom andsocial cohesion.