Protecting the Human Rights of Religious Minorities Worldwide: International Religious Freedom in U.S. Policy

Felice Gaer Author

02/05/2013 Added

696 Plays

Description

Since the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 was adopted, the U.S. government has paid more attention to human rights violations committed against members of religious minorities in hot spots throughout the world. Implementing this policy has encountered both resistance and assistance from traditional diplomats, foreign governments, and NGO representatives. In this lecture, Felice Gaer, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, will discuss what has been accomplished and what is needed to bolster this vital human rights concern.

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[00:00:16.000]>>> RELIGIOUS MINORITIES OFTEN
[00:00:20.000]DO NOT HAVE ANY MEANINGFUL RIGHTS.
[00:00:22.600]SO RIGHT -- THE ABSENCE OF RIGHT, MERELY REPRESSES
[00:00:27.100]RELIGIOUS LIFE AND EXPRESSION.
[00:00:29.767]>> IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT THE RELIGIOUS VALUES DON'T
[00:00:35.333]FIT THE PUBLIC FEAR.
[00:00:36.800]AND THEY ARE TO BE LIMITED TO THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THOSE
[00:00:40.000]WHO BELIEVE IN THEM.
[00:00:42.166]HOWEVER, THIS SOLUTION TURNED BY ITSELF TO BE ENDLESS SOURCE OF
[00:00:47.667]PROBLEMS WHEN THE EXCLUSION OF RELIGION FROM THE PUBLIC FEAR
[00:00:52.433]WAS FIRST HELD AGAINST PEOPLE IN SOME SOCIETIES.
[00:00:56.533]>> DIFFERENT RELIGIONS HAVE FOLLOWED
[00:01:00.900]DIFFERENT HISTORICAL PATHS.
[00:01:01.200]AND SO THE WAY THAT PEOPLE IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, OR
[00:01:06.567]WASHINGTON, D.C., OR BERLIN THINK ABOUT RELIGION MAY NOT BE
[00:01:09.700]THE SAME AS THE WAY SOMEBODY IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, OR CAIRO,
[00:01:15.967]EGYPT, THINKS ABOUT REGION.
[00:01:17.533]AND PART OF THE REASON -- RELIGION.
[00:01:19.667]AND PART OF THE REASON IS THE DIFFERENT HISTORIES IN THOSE
[00:01:21.867]PARTS OF THE WORLD.
[00:01:22.600]MUCH OF THE WAY THAT PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN WORLD OR THE
[00:01:25.266]DEVELOPED WORLD THINK ABOUT RELIGION ISN'T FORMED BY THE
[00:01:33.233]ENLIGHTENMENT AUREIAN INTELLECTUAL MOVEMENT, ONE
[00:01:35.233]CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH WAS A LARGE MOVE TOWARD PRIVATIZING
[00:01:38.533]RELIGION, MAKING IT LESS SOMETHING THAT BELONGS IN THE
[00:01:41.600]PUBLIC AND SOMETHING THAT MORE BELONGS IN THE PRIVATE DOMAIN.
[00:01:45.834]AND MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE WESTERN WORLD HAVE THAT GENERAL
[00:01:49.800]UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION, THAT THAT IS WHERE RELIGION BELONGS.
[00:01:56.166]MORE IN THE OPINION IN PEOPLE'S HOMES, IN PEOPLE'S PRIVATE LIVES
[00:02:00.834]THAN IN PLACES LIKE THE PARLIAMENT OR THE COURTS OF LAW,
[00:02:03.800]AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
[00:02:08.600]BUT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE
[00:02:12.467]OF ENLIGHTENMENT, THAT MOVE WAS NOT MADE IN THE SAME WAY.
[00:02:17.033]SO WHEREAS THAT MIGHT SEEM NATURAL OR NORMAL OR APPROPRIATE
[00:02:22.900]TO PEOPLE LIVING HERE, TO HAVE A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE,
[00:02:26.533]OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, PEOPLE LIVING IN OTHER PARTS OF WORLD
[00:02:31.600]MAY NOT HAVE THAT SAME UNDERSTANDING.
[00:02:35.200]>> WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN PARTICULAR, I THINK RELIGION
[00:02:39.066]CAN BE AND HAS BEEN A VERY POSITIVE FORCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
[00:02:43.166]WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE OF ALL RELIGIONS, WHETHER THEY'RE
[00:02:48.600]CHRISTIAN OR JEWISH OR MUSLIM OR ABOUT A HIGH OR HINDU OR
[00:02:52.200]BUDDHIST ARISE TO REALLY BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE
[00:02:57.333]INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
[00:02:58.433]THEY'VE TAKEN ON CAUSES LIKE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF
[00:03:00.967]OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR,
[00:03:04.333]ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS.
[00:03:04.667]SO I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT VERY POSITIVE INFLUENCE.
[00:03:07.934]ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'VE ALSO SEEN REALLY A NEGATIVE IMPACT
[00:03:13.266]WHEN RELIGION BECOMES A SOURCE OF DIVISION, A REASON TO VIEW
[00:03:18.533]OTHERS AS LESS WORTHY THAN YOURSELF OR NOT HAVING ACCESS TO
[00:03:21.600]THE SAME TRUTH THAT HAVE YOU ACCESS TO, THEN IT CAN BECOME A
[00:03:27.266]CAUSE OF SOCIAL DIVISIONS.
[00:03:28.567]IT CAN OBVIOUSLY BECOME EVEN A CAUSE OF WAR AND WE SEE THIS IN
[00:03:34.000]MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
[00:03:38.667]>> RELIGION HAS BEEN MISUSED AND ABUSED BY MEAN LEADERS TO
[00:03:41.533]ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.
[00:03:43.333]-- MANY LEADERS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS, WHETHER IS IT JUST
[00:03:47.066]OR UNJUST, OR WHETHER IT IS NORMAL -- WICKED AND SELFISH
[00:03:54.834]OR EVEN EVIL.
[00:04:23.100][APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.
[00:04:32.767]I AM PROFESSOR LLOYD AMBROSIA.
[00:04:35.600]IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AS CHAIR OF THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE TO WELCOME
[00:04:40.200]YOU TO THE E.N. THOMPSON FORUM ON WORLD ISSUES.
[00:04:44.734]FOUNDED BY AND LATER NAMED THE E.N. THOMPSON FORUM BECAUSE OF
[00:04:51.667]THE ROLE THAT JACK THOMPSON PLAYED, THIS FORUM HAS BEEN
[00:05:00.166]DESIGNED TO BRING IMPORTANT ISSUES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE
[00:05:04.333]UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COMMUNITY AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY
[00:05:08.900]THROUGHOUT NEBRASKA.
[00:05:10.934]DEALING WITH ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
[00:05:14.100]WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE THOMPSON FAMILY AND THE COOPER FOUNDATION
[00:05:18.467]FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR THIS LECTURE SERIES.
[00:05:24.033]WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE LEAD CENTER, NEBRASKA EDUCATIONAL
[00:05:31.367]TELECOMMUNICATIONS, CABLE CHANNEL 21, KRNU RADIO, AND THE
[00:05:36.633]UNIVERSITY OF BOOKSTORE FOR THEIR SUPPORT -- AND THE
[00:05:40.233]UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
[00:05:42.066]THIS EVENING LECTURE, PROTECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS
[00:05:45.734]MINORITIES WORLDWIDE, SUBTITLED, INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
[00:05:49.533]IN U.S. POLICY BY FE LICE GARY, IS COSPONSORED BY THE DOROTHY
[00:05:56.800]AND FIRER CRIPCAN I FUND OF THE NORMAN AND BERNICE HARRIS CENTER
[00:06:03.066]FOR JUDAIC STUDIES.
[00:06:03.934]WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO ITS DIRECTOR, JEAN KEN, FOR THIS
[00:06:07.300]PARTNERSHIP THIS EVENING.
[00:06:10.367]FELICE GARY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN -- FELICE GARY IS
[00:06:18.533]THE -- SHE IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE LEO NEVAS TASK FORCE ON
[00:06:24.533]HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE USA,
[00:06:28.934]AND VICE CHAIR OF THE U.N.
[00:06:29.967]COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE.
[00:06:32.233]SHE HAS SERVED ON THE U.S.
[00:06:35.066]COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, INCLUDING
[00:06:39.667]THREE TERMS AS ITS CHAIR.
[00:06:41.100]THE AUTHOR OF OVER 40 ARTICLES ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS,
[00:06:46.867]SHE WILL SHARE HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AND
[00:06:53.133]KNOWLEDGE WITH US TONIGHT.
[00:06:53.467]AFTER THE LECTURE, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS
[00:06:58.200]OF OUR SPEAKER BY WRITING THEM ON CARDS PROVIDED BY THE USHERS.
[00:07:03.266]NOW JOIN ME IN WELCOMING FELICE GARY TO NEBRASKA.
[00:07:16.500][APPLAUSE] -- FELICE GARY TO NEBRASKA.
[00:07:19.100][APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.
[00:07:27.066]AND THANK YOU.
[00:07:29.066]I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING GENE KAHN AND THE HARRIS CENTER FOR
[00:07:36.734]JUDAIC STUDIES, LLOYD, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE
[00:07:40.133]OF THE E.N. THOMPSON FORUM AND KATY ZEVANES WHO MADE ALL THE
[00:07:44.533]ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENABLING ME TO JOIN YOU TODAY.
[00:07:46.934]AND TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR COMING.
[00:07:49.266]THIS YEAR'S THEME, RELIGION, RIGHTS, AND POLITICS, OFFERS AN
[00:07:53.867]OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FORUM TO DO WHAT IT DOES BEST -- AND WHAT
[00:07:58.400]IT'S BEEN DOING SINCE ITS FORMATION JUST ABOUT 25 YEARS
[00:08:01.734]AGO, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MOST COMPLICATED AND CONTROVERSIAL
[00:08:04.734]ISSUES OF THE DAY.
[00:08:06.900]OVER THE CENTURIES, DIFFERENCES OF RELIGION AND IDENTITY HAVE
[00:08:11.567]BEEN A SOURCE OF TENSION, CONFLICT, AND WAR.
[00:08:17.066]OFTEN FOUGHT IN THE NAME OF SPREADING RELIGIOUS TRUTH.
[00:08:22.500]CONQUERED AND OPPRESSED POPULATIONS HAVE OFTEN BEEN
[00:08:25.400]DENIED FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND
[00:08:29.633]HAVE SUFFERED RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
[00:08:30.266]THE FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, KOFI
[00:08:36.166]ANNAN, TOLD US THE FOLLOWING, AND I QUOTE.
[00:08:39.100]HE SAID TRUE FAITH -- BREEDS RESPECT WHILE
[00:08:45.967]FANATICISM BREEDS HATRED.
[00:08:46.300]THE PROBLEM, MR. ANNAN SAID, IS NOT SAFE.
[00:08:49.934]THE PROBLEM TOO OFTEN IS THE FAITHFUL -- IS NOT FAITH.
[00:08:53.600]THE PROBLEM TOO OFTEN IS THE FAITHFUL.
[00:08:55.800]NOTE THAT HE EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND
[00:08:59.700]IT'S MY THESIS TONIGHT THAT WHEN ADDRESSING RELIGIOUS MINORITIES,
[00:09:03.033]WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL.
[00:09:08.367]IT'S BY VALUING AND RESPECTING THE INDIVIDUAL AND FIGHTING FOR
[00:09:12.200]EACH SUCH PERSON'S RIGHTS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK PAST
[00:09:17.033]IDEOLOGY, PAST NATIONALITY, PAST RACE, AND YES, PAST RELIGION,
[00:09:21.266]AND WORK TO BRING EQUALITY AND LIBERTY FOR ALL.
[00:09:26.100]TODAY WE'RE SEEING A RISE IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS AGAINST
[00:09:29.467]MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES WORLDWIDE.
[00:09:32.900]AND THEY ARE REPORTED TO US EVER MORE QUICKLY THROUGH THE SPREAD
[00:09:37.400]OF MOBILE PHONE AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGY.
[00:09:40.834]EVERY DAY IN NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION, AND ELECTRONIC
[00:09:43.166]MEDIA, WE READ OF VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST MEMBERS OF ONE
[00:09:46.467]OR ANOTHER RELIGIOUS MINORITY.
[00:09:47.934]IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE,
[00:09:53.500]I'VE HEARD OF THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS.
[00:09:55.567]400,000 PEOPLE HAVE FLED FROM THE NORTH OF MALI IN AFRICA TO
[00:10:00.800]AVOID TORTURE, SUMMARY EXECUTIONS, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
[00:10:04.000]AGAINST WOMEN AT THE HANDS OF FUNDAMENTALISTS MILITANTS.
[00:10:08.200]FRENCH FORCES HAVE INTERVENED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM MORE ABUSE.
[00:10:13.767]IN BURMA, HOPEFUL REFORMS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SLOWED BY THE
[00:10:17.767]ONGOING VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITIES
[00:10:21.000]OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.
[00:10:22.300]THE MUSLIM AND THE CONFLICT IN A STATE WHERE MANY ETHNIC ARE
[00:10:27.400]CHRISTIANS, AND CHURCHES HAVE BEEN TARGETED.
[00:10:30.000]WE HEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
[00:10:34.066]THERE ARE CHANGING COURSE.
[00:10:35.033]BUT THE ARMY APPARENTLY IS NOT LISTENING
[00:10:39.133]TO THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
[00:10:41.200]AGAIN, THIS WEEK, CHINA HAS RENEWED PERSECUTION AGAINST
[00:10:46.100]TIBETAN BUDDHISTS, AT LEAST 100 OF WHOM HAVE SELF-EMULATED IN
[00:10:50.867]RECENT TIMES AS A FORM OF PERSONAL PROTEST.
[00:10:52.934]100.
[00:10:55.633]IRAN HAS IMPRISONED MEMBERS OF CHRISTIAN AND BA HAI FAITHS
[00:10:59.567]INCLUDING THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF THE BA HAI FAITH AND ITS
[00:11:05.000]TEACHERS WORKING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ALLOWED
[00:11:08.200]TO BE IN UNIVERSITIES.
[00:11:11.533]SHIITE MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED DURING,
[00:11:13.100]SHI'A MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED
[00:11:14.834]DURING RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS IN PAKISTAN
[00:11:18.367]AND OTHERS WERE FORCIBLY EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES IN INDONESIA.
[00:11:23.066]AND JUST LAST WEEK, JEWS WERE WARNED IN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES
[00:11:28.467]NOT TO WEAR VISIBLE HEAD COVERINGS OR OTHER SYMBOLS ON
[00:11:31.233]THE STREETS LEST THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO WHAT IS REPORTED TO
[00:11:34.567]BE A GROWING NUMBER OF INCREASINGLY VIOLENT ATTACKS IN
[00:11:39.633]SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND OTHER ADVANCED DEMOCRACIES.
[00:11:44.166]NOW, WHAT CAN OR SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS?
[00:11:48.400]IN MY TALK THIS EVENING, I PLAN TO DISCUSS SEVERAL WAYS TO
[00:11:52.333]ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, AND I'LL EYE LAB RATE WITH -- ELABORATE
[00:11:56.533]WITH PARTICULAR POLICY DIRECTIONS.
[00:11:58.333]BUT LET ME SUMMARIZE.
[00:12:00.333]WE NEED TO REMEMBER -- SUMMARIZE.
[00:12:02.100]WE NEED TO REMEMBER, FIRST OF ALL, THAT IT'S THE CREED -- IT'S
[00:12:08.266]THE DEED, NOT THE CREED, THAT SHOULD BE THE
[00:12:12.233]FOCUS OF OUR ATTENTION.
[00:12:12.700]WE SHOULD FOCUS ON ACTIONS, DEEDS, THAT ARE ABUSIVE AND
[00:12:18.467]CRIMINAL AND RESPOND TO THEM.
[00:12:21.533]SECOND, WHEN THESE ACTS TAKE PLACE,
[00:12:26.266]IT'S NOT JUST HOOLIGANISM.
[00:12:26.767]IT'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE.
[00:12:27.467]AND WE NEED TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
[00:12:32.300]THIRD, IMPUNITY CAN EXACERBATE VIOLENCE.
[00:12:36.467]AND EMPOWER PERPETRATORS.
[00:12:37.800]SO DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT AND HOPE IT WILL GO AWAY.
[00:12:41.300]FIX IT.
[00:12:43.000]AND THIS MEANS WORK AT IT.
[00:12:46.667]FOURTH, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO BUILD INSTITUTIONS AND
[00:12:51.266]ENABLE THEM TO WORK.
[00:12:51.567]THESE INSTITUTIONS NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE BASED ON THE ISSUE AND
[00:12:56.734]FLEXIBLE WITH THE TIMES.
[00:12:57.500]THEY NEED TO FIND WAYS TO UPHOLD UNIVERSAL NORMS AND VALUES AND
[00:13:02.467]INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS.
[00:13:06.200]FIFTH, ADVOCACY TO PROTECT MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
[00:13:11.100]SHOULD COMBINE UNIVERSALISM, TICKISM, AND REALISM.
[00:13:14.600]-- PARTICULARISM, AND REALISM.
[00:13:17.033]I'LL OFFER SOME SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AS WELL
[00:13:19.000]AS ABOUT U.S. POLICY.
[00:13:25.033]NOW, MR. AMBROSIAS IS AN HISTORIAN.
[00:13:28.700]OVER THE YEARS, INDIVIDUAL RULERS HAVE OFTEN DEMANDED THE
[00:13:31.934]FINAL SAY ON DEFINING THE RELIGION OF
[00:13:36.066]ALL OF THEIR SUBJECTS.
[00:13:36.700]AND THE TREATMENT OF ANY MINORITIES THAT
[00:13:40.200]HOLD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
[00:13:40.734]IF THE SUBJECTS DID NOT ADHERE TO THE RULERS' FAITH,
[00:13:46.233]PERSECUTION OFTEN FOLLOWED.
[00:13:48.867]ENTIRE COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TARGETED.
[00:13:50.700]SOME COMMUNITIES ARE SIMPLY EVICTED FROM
[00:13:53.400]THE CONQUERED LANDS.
[00:13:53.834]OTHERS WERE TRADED ACROSS THE BORDERS.
[00:13:57.133]IN SOME AREAS, GOVERNMENTS IN ONE REGION WHY ALLOWED TO
[00:14:01.500]FUNCTION -- WERE ALLOWED TO FUNCTION AS THE PROTECTORS OF
[00:14:05.033]RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, NOW LOCATED UNDER THE JURISDICTION
[00:14:08.600]OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE
[00:14:13.100]A DIFFERENT RELIGION.
[00:14:13.967]CONSIDERING THIS CONTEXT, THE HISTORY OF ANTI SEMITISM, WHICH
[00:14:18.300]CAN BE SUMMED UP IN THREE STAGES -- FORCED CONVERSION,
[00:14:22.834]FORCED EXPULSION AND JENO GUIDE.
[00:14:24.533]NOW, THESE -- JENYO SIDE.
[00:14:26.367]NOW THESE ABUSES HAVE PROGRESSED AS FOLLOWS.
[00:14:28.867]FIRST, YOU CAN NOT LIVE AMONG US AS JEWS.
[00:14:33.900]THIS APPROACH LED TO FORCED CONVERSIONS.
[00:14:39.700]SECOND, YOU CANNOT LIVE AMONG US.
[00:14:42.600]THIS RESULTED IN MASS DEPORTATIONS AND EXILE.
[00:14:47.133]AND FINALLY, THE THIRD STAGE I SPOKE ABOUT, YOU CANNOT LIVE.
[00:14:52.700]THIS WAS REALIZED THROUGH NAZI POLICIES OF DEHUMANIZATION,
[00:14:57.467]DISCRIMINATION, AND GENOCIDE DURING THE HOLOCAUST.
[00:15:01.600]IN THE EARLY 19th AND 20th CENTURIES, SPECIAL TREATIES WERE
[00:15:07.934]SIGNED TO PROTECT SUCH
[00:15:11.300]PERSECUTED RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.
[00:15:12.033]THE VIOLENT OR DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT OF PEOPLE SOMETIMES
[00:15:14.934]BECAME A REASON FOR INTERVENTION OF ONE STATE AND
[00:15:19.066]THE AFFAIRS OF ANOTHER.
[00:15:19.867]NONDISCRIMINATION TREATIES WERE TRIED BUT THEY HAD NO
[00:15:22.633]ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.
[00:15:26.367]PRO-PRIORITY TREATIES SUCH AS THE TREATY OF BERLIN, GUARANTEED
[00:15:30.633]NONDISCRIMINATION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:15:32.834]AND FREEDOM OF WORSHIP TO ALL PERSONS WHO LIVED IN A
[00:15:35.834]PARTICULAR TERRITORY.
[00:15:36.633]BUT UNFORTUNATELY, TO SKIP FORWARD, THESE WERE INEFFECTIVE.
[00:15:44.333]AFTER WORLD WAR I, MINORITY TREATIES GUARANTEED MINORITIES
[00:15:50.066]IN SEVERAL EAST EUROPEAN STATES WOULD BE PROTECTED BUT THEY
[00:15:52.800]FOCUSED ONLY ON SOME MINORITIES.
[00:15:54.533]THE POLISH TREATY FOCUSED ON THE POLLS.
[00:16:00.400]THE -- AND THEY WERE GUARANTEED -- POLES.
[00:16:03.934]AND THEY WERE GUARANTEED BY THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS BUT WERE NOT
[00:16:09.033]CHALLENGED BY INDIVIDUALS OR NATIONAL COURTS.
[00:16:11.300]RECOGNITION OF THE FAILED EFFORTS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
[00:16:13.734]REGARDING MINORITY TREATIES MADE IT AN EVEN GREATER PRIORITY TO
[00:16:18.233]GUARANTEE HUMAN RIGHTS INCLUDING FREEDOM OF THOUGHT CONSCIENCE
[00:16:22.567]AND RELIGION NOT JUST TO SOME PEOPLE BUT TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL.
[00:16:26.300]UNITED NATIONS CHARTER WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 1945, PROHIBITED
[00:16:30.367]DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF RELIGION.
[00:16:33.867]UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONS OF FREEDOM OF
[00:16:36.166]RELIGION WERE INTRODUCED IN THE 1948 UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON
[00:16:41.734]HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE WORLD ENDORSED THIS CONCEPT.
[00:16:45.233]UNTIL THEN, THE STATUS AND TREATMENT OF RELIGIOUS
[00:16:48.567]COMMUNITIES WAS AVERAGELY BARTERED AND BATTERED -- LARGELY
[00:16:52.467]BARTERED AND WATERED AMONG STATE ACTORS IN ORDER
[00:16:56.567]TO ADVANCE STABILITY.
[00:16:56.934]UNIVERSAL DECLARATION AFFIRMING THE RIGHT TO BELIEF AND THE
[00:17:01.667]RIGHT TO MANIFEST THAT BELIEF IN WORSHIP AND TEACHING IN BRA AND
[00:17:06.667]OBSERVANCE -- PRACTICE AND OBSERVANCE, CHANGED THIS.
[00:17:09.166]THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, A
[00:17:14.967]TREATY WHICH MORE THAN 160 NATIONS HAVE RATIFIED, ALSO
[00:17:20.533]PROTECTS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ARTICLE 18 AND IN ITS ARTICLE
[00:17:28.533]207, IT PROVIDES RELIGIOUS MINORITIES CANNOT BE DENIED -- A
[00:17:35.033]1981 DECLARATION SET FORTH TO WEAR RELIGIOUS GARY BE, TO
[00:17:40.133]IMPORT -- GARB, TO IMPORT PLAYER BOOKS.
[00:17:43.233]THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION HAS STEMMED FROM
[00:17:48.300]CERTAIN BASIC PRINCIPLES.
[00:17:48.967]INCLUDING BELIEF IN THE DIGNITY AND THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN
[00:17:52.633]PERSON, AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION TO THE IDENTITY OF
[00:17:56.100]THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON.
[00:17:58.867]THESE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY GROWING RESPECT FOR THE CONCEPT
[00:18:02.333]OF EQUALITY AND FOR RESPECT FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE IDEA THAT
[00:18:07.934]TORE RAINS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ALSO PROMOTE
[00:18:11.834]AS MORE JUST AND NONDISCRIMINATORY SOCIETY, NOT
[00:18:14.567]NEARLY A CONFLICT-FREE ONE.
[00:18:18.633]NOW, SOME COMMENTATORS ARGUE THAT FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS
[00:18:22.100]IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A NATURAL RIGHT AND IT'S FOUNDATIONAL.
[00:18:25.900]ARTHOUSAND MICHAEL NOVAC WHEN HE WAS SERVING AS A REPRESENTATIVE
[00:18:29.967]OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON
[00:18:33.200]HUMAN RIGHTS, SAID THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -- THIS IS A
[00:18:37.767]QUOTE -- THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNIZES THAT ALL
[00:18:41.500]HUMAN RIGHTS BEGAN IN FREEDOM OF THOUGHT CONSCIENCE,
[00:18:45.000]RELIGION, AND BELIEF.
[00:18:48.633]OTHERS SUCH AS PHILOSOPHER JAMES McHALE CLAIM THAT THE RIGHT TO
[00:18:51.934]FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION, ITSELF IS NOT
[00:18:56.100]ESSENTIAL TO THE ENJOYMENT OF OTHER RIGHTS SUCH AS DUE PROCESS
[00:18:58.767]OF LAW OR FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.
[00:19:03.200]HE SAYS THE CASE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM HAS TO STAND ON THE
[00:19:07.066]IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ITSELF.
[00:19:10.400]AND IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT IN ITSELF BECAUSE IT SHAPES THE
[00:19:15.333]HUMAN IDENTITY, BECAUSE IT'S CENTRALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
[00:19:20.867]INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONALITY.
[00:19:23.967]NOW, HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS HAVE SAID THAT FREEDOM OF
[00:19:28.166]RELIGION CANNOT BE SUSPENDED.
[00:19:30.800]EVEN IN TIME OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY, BECAUSE IT IS SO
[00:19:34.233]FUNDAMENTAL AND BASIC.
[00:19:37.567]THE FIRST U.N. EXPERT TO WRITE ON THIS SUBJECT, INDIAN -- FROM
[00:19:45.300]INDIA, SAID THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND
[00:19:49.033]RELIGION IS PROBABLY THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS,
[00:19:52.667]AND ONE OF THE MOST POTENT AND CONTAGIOUS POLITICAL FORCES THE
[00:19:56.200]WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
[00:20:01.900]THIS PRACTICING NATICK ARGUMENT -- PRAGMATIC ARGUMENT
[00:20:04.867]CONTENDS THAT RELIGION BELIEFS AND THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP
[00:20:08.100]FREELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE BELIEFS ARE KEY TO THE
[00:20:11.233]INDIVIDUAL'S IDENTITY, AND THAT ALLOWING COERCIVE MEASURE TO
[00:20:16.533]ENFORCE SOMEBODY ELSE'S RELIGION AND DECISION ABOUT YOUR OWN
[00:20:18.567]RELIGION IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
[00:20:20.467]NOW, RECENT STUDIES REVEAL THAT SOCIETIES THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED
[00:20:24.667]RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, BUILT LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR IT, HAVE
[00:20:29.333]PROSPERED ECONOMICALLY AND IN OTHER WAYS.
[00:20:31.967]PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION HAS SHOWN TO BE
[00:20:35.133]EFFECTIVE IN HELPING UNPOPULAR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AVOID
[00:20:40.266]PERSECUTION AND HARASSMENT AS WELL.
[00:20:43.367]NOW, IT'S MY VIEW THAT INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS ARE
[00:20:46.200]NEEDED TO ADDRESS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND TO ENSURE ITS
[00:20:50.100]IMPORTANCE, IN FACT, AND IN POLICY.
[00:20:53.867]I MENTIONED SOME TREATIES THAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED TO
[00:20:56.700]PROTECT THESE RIGHTS.
[00:20:59.934]AND THEY ARE MONITORED BY TREATY BODIES THAT MONITOR WHAT THE
[00:21:05.800]GOVERNMENTS DO IN TURN.
[00:21:09.767]SOMETIMES NATIONAL HALL ALSO PROTECT THESE RIGHTS.
[00:21:12.667]NOW, JUST LAST THURSDAY, OUTGOING SECRETARY OF STATE
[00:21:15.834]HILLARY RODHAM-CLINTON REMINDED US NOT ONLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
[00:21:18.567]OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND AN INTERNATIONAL
[00:21:22.333]ARCHITECTURE THAT COULD DEAL WITH THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF OUR
[00:21:25.767]TIME, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE NEED TO DEVELOP NEW KINDS OF
[00:21:31.700]INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
[00:21:32.533]ONES THAT COULD CONFORM TO THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES WE FACE.
[00:21:37.834]SHE SAID, AND I QUOTE, WE NEED A NEW ARCHITECTURE FOR THIS NEW
[00:21:44.567]WORLD, MORE FRANK GARRER THAN NORMAL GREEK.
[00:21:47.433]NOW, SHE WAS EXPLAINING THAT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
[00:21:51.000]NEED NEW APPROACHES.
[00:21:52.667]AND SOME OF THESE NEED TO TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE THE U.N.
[00:21:56.433]NO DOUBT SHE WAS REFERRING TO THE ISTANBUL PROCESS BEING
[00:22:01.300]DEVELOPED FROM -- ISTANBUL PROCESS BEING DEVELOPED FROM THE
[00:22:05.166]HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEALING WITH NEGATIVE STEREOTYPING AND
[00:22:07.533]INCITE TO VIOLENCE WHICH FOCUSES ON ACTIONS AND LEADERSHIP THAT
[00:22:11.800]STATE OFFICIALS CAN TAKE ONE BY ONE.
[00:22:15.900]THIS WAS ONE OF HER PRIORITY PROJECTILES.
[00:22:19.000]NOW, EARLIER WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
[00:22:21.767]FREEDOM ACT OF 1998, THE UNITED STATES BEGAN TO EXPLORE A
[00:22:25.667]BROADER ARCHITECTURE IN THE AREA OF NATIONAL AND GLOBAL
[00:22:29.533]INSTITUTIONS TO ADDRESS FREEDOM OF THOUGHT,
[00:22:32.400]CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION.
[00:22:32.767]YET THIS RELATIVELY NEW ARCHITECTURE
[00:22:37.400]HAD BARELY BEEN USED.
[00:22:37.700]IN THE LATE 1990s, AS HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY EXPANDED AND NEW
[00:22:43.133]INSTITUTIONS WERE IN FACT CREATED TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE
[00:22:45.867]RIGHTS FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS TO A U.N. HIGH
[00:22:49.600]COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SOME AMERICANS BEGAN TO COMPLAIN
[00:22:51.767]ABOUT BEING LEFT OUT OF THE GROWING HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA.
[00:22:55.900]THEY HAD RECEIVED REPORTS OF INCREASED RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
[00:22:59.900]OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THEY ASKED WHY THE
[00:23:02.967]U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND ITS HUMAN RIGHTS BUREAU WERE NOT
[00:23:05.734]MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS TARGETED AND
[00:23:09.266]PERSECUTED FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS.
[00:23:12.533]IN RESPONSE, THE U.S. CONGRESS ENACTED THE INTERNATIONAL
[00:23:15.934]RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT, WHICH IS THE ONLY SUCH NATIONAL LAW
[00:23:19.734]CREATING A RANGE OF OFFICIALS AND INSTITUTIONS AND A SET OF
[00:23:23.800]REQUIREMENTS TO IDENTIFY AND PENALIZE GROSS VIOLATORS OF
[00:23:28.467]RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:23:29.400]THEY EXPANDED IT SO IT COVERS ALL RELIGIONS, AND THEY CREATED
[00:23:33.467]A NEW ARCHITECTURE, WHICH HAS FOUR PARTS.
[00:23:38.900]THE FIRST PART, THE ACT DEMANDS A SPECIAL ANNUAL REPORT TO THE
[00:23:43.600]CONGRESS FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
[00:23:46.533]CONDITIONS IN ALL COUNTRIES ON WHICH SUBSEQUENT
[00:23:50.667]POLICY IS TO BE BASED.
[00:23:51.000]LAST YEAR'S REPORT COVERED 199 COUNTRIES OR ENTITIES.
[00:23:59.667]SECONDLY, THE ACT ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE WITHIN THE STATE
[00:24:03.200]DEPARTMENT CALLED THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,
[00:24:08.133]AND THE POSITION OF AMBASSADOR AT LARGE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
[00:24:10.734]WHO IS TO SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY OF
[00:24:14.700]STATE AS WELL AS TO THE PRESIDENT.
[00:24:17.500]THIRD ELEMENT IN THIS ARCHITECTURE, THE LEGISLATION
[00:24:21.934]REQUIRES AN ANNUAL REVIEW TO DESIGNATE THE WORST COUNTRIES,
[00:24:28.367]THE SYSTEMATIC VIOLATORS WHO ARE IN THIS ACT CALLED COUNTRIES OF
[00:24:33.333]PARTICULAR CONCERN.
[00:24:36.166]AND THEY ARE CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING THE FOREIGN AGENCY,
[00:24:40.934]THE SPECIFIC OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SEVERE
[00:24:44.066]VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OVERSEAS.
[00:24:47.433]NOW, THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OUTLINES 15
[00:24:50.633]DIFFERENT ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN WITH REGARD TO VIOLATOR
[00:24:54.100]COUNTRIES, BEGINNING WITH THE PRIVATE DIPLOMATIC DEMASH,
[00:24:58.100]POSTPONING A CULTURAL EXCHANGE, CANCELING A STATE VISIT, BUT
[00:25:03.400]FOR SEVERE VIOLATIONS, THE YOU KNOW COULD DENY ECONOMIC,
[00:25:07.567]MILITARY AID, OR MORE.
[00:25:08.600]AND IT DOES.
[00:25:10.633]THE FOURTH PART OF THIS LAW CREATED A NINE-MEMBER
[00:25:15.633]INDEPENDENT BIPARTISAN OVERSIGHT BODY CALLED THE UNITED STATES
[00:25:18.734]COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:25:21.100]IT'S MADE UP OF NINE PRIVATE CITIZENS, APPOINTED THREE BY THE
[00:25:25.033]PRESIDENT, THREE BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
[00:25:27.100]AND THREE BY THE SENATE.
[00:25:29.800]THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO REVIEW THE FACTS AND
[00:25:32.734]CIRCUMSTANCES OF VIOLATIONS EVERY YEAR AND TO MAKE POLICY
[00:25:36.800]RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY OF STATE,
[00:25:39.266]AND CONGRESS ON MATTERS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL
[00:25:41.767]RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:25:44.100]NOW, DURING MY SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION FROM 2001 TO 2012, I
[00:25:49.400]PRESSED FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN ADVOCACY APPROACH THAT LINKS
[00:25:54.667]UNIVERSALISTIC EFFORTS WITH PARTICULAR ISSUES.
[00:26:00.200]AND WHICH ADDRESSES CASES AS WELL.
[00:26:06.200]AND THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTIVE APPROACH, THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF
[00:26:09.400]THE U.S. COMMISSION INDICATE THAT.
[00:26:12.600]IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION AND TO LEARN
[00:26:14.667]FROM THE OTHER TALENTED PEOPLE SERVING ON IT, INCLUDING
[00:26:20.066]LINCOLN, NEBRASKA,'S PRITA BOSTONEL WHO FOLLOWED ME AS
[00:26:24.900]CHAIR OF THE MONTHS AND BROUGHT LEGAL RIGOR TO THE ASSESSMENT OF
[00:26:29.100]CONDITIONS AND THE APPLICATION OF STANDARDS.
[00:26:31.033]THERE WERE CLERGY OF MANY KIND.
[00:26:35.333]BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOP, BUT THERE WERE LAY EXPERTS, FOREIGN
[00:26:37.633]POLICY SPECIALISTS, AND THERE WAS EVEN ROOM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
[00:26:41.300]SPECIALISTS AND WOMEN RIGHTS ADVOCATE LIKE MYSELF.
[00:26:45.066]NOW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN A DOZEN OF
[00:26:49.066]THESE REPORTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS GRIM READING ABOUT
[00:26:53.433]THE STATUS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:26:56.300]YET ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN COUNTRIES HAVE NARRATED DESIGNATION IN
[00:27:00.300]THAT LIST I TOLD YOU ABOUT, AS THE COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR
[00:27:07.066]CONCERN, SYSTEMATIC VIOLATORS.
[00:27:08.500]THEY INCLUDED BURMA, CHINA, IRAN, IRAQ, AND SUDAN,
[00:27:17.133]IN THE FIRST GROUP.
[00:27:17.734]THAT WAS NAMED IN 1999.
[00:27:21.000]ALONG WITH SERBIA AND THE TALIBAN REGIME IN AFGHANISTAN,
[00:27:24.467]NOT COUNTRIES, BUT THEY WERE CALLED SEVERE VIOLATORS.
[00:27:27.934]AS THEY WERE NOT RECOGNIZED COUNTRIES.
[00:27:32.000]NOW, NORTH KOREA WAS ADDED IN 2001.
[00:27:36.767]SAUDI ARABIA, VIETNAM IN 2005, AND -- 2004,
[00:27:41.467]AND UZBEKISTAN IN 2006.
[00:27:42.200]ALL THOSE NEW ONES CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
[00:27:44.567]OF THE U.S. COMMISSION.
[00:27:47.433]SERBIA, THE TALIBAN, IRAQ, AND VIETNAM HAVE BEEN DROPPED FROM
[00:27:51.767]THIS LIST OVER THE YEAR FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
[00:27:56.834]FOR MOST OF THESE CPC-DESIGNATED COUNTRIES, THE PRESIDENT HAS
[00:28:03.066]REQUIRED TO TAKE AN ACTION -- IS REQUIRED TO TAKE AN ACTION.
[00:28:06.333]BUT MOST OF THESE COUNTRIES ALREADY HAD
[00:28:10.767]SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM.
[00:28:11.066]SO AS A MATTER OF POLICY, THIS BECAME A WAY FOR OUR PRESIDENTS
[00:28:17.233]TO AVOID TAKING ACTION AGAINST THESE VERY STATES THAT THE
[00:28:21.100]CONGRESS WANTED THEM TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST.
[00:28:25.467]SERBIA, THE TALIBAN AND IRAQ, WHICH OPT
[00:28:31.533]AFTER U.S.-LED INVASIONS.
[00:28:31.900]VIETNAM WAS DROPPED FROM THE LIST IN NOVEMBER 2006.
[00:28:36.700]AND IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WHERE ACTUAL DIPLOMACY RATHER THAN THE
[00:28:42.567]ENTRY OF U.S. TROOPS HAD A ROLE IN THE DECISION TO
[00:28:47.567]ELIMINATE CPC STATUS.
[00:28:47.967]THERE WAS A BINDING AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM.
[00:28:52.700]IT HAD SOME -- WE'LL CALL THEM LOW STANDARDS.
[00:28:55.667]AND THE COUNTRY MET THEM.
[00:28:57.533]THE PROBLEMS THERE CONTINUE.
[00:29:01.467]SINCE THE EARTH ACT WAS ADOPTED, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS PAID
[00:29:04.867]MORE ATTENTION.
[00:29:06.100]IT'S UNQUESTIONABLE.
[00:29:07.000]IT'S PAID MORE ATTENTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
[00:29:10.533]COMMITTED AGAINST MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN HOT
[00:29:13.500]SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
[00:29:14.767]BUT IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY HAS ENCOUNTERED BOTH RESISTANCE AND
[00:29:19.467]SOMETIMES ASSISTANCE FROM TRADITIONAL DIPLOMATS, FOREIGN
[00:29:23.734]GOVERNMENTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES
[00:29:25.767]OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
[00:29:28.266]FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT HAS -- MADELINE
[00:29:32.567]ALBRIGHT HAS EXPLAINED THE RESISTANCE OF ONE OF TRAINING.
[00:29:35.333]SHE SAID IT REFLECTED A POST WORLD WAR II APPROACH.
[00:29:39.467]AND I'LL QUOTE.
[00:29:40.467]SHE SAYS, WE WERE TAUGHT THAT RELIGION WAS ABOVE
[00:29:45.467]AND BEYOND REASON.
[00:29:45.800]IT EVOKED THE DEEPEST PASSIONS.
[00:29:49.934]AND HISTORICALLY IT WAS THE CAUSE OF MUCH BLOOD SHE HAD.
[00:29:53.567]DIPLOMATS IN MY ERA, SHE SAID, WERE TAUGHT
[00:29:58.934]NOT TO INVITE TROUBLE.
[00:29:59.834]AND NO SUBJECT CEMENT MORE INHERENTLY
[00:30:02.734]TREACHEROUS THAN RELIGION.
[00:30:03.100]AND IN HER BOOK, WHICH IS ENTITLED, "THE MIGHTY AND THE
[00:30:08.333]ALMIGHTY," SECRETARY ALBRIGHT WENT ON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE
[00:30:10.967]AND OTHER -- SECRETARY ALBRIGHT WENT ON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE
[00:30:14.066]AND OTHERS WERE WRONG.
[00:30:18.300]PEOPLE STILL LIVE UNDER GOVERNMENTS -- AND RELIGIOUS
[00:30:22.000]FREEDOM IS AN IMPORTANT ONE OF THEM THAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.
[00:30:25.834]NOW, SOME COMMENTATORS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT FREEDOM OF
[00:30:28.800]RELIGION HAS BECOME LESS IMPORTANT SINCE THE
[00:30:32.233]INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT WAS ADOPTED.
[00:30:34.767]THEY FEEL IT WAS REDUCED TO JUST ELIMINATE AN OVERCALL SCHEME
[00:30:39.033]OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION.
[00:30:40.700]-- OVERALL SCHEME OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION.
[00:30:42.800]OTHERS COMPLAIN IT'S BECOME TOO IMPORTANT FROM THE OVERALL
[00:30:45.100]SCHEME OF PROTECTION.
[00:30:46.033]THEY ARGUE THAT THE U.S.
[00:30:47.767]LEGISLATION ELEVATES FREEDOM OF RELIGION SO MUCH SO THAT IT
[00:30:51.834]REQUIRES WORLDWIDE SCRUTINY AND REPORTING, NAMING NAMES OF WORST
[00:30:54.800]VIOLATORS AND TAKING ACTIONS AGAINST THEM, A WHOLE INDUSTRY
[00:30:58.333]HAS BEEN BUILT UP, THEY COMPLAIN.
[00:31:00.533]WELL, I WOULD ARGUE THAT WHEREVER YOU CLASSIFY FREEDOM OF
[00:31:05.600]RELIGION ON THE CHART, FEW WOULD DENY THAT REPRESSION OF
[00:31:09.567]RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CONTINUES IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.
[00:31:12.967]AND IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
[00:31:15.133]THERE HAS BEEN A REBIRTH OF CONCERN OVER RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
[00:31:18.600]ISSUES, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRIES THAT EMERGE FROM THE
[00:31:22.166]FORMER SOVIET UNION, BUT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE ARAB
[00:31:25.133]UPRISING MORE RECENTLY AND ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
[00:31:30.300]THE SEPTEMBER 11th, THE 9/11 ATTACKS HAVE BROUGHT THE LINKAGE
[00:31:34.767]OF RELIGION TO EXTREMIST VIOLENCE INTO SHARPER FOCUS.
[00:31:39.834]AND IT'S INCREASINGLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE GLOBAL DISCORD
[00:31:44.066]OVER RELIGION HAS AN IMPACT ON SECURITY AND STABILITY AS WELL
[00:31:46.200]AS ON FREEDOMS INCLUDING OTHER FREEDOMS WORLDWIDE.
[00:31:51.867]NOW, I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT FREEDOM OF RELIGION NEEDS MORE
[00:31:55.333]REFINED ATTENTION BY THE UNITED STATES.
[00:31:57.600]AND MORE STRATEGY NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED ON THIS SUBJECT.
[00:32:00.066]AND IT NEEDS TO BE FINE-TUNED TO DIFFERING CIRCUMSTANCES.
[00:32:03.867]AND WE NEED NEW POLICIES TO INTEGRATE IT INTO POLICY AT THE
[00:32:09.000]STATE DEPARTMENT AND ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.
[00:32:11.400]EXISTING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS AND
[00:32:14.567]IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS MAY HELP POINT THE WAY, BUT
[00:32:17.867]RESOLVING THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING
[00:32:21.600]FREEDOM OF RELIGION WORLDWIDE REQUIRE MUCH MORE THAN A FEW
[00:32:26.567]EXPERTS IN GENEVA OR WASHINGTON.
[00:32:31.400]CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE EUROPEAN
[00:32:34.500]UNION ARE ADDING TO THEIR TOOL KITS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
[00:32:38.333]THROUGH INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY.
[00:32:40.767]ACCORDING TO THE VIRGINIA-BASED FIRST FREEDOM CENTER, AND ITS
[00:32:47.100]ANNUAL -- IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON RELIGIOUS MINORITIES U THERE
[00:32:50.967]ARE SEVEN RELIGIOUS MINORITIES THAT ARE MOST AT RISK OF
[00:32:53.533]DISAPPEARING ALTOGETHER FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH BY 2020.
[00:32:59.166]IN ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS.
[00:33:00.800]THE LIST INCLUDES THE GREEK
[00:33:08.400]ORTHODOX CHURCH IN TURKEY.
[00:33:12.333]JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN ERITRIA, JEWS IN THE ARAB WORLD, AND
[00:33:18.867]NOTABLY TUNISIA, WAR WITH IRAQ, AND EGYPT, THE MUSLIM MUSTILATE
[00:33:29.400]FROM SUDAN, NAZARENE CHRISTIANS IN SOMALIA, SEB IA FROM IRAQ.
[00:33:36.200]THE JEWS OF VENEZUELA.
[00:33:38.734]NOW, THESE SEVEN COMMUNITIES HAVE ALWAYS NOT SUFFERED
[00:33:42.567]PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
[00:33:43.100]THAT IS OFTEN A PART OF THE PICTURE.
[00:33:45.800]A LITTLE VIOLENCE GOES A LONG WAY AS A WARNING OF
[00:33:49.533]WHAT IS TO COME.
[00:33:49.867]IF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY REMAIN IN PLACE.
[00:33:52.667]ONE NEED ONLY LOOK AT THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN TURKEY TO SEE
[00:33:57.400]HOW AN ARRAY OF SMALL BUREAUCRATIC MEASURES,
[00:34:00.700]RESTRICTIONS, CONFISCATIONS, AND PRESSURE HAVE REDUCED THE
[00:34:04.500]COMMUNITY TO LITTLE MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE TODAY.
[00:34:07.166]IN TURKEY.
[00:34:08.467]AND HAVE PREVENTED ITS REVIVAL, ITS TEACHING, ITS -- ITS --
[00:34:14.467]MAYBE ITS SURVIVAL ALTOGETHER WITHIN THE COUNTRY.
[00:34:17.600]SOME COUNTRIES USE AUTHORITARIAN MEASURES TO TRY TO
[00:34:22.400]CONTROL ALL RELIGION.
[00:34:22.767]AND I SAW THIS VIVIDLY IN THE VISIT TO CHINA.
[00:34:28.200]UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CONTINUES TODAY.
[00:34:31.233]NOW, WHAT ARE THE VIOLATIONS DIRECTED AGAINST
[00:34:36.166]THESE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES?
[00:34:40.066]WELL, IT'S THE DEED, NOT THE CREED, SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT
[00:34:44.133]THOSE DEEDS HAVE BEEN.
[00:34:48.533]THE U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WHO
[00:34:51.700]INVESTIGATES THIS ISSUE ON A DAILY BASIS AND HANDLES
[00:34:55.767]COMPLAINTS, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, HAS IDENTIFIED THE
[00:34:59.867]FOLLOWING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST PERSONS
[00:35:02.166]BELONGING TO RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:35:06.133]FIRST, DISPROPORTIONATE BUREAUCRATIC RESTRICTIONS.
[00:35:08.900]THESE COULD BE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE
[00:35:12.333]TO MEET, THIS COULD BE REFUSING TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF
[00:35:17.166]HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
[00:35:20.066]OR THEIR REPAIR.
[00:35:22.633]HE SAID THE DIDN'T YELL -- SECOND ITEM IS THE DEN YELL OF
[00:35:27.133]THE APPROPRIATE LEGAL STATUS POSITIONS NEEDED TO BUILD UP OR
[00:35:31.767]UPHOLD A RELIGIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE.
[00:35:34.700]THE LEGAL STATUS TO EVEN GO TO CHURCH, SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE
[00:35:38.633]A -- OPEN A SCHOOL, SO THAT YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR OWN CLERGY OR
[00:35:45.900]YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
[00:35:50.467]ANOTHER AREA IS SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AND EXCLUSION
[00:35:53.533]FROM ALL THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF SOCIETY.
[00:35:56.100]FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, PARTICIPATION IN
[00:35:59.533]THE POLICE OR MEDICAL FIELD.
[00:36:01.500]I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE OPPRESSION OF THE BA HAI IN IRAN
[00:36:07.767]AND IT'S EXACTLY THOSE AREAS THAT THEY CAN'T RECEIVE
[00:36:10.133]ASSISTANCE IN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A RECOGNIZED RELIGION.
[00:36:13.834]THEY ARE SYSTEMATICALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN
[00:36:20.333]IRAN IN ALL THOSE WAYS.
[00:36:22.166]THERE ARE DISCRIMINATORY RULES WITHIN FAMILY LAWS THAT HINDER
[00:36:25.867]THE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:36:28.133]THERE IS INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN FROM MINORITIES IN THE
[00:36:31.500]PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT BY DIFFERENT
[00:36:34.900]COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE.
[00:36:37.166]PUBLICLY STOKED PREJUDICES AND VILIFICATION SOMETIMES
[00:36:40.033]ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORICAL TRAUMAS OF THE PAST.
[00:36:43.834]THAT TOO HAS BEEN NOTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL REPORT.
[00:36:49.767]AND THERE'S MORE.
[00:36:51.600]ACTS OF VANDALISM AND DESECRATION.
[00:36:53.467]ONE NEED ONLY LOOK AT FRANCE, EGYPT, NORWAY, TO SEE THIS
[00:36:58.100]HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN.
[00:37:01.133]THE PROHIBITION OR DISRUPTION OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES WHILE
[00:37:04.467]THEY'RE TAKING PLACE.
[00:37:08.900]LOOK AT CHINA.
[00:37:11.133]THREATS AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
[00:37:14.000]THE COMMUNITY IN INDONESIA, THE SHI'A IN PACKERS.
[00:37:19.467]INTERFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES' INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
[00:37:22.934]I'VE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE FROM TURKEY AND
[00:37:25.600]THERE'S SO MANY OTHER.
[00:37:26.533]CONFISCATION OF COMMUNITY PROVIDE.
[00:37:29.667]CRIMINAL SANCTIONS -- COMMUNITY PROPERTY.
[00:37:31.467]CRIMINAL SANCTIONS.
[00:37:31.967]SPECIAL LAWS ARE CREATED LIKE BLASPHEMY LAWS OR PROSELYTIZING
[00:37:38.633]LAWS, ANTI, WHICH KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR
[00:37:43.800]FAITH, SHARE THEIR FAITHS, AND THEY END UP IN JAIL.
[00:37:50.400]AND THESE ARE NOT ELEMENTS WHICH RESULT
[00:37:54.867]FROM UNCONTROLLED VIOLENCE.
[00:37:55.233]THESE -- EACH ONE SEEMS TO BE CALCULATED, AND A SPECIFIC FORM
[00:37:59.533]OF PRESSURE AND DENIAL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:38:03.333]AND THAT'S WHY EACH ONE TEND TO ADDRESS THROUGH A HUMAN RIGHTS
[00:38:07.767]APPROACH AS I STATED AT THE OUTSET AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT A
[00:38:12.233]LITTLE BIT MORE.
[00:38:14.734]NOW, AFTER YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS, THE VIOLATIONS,
[00:38:17.667]THE TRENDS, THAT I'VE OUTLINED, THAT HAVE PUT MINORITY
[00:38:21.767]MEMBERS -- MEMBERS OF MINORITY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AT RISK,
[00:38:24.133]THE OBVIOUS QUESTION THAT ARISES IS WHY.
[00:38:28.233]WHAT PROVOKES INTOLERANCE?
[00:38:31.900]WHAT SUSTAINS IT?
[00:38:33.467]AND HOW DOES VIOLENCE COME INTO THIS PICTURE?
[00:38:36.867]WHAT CAN BRING THIS BEHAVIOR TO AN END AND
[00:38:40.500]PREVENT ITS RECURRENCE?
[00:38:44.533]IN EXAMINING VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION, AND OTHER ABUSES
[00:38:46.600]ASSOCIATED WITH CONFLICTS AMONG MINORITY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES,
[00:38:50.667]THE HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH TO THESE INCIDENTS OFFERS A
[00:38:55.000]STRUCTURED CONCEPTUAL APPROACH.
[00:38:57.100]IT MANDATES LOOKING AT CERTAIN ISSUES AND TAKING CERTAIN
[00:39:02.667]ACTIONS, ESTABLISHING LEGAL NORMS, CREATING A SYSTEM TO
[00:39:07.000]ENFORCE THE THUNDERSTORMS, AND MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO
[00:39:09.900]CORRECT THE PRACTICES THAT RESULT IN VIOLATIONS.
[00:39:16.600]AND THAT CAN PREVENT THEIR OWE CURRENTS.
[00:39:18.633]IT HELPS US IDENTIFY THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT BEING CONDUCTED.
[00:39:22.300]THIS KIND OF HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH BRINGS US TO THE
[00:39:25.367]SUBJECT OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
[00:39:28.133]IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BREACHING
[00:39:31.467]INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND NATIONAL LAWS, INCLUDING THE USE OF
[00:39:37.100]VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER MEMBERS OF A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.
[00:39:39.467]IF THEY ARE PROVEN RESPONSIBLE IN A FAIR PROCEEDING, IT MEANS
[00:39:44.033]ENSURING THE PERPETRATORS ARE PUNISHED APPROPRIATELY.
[00:39:47.367]NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTERRELIGIOUS AND COMMUNAL
[00:39:51.500]VIOLENCE THAT HAS PLAGUED SO MANY COUNTRIES IN THE LAST
[00:39:53.467]YEARS, IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT AN EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH
[00:39:56.867]HAS BEEN ABSENT.
[00:39:58.834]THERE MAY BE LIP SERVICE TO HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS.
[00:40:01.800]BUT THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE NORMS.
[00:40:06.767]INSTEAD, THERE IS TOO OFTEN IMPUNITY FOR ABUSES.
[00:40:11.166]THE CULPRITS FACE NO SANCTION.
[00:40:15.166]THEY FACE NO PUNISHMENT.
[00:40:17.934]INSTEAD OF INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING, THE AUTHORITIES
[00:40:23.133]HOLD SOMETHING CALLED RECONCILIATION MEETINGS.
[00:40:27.500]AND THEY USE CONFLICT ROYCE PROGRAMS
[00:40:33.633]CALLED HEALING METHODOLOGIES.
[00:40:34.100]YOU KNOW, THESE APPROACHES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS PART
[00:40:39.600]OF A BROADER POLICY.
[00:40:41.066]BUT THESE SCENARIOS ROUTINELY DOWNPLAY AND BYPASS HUMAN RIGHTS
[00:40:46.567]AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
[00:40:49.767]TWO EXAMPLES IN RECENT YEARS MATTER OUR ATTENTION.
[00:40:52.500]I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EGYPT AND ABOUT NIGERIA.
[00:40:58.400]AT THE BEGINNING OF 2011, THE WORLD EXPRESSED SHOCK OVER THE
[00:41:03.800]SUICIDE BOMBING AGAINST ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT.
[00:41:11.000]AND ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WHO DIED.
[00:41:14.533]BEGINNING OF 2012, THERE WERE BOMBINGS IN OTHER CHURCHES.
[00:41:21.900]AND IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, WE'VE SEEN IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
[00:41:30.767]THERE WE'RE TOLD THAT MORE THAN 14,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED
[00:41:37.734]IN THESE VIOLENT ATTACKS, THESE RELIGIOUS ATTACKS IN NIGERIA,
[00:41:41.533]CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS AND IT'S BEEN SOME OF EACH.
[00:41:46.166]THE LOSS OF LIFE IN EGYPT NIGERIA MAY HAVE BEEN DENOUNCED
[00:41:50.433]BY THE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP, BUT THE CULPRITS SURELY FELT
[00:41:53.300]THAT THEY RISKED NOTHING BY COMMITTING SUCH ACT.
[00:41:56.066]IN BOTH EGYPT AND NIGERIA, AS IN MANY OTHER PLACES AROUND THE
[00:41:59.633]GLOBE, INCIDENTS OF MASS VIOLENCE AND COMMUNAL KILLING
[00:42:03.633]ARE TREATED MORE AS PROBLEMS TO BE DISCUSSED THAN AS CRIMES TO
[00:42:09.166]BE INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED AND FOR WHICH PERPETRATORS ARE
[00:42:13.767]TO BE PUNISHED.
[00:42:17.100]IT'S ALMOST AS IF THESE WERE NATURAL DISASTERS
[00:42:22.033]LIKE FLOOD OR FIRE.
[00:42:22.734]EGYPT HOLDS RECONCILIATION MEETINGS AMONG THE RESIDENTS IN
[00:42:27.200]AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.
[00:42:29.200]ONLY VERY RARELY BROUGHT PEOPLE TO TRIAL FOR SUCH LOSS OF LIFE.
[00:42:33.300]EGYPT HAS SEEN ABOUT 100 DEATHS IN SUCH VIOLENT INCIDENTS SINCE
[00:42:41.300]THE -- SINCE THE REVOLUTION.
[00:42:44.233]MORE PEOPLE KILLED IN THESE SECTARIAN CLASHES THAN IN THE 10
[00:42:49.400]YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
[00:42:50.400]AND IT'S BEEN CONTINUING.
[00:42:52.767]THE PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE IN NIGERIA.
[00:42:55.500]I CITED THE FIGURE OF 14,000 ALREADY.
[00:42:58.467]RATHER THAN PROSECUTING THOSE RESPONSIBLE IN NIGERIA -- THE
[00:43:04.400]NIGERIAN LEADERS COUNSEL CALM.
[00:43:06.333]THEY TEMPORARILY DETAIN THE SUSPECTS, AND THEN THEY RELEASE
[00:43:10.367]THEM WITHOUT CHARGES.
[00:43:13.266]MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE KILLED IN APRIL 2011, NO ONE HELD.
[00:43:22.200]CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 430
[00:43:25.467]CHURCHES WERE BURNED OR DESTROYED.
[00:43:29.633]THIS IMPUNITY DID NOT DEVELOP OVERNIGHT.
[00:43:32.300]IT'S BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS.
[00:43:37.200]AND IT'S -- THERE'S A CONTEXT AND A CULTURE OF IMPUNITY WHICH
[00:43:42.033]REFLECTS NOT JUST INCAPACITY OR LACK OF WILL ON THE PART OF THE
[00:43:46.467]POLICE TO INVESTIGATE, AND OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROSECUTE, BUT
[00:43:51.200]A LACK OF RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
[00:43:55.066]A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
[00:43:59.967]NOW, AS ANY SCHOLAR OF POLITICS KNOWS, INACTION IS NOT MERELY A
[00:44:04.333]FAILURE TO ACT.
[00:44:06.266]IT IS AND OFTEN CAN BE A DELIBERATE ACTION.
[00:44:11.033]IMPUNITY DOES NOT RESULT FROM INCAPACITY OR INABILITY.
[00:44:16.367]THERE'S OFTEN A LACK OF WILL ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND A
[00:44:20.300]WILLFUL DECISION NOT TO INVESTIGATE OR PURSUE THOSE
[00:44:23.867]RESPONSIBLE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS.
[00:44:28.567]THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT IS CONCERNED
[00:44:32.767]WITH STATE REPRESSION.
[00:44:33.333]AND ALSO WITH STATE INABILITY TO CONTROL INTER COMMUNAL VIOLENCE.
[00:44:39.000]THE FAILURE TO PREVENT AND PROSECUTE SUCH VIOLENCE AND
[00:44:44.000]DISCRIMINATION IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.
[00:44:48.734]AND THEY ARE -- THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT
[00:44:54.133]ANNUAL REPORTS.
[00:44:54.800]I SPOKE ABOUT THOSE REPORTS EARLIER.
[00:44:57.700]IN THE MOST RECENT SUCH REPORT, THEY SAID, MANY STATES THAT HAVE
[00:45:01.600]LAWS GUARANTEEING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FALL SHORT IN PROTECTING
[00:45:05.066]MINORITIES BY FAILING TO TAKE STEPS TO CURB INTOLERANCE
[00:45:08.900]ATTACKS AND HARASSMENT.
[00:45:10.834]AND THIS IMPUNITY CAN EXACERBATE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AND
[00:45:14.200]EMPOWER THOSE WHO ATTACK RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:45:17.400]SO WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
[00:45:22.867]THIS KIND OF IMPUNITY IS WIDESPREAD AND IT'S NOT JUST
[00:45:25.633]LIMITED TO THE TWO CASES I WENT INTO IN A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL.
[00:45:29.266]IT HAPPENS WORLDWIDE.
[00:45:32.400]THAT STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS THERE'S OFFICIAL IMPUNITY
[00:45:36.367]OF POLICE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ALGEARIA, TOGO,
[00:45:42.467]AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN AFRICA.
[00:45:47.400]THE U.N. COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE HAS IDENTIFIED THREE
[00:45:52.200]FACTORS THAT COMBINE TO PROMOTE IMPUNITY FOR THOSE WHO CARRY OUT
[00:45:57.467]REPRESSIVE MEASURES AGAINST MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
[00:45:59.400]IN CHINA, SUCH AS THE BEINGER MUSLIMS, TIBETAN BUDDHISTS, AND
[00:46:07.500]UNOFFICIAL COMMUNITIES.
[00:46:09.033]FIRST THERE'S A LAW ON STATE SECRETS.
[00:46:12.200]WHICH KEEPS THE NUMBER OF PRACTITIONERS TO EACH OF THESE
[00:46:17.500]COMMUNITIES A SECRET.
[00:46:18.834]AND THEN THERE IS REPORTED HARASSMENT OF THE LAWYERS AND
[00:46:23.367]HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, SOMETHING WE SAW QUITE VIVIDLY
[00:46:26.066]LAST YEAR IN THE CASE OF THE BLIND LAWYER, CHEN CHEN, WHO
[00:46:30.667]FLED TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY.
[00:46:34.133]AND THIRD, ACCORDING TO THE U.N.
[00:46:38.033]COMMITTEE, THERE ARE -- AND I QUOTE, ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY
[00:46:42.633]UNACCOUNTABLE THUGS WHO USE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST
[00:46:46.266]SPECIFIC DEFENDERS BUT ENJOY DEFACTO IMMUNITY, UNQUOTE.
[00:46:52.433]COLLECTIVELY, THESE PROBLEMS STAND IN THE WAY OF ENSURING
[00:46:55.166]THAT ON THE BOOKS LEGAL STAVE GUARDS PROTECT MEMBERS OF
[00:47:00.333]RELIGIOUS -- SAFEGUARDS PROTECT MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
[00:47:04.000]AND REPRESSION.
[00:47:04.500]THIS IS ANOTHER FORM OF IMPUNITY.
[00:47:08.834]NOW, IMPUNITY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PROBLEM IN
[00:47:12.233]RUSSIA, OR HATE CRIMES INCLUDING VANDALISM, ANTI SEMITIC AND
[00:47:16.333]ANTI-ISLAMIC INCIDENTS ARE OFTEN DISMISSED SIMPLY AS HOOLIGANISM.
[00:47:22.166]AND IT'S PERPETRATED BY PRIVATE ACTORS, THEREFORE THE GOVERNMENT
[00:47:28.233]DOESN'T CONSIDER IT TO BE A HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE.
[00:47:30.834]NOW, THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO MY EARLIER POINT,
[00:47:34.967]WHICH IT'S NOT HOOLIGANISM.
[00:47:35.500]IT'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE.
[00:47:36.467]IT HAS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
[00:47:40.533]THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN RUSSIA,
[00:47:43.266]AUTHORITIES RARELY PROSECUTED OR SENTENCED THOSE ARRESTED FOR
[00:47:46.667]ATTACKS AND VANDALISM AGAINST RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:47:49.133]AND OFTEN LED EVEN TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST THOSE WHEN
[00:47:53.133]RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY WAS CLEARLY INVOLVED.
[00:47:57.734]HUNGARY, MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE POLICE CLOSED
[00:48:01.467]INVESTIGATIONS IN 136 CASES OF VANDALISM OR BURGLARY IN JEWISH
[00:48:06.066]OR CHRISTIAN CEMETERIES.
[00:48:10.233]MOLDOVA, FORMER SOVIET UNION, JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES REPORTED --
[00:48:13.166]THIS IS A STATE DEPARTMENT'S FINDINGS -- REPORTED THEY WERE
[00:48:17.800]FREQUENTLY TREATED AGGRESSIVELY AND
[00:48:21.066]OCCASIONALLY PHYSICALLY ATTACKED.
[00:48:21.467]THEY FILED REPORTS WITH THE POLICE, BUT THOSE RESPONSIBLE
[00:48:23.834]HAVE NOT BEEN PUNISHED.
[00:48:26.834]THE U.S. REPORT SPOKE DIFFERENTLY REGARDING INDIA.
[00:48:30.967]AS WORTH QUOTING, THEY SAID, SOME STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
[00:48:34.367]LIMITED FREEDOM BY NOT EFFICIENTLY OR EFFECTIVELY
[00:48:37.233]PROSECUTING THOSE WHO ATTACKED RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:48:39.633]BUT THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PROVIDES MINORITIES STRONG
[00:48:43.667]OFFICIAL LEGAL PROTECTION ALTHOUGH AT TIMES ITS WEAK LAW
[00:48:47.400]ENFORCEMENT, LACK OF TRAINED POLICE AND OVERBURDENED COURT
[00:48:50.133]SYSTEM PLAYED A ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS AS
[00:48:54.567]QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
[00:48:55.500]NOW, MANY ACTIONS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS
[00:49:01.667]STATE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
[00:49:02.000]THEY'VE CONCLUDED THAT TAKEN TOGETHER, LENGTHY PROCEDURES AND
[00:49:08.633]ACQUITTALS DON'T ADD UP TO IMPUNITY WHEN A SUBSTANTIAL
[00:49:13.567]NUMBER OF CASES END IN CONVICTIONS.
[00:49:16.467]SO THEY FELT THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RIOTS IN
[00:49:21.133]ASIA, IN INDIA, SUBSTANTIALLY RESTITUTIONS PROVIDED TO
[00:49:27.767]VICTIMS -- THIS IS NOT IMPUNITY.
[00:49:29.200]BUT IN OTHER CASES, TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
[00:49:34.867]THEY IDENTIFY THIS IMPUNITY.
[00:49:35.533]UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN GENEVA HAS
[00:49:39.367]IDENTIFIED 92 COUNTRIES ABOUT WHICH IMMUNITY HAS BEEN --
[00:49:43.500]IMPUNITY HAS BEEN RAISED BY ONE OR MORE DEVOTE TREE -- THE --
[00:49:49.633]TREATY -- 15 IN ASIA, NINE IN WESTERN EUROPEAN
[00:49:53.667]AND OTHER COUNTRY.
[00:49:54.033]IT'S A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO ATTACKS
[00:50:03.467]ON RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:50:03.834]NOW, A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH WILL HELP US PINPOINT AND MOVE
[00:50:07.233]FORWARD AND SEE THAT THERE'S ACCOUNT ONLY.
[00:50:12.033]ANOTHER EXAMPLE,ABILITY.
[00:50:13.300]ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HARASSMENT OF RELIGIOUS MINORITY IS TO BE THE
[00:50:17.767]PROBLEM OF ANTI SEMITISM WORLDWIDE.
[00:50:21.400]IT MORPHS WITH THE TIMES, IT CHANGES AND
[00:50:24.500]HOW DOES ONE ADDRESS IT?
[00:50:24.767]IT'S NOT ALWAYS DIRECTLY AGAINST PEOPLE, THOUGH VIOLENCE IS
[00:50:26.967]REPORTED TO BE GROWING IN INTENSITY.
[00:50:30.166]UNITED STATES HAS A SPECIAL ENVOY ON ANTI SEMITISM.
[00:50:36.133]ACTUALLY THE CURRENT ENVOY HAS JUST RETURNED TO PRIVATE LIFE,
[00:50:40.934]HANNA ROSENTHAL.
[00:50:44.200]AND SHE SAID, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TRENDS THAT ARE GOING ON, BUT
[00:50:47.433]HER QUOTABLE QUOTE WAS THAT ANTI SEMITISM IS NOT HISTORY.
[00:50:51.266]IT'S NEWS.
[00:50:54.100]AND SHE DESCRIBED REPORTS OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF NORWAY, GERMANY,
[00:50:58.734]ITALY, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ALL OF WHICH REVEAL AN INCREASE
[00:51:03.166]IN ANTI SEMITISM IN THOSE COUNTRIES.
[00:51:05.367]SHE DESCRIBED DESECRATIONS OF HOLOCAUST MEMORIALS, SYNAGOGUES,
[00:51:10.166]JEWISH CEMETERIES, GREECE, LITHUANIA, AND POLAND.
[00:51:15.467]ACCUSATIONS OF BLOOD LIABLES, ANCIENT BLOOD LIABLES THAT JEWS
[00:51:19.600]ALLEGEDLY KILLED CHILDREN TO USE THEIR BLOOD FOR RITUALS OR
[00:51:23.166]KIDNAP CHILDREN TO STEAL THEIR ORGANS COMING FORTH
[00:51:29.834]IN EUROPEAN NEWSPAPERS.
[00:51:30.233]AND EVEN IN THE PARLIAMENT IN HUNGARY, AND IN SWEDEN,
[00:51:35.867]ANTI SEMITIC INCIDENTS INCLUDED THREATS, VERBAL ABUSE,
[00:51:39.934]VANDALISM, GRAFFITI AND HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS,
[00:51:41.567]COULD HAVE CHILDREN.
[00:51:42.567]THE SITUATION IN SWEDEN IN THE TOWN OF MALMO,
[00:51:48.066]SHE SAID WAS ACUTE.
[00:51:48.834]THE RABBI HAS BEEN ASSAULTED, PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED ALMOST TWO
[00:51:51.800]DOZEN TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
[00:51:56.333]THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED SECURITY FOR THE
[00:52:01.467]COMMUNITY BUT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T FEEL THAT
[00:52:05.834]IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.
[00:52:06.233]NOW, WHAT CAN BE DONE?
[00:52:08.567]WELL, OUR U.S. ENVOY SAYS THAT LONG-TERM EDUCATION AND ACTION
[00:52:12.467]TO REBUT INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE BY INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
[00:52:16.700]IS THE WAY TO GO.
[00:52:19.600]NOT PUNISHMENT.
[00:52:22.333]IT'S MY VIEW THAT EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING ONLY
[00:52:26.300]TAKES US SO FAR.
[00:52:26.967]THEY'RE USEFUL BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
[00:52:30.266]INDIFFERENCE IS NOT AN ANSWER.
[00:52:34.500]AS ELI WIESENTHAL HAS STATED TIME AND AGAIN, INDIFFERENCE
[00:52:37.133]ALWAYS HELPS THE PERPETRATE, NEVER THE VICTIM.
[00:52:40.400]-- PERPETRATOR, NEVER THE VICTIM.
[00:52:41.533]I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME EXAMPLES OF ADVOCACY THAT I'VE ENGAGED IN
[00:52:46.967]THAT ARE PERHAPS MODELS FOR THE FUTURE, FOR ADDRESSING THE
[00:52:50.500]CHALLENGES DIRECTED AGAINST RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[00:52:54.100]THEY DRAW UPON THE BLEND OF PARTICULARS AND UNIVERSALS AND
[00:52:57.834]REALISM AND BUILD ON THE EXPERIENCE OF JEWISH ADVOCACY
[00:53:01.600]FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND RELATED HUMAN RIGHTS.
[00:53:06.066]THESE HAVE BEEN ANCHORED IN AND DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY UNIVERSAL
[00:53:10.934]ELEMENTS IN JUDAISM THAT VALUE ALL HUMAN LIFE
[00:53:16.233]AND VALUE EQUALITY.
[00:53:16.600]THIS IS HUMAN LIFE.
[00:53:17.133]THE SPECIFIC MIXTURE OF THESE ELEMENTS IN INDIVIDUALS THAT I
[00:53:21.200]HAVE WORKED WITH HAS ALSO REFLECTED A
[00:53:24.967]SENSE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
[00:53:25.834]A REALISM ABOUT HOW TO ACHIEVE IDEALISTIC GOALS OF RELIGIOUS
[00:53:30.000]FREEDOM AND RELATED HUMAN RIGHTS.
[00:53:35.166]NOW, AFTER TWO MILLENNIA OF PERSECUTIONS, EXPULSIONS AND
[00:53:39.367]DISCRIMINATION OF THE KIND OF SPOKE OF EARLIER, THE
[00:53:43.200]UNIVERSALISTIC APPROACH AFTER THE HOLOCAUST IS PERHAPS A
[00:53:45.500]SURPRISING FOCUS FOR JEWISH ADVOCACY.
[00:53:49.533]BUT JEWISH LEADERS ARGUE THAT RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AND PHYSICAL
[00:53:52.400]SECURITY OF JEWS CAN ONLY BE PRESERVED IF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF
[00:53:55.834]ALL PERSONS ARE SECURE AND THIS UNIVERSALISM HAS CERTAINLY
[00:53:59.633]GUIDED THE ADVOCACY TECHNIQUES OF THE JACOB ACT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
[00:54:07.467]THAT I DIRECT AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
[00:54:10.066]ACTIVE IN THIS FIELD.
[00:54:10.500]THERE'S NO BETTER GUIDE FOR ACTION HERE THAN THE FAMOUS
[00:54:16.266]SAYING OF RABBI HILLEL WHO PROCLAIMED IF I AM NOT FOR
[00:54:20.400]MYSELF, THEN WHO WILL BE.
[00:54:21.800]IF I AM ONLY FOR MYSELF, THEN WHAT AM I.
[00:54:24.967]AND IF NOT NOW, WHEN.
[00:54:30.700]THESE QUESTIONS ADDRESS PARTICULARISM,
[00:54:34.700]UNIVERSALISM, AND REALISM.
[00:54:37.967]NOW, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD IN ADDRESSING ADVERSITY
[00:54:43.867]ENCOURAGES ADVOCATES TO LINK THESE UNIVERSAL EFFORTS WITH
[00:54:47.433]PARTICULAR CASES.
[00:54:50.533]I PRESS THIS ADVOCACY.
[00:54:52.767]I'M ALSO IN THE U.S. COMMISSION ON
[00:54:56.333]INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:54:57.000]WE USE THE ACRONYM USCIRF TO DESCRIBE IT.
[00:55:05.000]THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS -- INCLUDED PRESS RELEASES -- AND DIRECT
[00:55:10.600]TRAVEL TO COUNTRIES CONCERNED TO PROTECT HARASSED PERSONS.
[00:55:15.667]WE FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALS.
[00:55:17.033]IT MIGHT BE CHRISTIANS IN SUDAN, JEWS IN IRAN, BUDDHISTS IN CHINA
[00:55:22.800]AND SECRET SERVICES IN NAM, MUSLIM PRISONERS IN
[00:55:26.033]SAUDI ARABIAN JAILS AND MORE.
[00:55:26.400]WE PRESSED FOR NEW PROVISIONS AND CONSTITUTIONS THAT WOULD
[00:55:30.033]ENSURE ALL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN
[00:55:34.667]RIGHTS IN ARTICLE 18 OF THE CIVIL POLITICAL
[00:55:38.767]COVENANT ARE GUARANTEED.
[00:55:39.166]AND AS COMMISSIONER CHAIR, I ALSO ADVANCED EFFORTS TO
[00:55:41.567]ESTABLISH NEW INSTITUTIONS TO PROMOTE SCRUTINY AND PROCEEDS
[00:55:45.667]SOLUTIONS COUNTRY BY COUNTRY.
[00:55:48.000]SPECIFICALLY, AND ALONGSIDE A FOCUS ON THE CREATION OF A
[00:55:52.166]SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON COMBATING ANTISEMITISM AT THE
[00:55:58.400]EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR SECURED COOPERATION IN EUROPE,
[00:56:00.767]ANOTHER PART OF THE ARCHITECTURE I SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE.
[00:56:03.934]I ALSO ADVOCATED THROUGH THE GROUP THROUGH CREATION OF
[00:56:07.934]SUPPORT OF SIMILAR EXPERTS TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
[00:56:11.467]MUSLIMS, TO ADDRESS XENOPHOBIA, RACISM AND ABUSES, RACISM
[00:56:16.734]AGAINST CHRISTIANS.
[00:56:18.066]CALLING FOR THE EQUAL RIGHT OF FREEDOM FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TO
[00:56:22.000]BE TAKEN ACCOUNT, AND THE COMMISSION'S WORK STEM FROM BOTH
[00:56:25.333]PARTICULAR AND UNIVERSAL CONCERNS.
[00:56:26.400]AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO ON THE ISSUE OF GENDER
[00:56:30.467]EQUALITY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
[00:56:32.767]NOW, I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW LESSONS FROM THE ADVOCACY
[00:56:38.467]AND THEN CONCLUDE.
[00:56:41.633]AS PART OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE UNIVERSAL AND THE
[00:56:45.400]PARTICULAR, THERE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC CALCULATIONS.
[00:56:47.967]SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ISSUES YOU'RE GOING TOO ADDRESS.
[00:56:51.033]YOU HAVE TO SET GOALS AND PRIORITIZE.
[00:56:53.400]YOU HAVE TO FIND ANGLES FOR ADVOCACY.
[00:56:55.900]YOU NEED TO DEVISE WAYS OF COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY,
[00:56:59.467]MOBILIZING CORE CONSTITUENTS, WEDNESDAYS AND ADVOCATING WITH
[00:57:02.266]OTHER AND OTHER LEADERS.
[00:57:04.367]IN LATE 2011, ACTUALLY LATE 2012, UCERF'S MANDATE WAS
[00:57:13.467]AUTHORIZED FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AND SOME OF ITS CRITICS
[00:57:16.033]CLAIM THAT IN THE FUTURE, IT SHOULD ADOPT AND AN ENGAGEMENT
[00:57:20.066]OR AN INTERRELIGIOUS APPROACH RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO USE
[00:57:23.867]THE HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH.
[00:57:26.967]NOW, WHAT'S NEEDED IS TO ASSESS SEVERE VIOLATIONS ACCURATELY, TO
[00:57:32.633]USE CONSISTENT CRITERIA, AND TO PRESS TO
[00:57:36.166]MAINTAIN UNIVERSAL STANDARDS.
[00:57:39.467]INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IS VARIABLE AS A LONG-TERM
[00:57:43.500]EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.
[00:57:44.734]BUT SUCH RECONCILIATION EFFORTS REFLECT A CONFLICT RESOLUTION
[00:57:48.600]APPROACH, NOT A HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH.
[00:57:51.166]AND IT CAN BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AS I'VE DESCRIBED ALREADY.
[00:57:57.467]IN CONTRAST, THE HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH MEASURES ACTION AGAINST
[00:58:02.734]THE NORMS SET OUT IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS.
[00:58:05.667]AS SET OUT IN THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT ITSELF.
[00:58:09.367]IT PRIORITIZES FACT FINDING, INVESTIGATIONS, TRUTH TELLING,
[00:58:13.867]AND PUTTING OBJECTIVES FACTS ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND VIOLATIONS
[00:58:17.300]OF STANDARD INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD AND
[00:58:20.066]HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.
[00:58:20.500]A DIALOGUE APPROACH CAN OFTEN BE USED TO
[00:58:25.300]JUSTIFY SLIPPERY STANDARDS.
[00:58:25.667]SOMETIMES EVEN TO ACCEPT A GOVERNMENT'S REPRESSION FACED ON
[00:58:30.100]FALSE EQUIVALENCIES.
[00:58:31.667]ADVOCATES NEED TO CHALLENGE SUCH TENDENCIES.
[00:58:35.667]MANY OF THE COUNTRY VISITS I PARTICIPATED IN AS A
[00:58:39.567]COMMISSIONER TO EXAMINE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CONDITIONS
[00:58:41.934]ALLOWED ME TO IMPLEMENT THIS RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH AND TO
[00:58:45.900]REMIND U.S. AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OF THE
[00:58:49.400]IMPORTANCE OF REALISM.
[00:58:52.834]A PEER EXAMPLE.
[00:58:53.300]IN SAUDI ARABIA, I ASKED THE MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS
[00:58:57.667]WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE HOLY MOSQUES AND ALL THE IMAMS IN
[00:59:00.767]THE COUNTRY -- I ASKED THE MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS
[00:59:06.200]TO ELIMINATE TEACHING OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE NOTORIOUS
[00:59:13.133]ANTISEPTIC ZION IN SAUDI TEXTBOOKS USED IN THE KINGDOM
[00:59:16.767]AND SPREAD WORLDWIDE.
[00:59:17.900]HE REPLIED THAT HE OPPOSES ANTI SEMITISM, BUT THIS PROC, THE
[00:59:25.300]PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION, HE SAID HAS A LONG HISTORY HERE.
[00:59:29.467]MY FATHER EVEN HAD A COPY, UNQUOTE.
[00:59:31.133]I POINTED OUT HOW ADOLPH HITLER AND OTHER ANTISEMITES HAD
[00:59:39.266]POINTED TO IT AND HOW IT INCITES HATRED OF JEWS WORLDWIDE TODAY.
[00:59:43.600]HE REFUSED TO BUDGE.
[00:59:45.734]LESSON LEARNED -- DON'T BE AFRAID TO PUSH BACK.
[00:59:50.533]LEARN YOUR SUBJECT MATTER, SPEAK CLEARLY ABOUT HOW INCITEMENT TO
[00:59:54.367]VIOLENCE IS SPREAD, BE SURE YOUR INTERLOPERS UNDERSTAND THAT
[00:59:58.900]THEIR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AT HOME AND ABROAD,
[01:00:02.467]AND THAT YOU KNOW OF IT.
[01:00:03.934]ANOTHER -- YOU KNOW IT.
[01:00:05.400]ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IN UZBEKISTAN, I RECALL MEETING
[01:00:13.734]THE LOCAL MAYOR.
[01:00:14.033]AND WE EXPLAINED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT REPORTS OF EXTENSIVE
[01:00:18.066]REPRESSION AGAINST MUSLIMS IN UZBEKISTAN.
[01:00:22.266]AND I NOTED HOW SMOOTHLY HE TURNED TO TELL THE VERY SLICK
[01:00:28.700]LEATHER-JACKETED COLLEAGUE SITTING NEXT TO HIM WHO
[01:00:32.233]ACCOMPANIED OUR GROUP THAT HE HAD BETTER GET OVER TO THE
[01:00:36.467]MOSQUE AND TELL THEM HOW TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS WE
[01:00:38.667]WEREN'T EXPECTING.
[01:00:40.700]HE SPOKE TO HIM IN RUSSIAN.
[01:00:43.333]THINKING WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
[01:00:48.000]LESSON LEARNED.
[01:00:50.834]OFFICIALS EVERYWHERE WILL THINK THAT YOU CAN BE FOOLED OR THAT
[01:00:55.033]YOU ARE A FOOL.
[01:00:56.900]YOU CAN TURN THEIR ARROGANCE INTO AN ASSET BY BEING INFORMED.
[01:01:01.066]READ, LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND ALWAYS BRING YOUR OWN
[01:01:04.166]TRANSLATOR ON THESE TRIPS.
[01:01:05.667][LAUGHTER] >> I HAD ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[01:01:12.800]GO FIRSTHAND TO A VISIT TO EXAMINE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
[01:01:15.700]CONDITIONS IN EGYPT FEW YEARS BACK.
[01:01:19.166]AND WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE WERE MEETING WITH A BISHOP TO LEARN
[01:01:22.834]ABOUT THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THIS, THE MIDDLE EAST'S LARGEST
[01:01:28.300]CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
[01:01:29.200]CONSISTS OF 10% OF EGYPT'S POPULATION.
[01:01:34.400]THE BISHOP WAS CONSTANTLY INTERRUPTED BY PHONE CALLS.
[01:01:39.333]HE RAN OFF TO AN ADJACENT ROOM.
[01:01:42.600]IT WAS MYSTIFYING.
[01:01:44.166]HE'D COME BACK AND CONTINUE MID SENTENCE WHEREVER HE WAS.
[01:01:47.400]IT WAS IRRITATING AND IT KEPT GOING ON.
[01:01:49.533]SIX PHONE CALLS IN THE COURSE OF A ONE-HOUR MEETING.
[01:01:53.600]I LEARNED ON LEAVING -- ONLY ON LEAVING, THAT ALL SIX PHONE
[01:01:58.266]CALLS WERE FROM THE EGYPT STATE SECURITY AGENTS.
[01:02:00.967]THEY WERE DEMANDING TO KNOW FROM HIM RIGHT THEN AND THERE WHAT WE
[01:02:03.800]WERE DOING, WHAT WE WERE ASKING ABOUT, WHY HE HADN'T INFORMED
[01:02:07.300]THEM THAT WE WERE COMING, AND GETTING AN EARFUL IN REPLY.
[01:02:12.066]LESSON LEARNED -- ASSUME THAT SECURITY OFFICIALS ARE
[01:02:15.467]INTERESTED IN RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES, AND
[01:02:18.467]WHEN YOU VISIT SUCH COUNTRIES, REMEMBER YOU'RE NEVER ALONE.
[01:02:25.066]NOW, WHAT CONCLUSIONS DO WE DRAW FROM ALL OF THIS?
[01:02:27.467]I CONCLUDE THAT MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED TO ADVANCE
[01:02:31.000]PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AND FREEDOM OF
[01:02:34.467]THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND RELIGION WORLDWIDE.
[01:02:36.467]WE HAVE TO EXAMINE THE TOOL KIT WE HAVE.
[01:02:39.100]WE HAVE TO EXAMINE THE ARCHITECTURE, RESPONSE IN NEW
[01:02:44.000]WAYS, USE THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK, FOCUS ON THE
[01:02:47.767]INDIVIDUAL, DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT, AND FIX IT.
[01:02:51.100]WE NEED NEW STRATEGIES AND WAYS TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO POLICY.
[01:02:55.400]AND MEANWHILE, EACH OF US CAN DO SOMETHING TO DRAW MORE ATTENTION
[01:02:59.200]TO THESE NEEDS.
[01:03:00.400]WE NEED TO DO MORE BY FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, BY BUILDING A RULE
[01:03:04.867]OF LAW AND THE INSTITUTIONS TO ENFORCE IT.
[01:03:07.567]WE NEED TO DO MORE BY WORKING TO BUILD NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO
[01:03:13.166]RESPECT AND IMPLEMENT LAW.
[01:03:14.367]YOU NEED TO DO MUCH MORE TO STRENGTHEN THE NONGOVERNMENTAL
[01:03:18.667]HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT WORLDWIDE.
[01:03:21.333]WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS WHERE WE CAN.
[01:03:25.600]AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO ENGAGE WITH GLOBAL ACTORS TO ENABLE
[01:03:30.800]THEM TO DEMAND CONCERTED ACTION TO PREVENT AND PUNISH ATROCITIES
[01:03:35.066]AND GENOCIDE.
[01:03:37.567]AND AS AMERICANS, GLOBAL CITIZENS, CONCERNED PERSONS, WE
[01:03:42.333]NEED TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
[01:03:48.734]ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKEN AGAINST PERSONS BELONGING
[01:03:53.600]TO RELIGIOUS MINORITIES.
[01:03:54.967]IN SUM, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSAL
[01:03:59.700]RIGHTS ARE WORDS FIGHTING FOR.
[01:04:01.734]AND DEMANDING MORE FROM LEADERSHIP HERE AND NOW, WHETHER
[01:04:05.600]IT'S FROM OURSELVES OR FROM SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS,
[01:04:09.300]FROM CITIZENS, IN GULAGS AROUND THE WORLD OR
[01:04:15.033]FROM OUR OWN GOVERNMENT.
[01:04:15.467]PRESIDENT OBAMA IN HIS FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS SPOKE OF HUMAN
[01:04:18.467]RIGHTS AND FREEDOM AND SAID, QUOTE, THOSE IDEALS STILL LIGHT
[01:04:22.500]THE WORLD, AND WE WILL NOT GIVE THEM UP FOR EXPEDIENCE'S SAKE,
[01:04:28.467]END QUOTE.
[01:04:28.800]THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING TESTED TODAY -- END QUOTE.
[01:04:31.800]THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING AT THE TIMED TODAY IN
[01:04:35.133]ALL THE HOT SPOTS.
[01:04:35.467]MALI, BURMA, CHINA, IRAN, PAKISTAN, NORWAY.
[01:04:38.333]AND SO MANY OTHERS.
[01:04:40.700]HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ADVOCATES YEAR SEASON
[01:04:43.867]LOOK TO PERSONS FOR MORAL -- OVERSEAS LOOK FOR AMERICANS FOR
[01:04:48.900]MORAL SUPPORT, FOR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND OTHER ADVOCACY.
[01:04:52.800]YOU CAN ALSO HELP THEM BY SUPPORTING THEIR WORK
[01:04:55.934]AND SPEAKING OUT.
[01:04:57.700]ASKING U.S. OFFICIALS TO MAKE THESE MATTERS A HIGHER PRIORITY
[01:05:01.033]IN U.S. POLICY.
[01:05:04.533]REMEMBER THAT YOUR VOICE MATTERS.
[01:05:06.867]YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.
[01:05:08.133]YOU CAN SPEAK OUT.
[01:05:09.000]AND YOU CAN RECOGNIZE AS ELEANOR ROOSEVELT POINTED OUT THAT --
[01:05:13.500]AND I QUOTE -- THE DESTINY OF HUMAN LIFE LIES IN THE HANDS OF
[01:05:17.233]ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, UNQUOTE.
[01:05:20.834]SO THAT MEANS YOU AND ME AND THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO ACT
[01:05:26.700]THAN RIGHT NOW.
[01:05:28.100]THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:05:29.133][APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
[01:05:46.333]IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, GET A CARD FROM ONE OF THE USHERS,
[01:05:49.800]WRITE YOUR QUESTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND GIVE IT BACK TO
[01:05:53.567]THE USHERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE BROUGHT OVER HERE AND BROUGHT TO
[01:05:58.433]THE FRONT SO THAT WE CAN ASK THEM.
[01:06:01.400]LET ME BEGIN WITH A QUESTION THAT COMES FROM THE THOMPSON
[01:06:10.000]LEARNING -- THE THOMPSON SCHOLARS LEARNING COMMUNITY,
[01:06:11.900]ONE OF THE STUDENTS.
[01:06:13.533]OBVIOUSLY THE STUDENT WAS AWARE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED BOTH
[01:06:18.133]THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS AND IN THE UNITED STATES
[01:06:26.734]ON THE U.S. COMMISSION.
[01:06:27.133]IF THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE
[01:06:30.467]THAT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU OPERATE BOTH IN A U.N.
[01:06:38.233]AND A U.S. CONTEXT?
[01:06:40.533]>> WELL, I'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATE THAT UNIVERSAL STANDARDS
[01:06:45.500]HAVE TO BE MET.
[01:06:46.133]AND ACTUALLY, THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT HAS
[01:06:48.967]EXACTLY THE SAME APPROACH.
[01:06:51.400]THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT DOES NOT SET OUT
[01:06:54.400]AMERICAN STANDARDS.
[01:06:55.266]IT SETS OUT UNIVERSAL STANDARDS.
[01:06:57.867]IT REFERS TO THE UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS.
[01:07:01.000]AND IT SAYS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IF IT'S
[01:07:04.734]GOING -- IF IT'S VIOLATED, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
[01:07:10.967]WE'RE ASKED THAT QUESTION WHEREVER WE GO,
[01:07:13.033]ALL OVER THE WORLD.
[01:07:13.367]PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE JUST IMPLEMENTING U.S. -- YOU KNOW,
[01:07:15.700]THE U.S. APPROACH, WHICH IS DIFFERENT.
[01:07:18.166]AND WE EXPLAIN TO THEM, THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
[01:07:22.367]>> WHIM I'M WAITING FOR QUESTIONS TO COME -- WHILE I'M
[01:07:24.367]WAITING FOR QUESTIONS TO COME FROM THE AUDIENCE, LET ME ASK
[01:07:28.867]YOU, WHICH COUNTRIES WOULD YOU PUT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AS
[01:07:32.467]THE COUNTRIES THAT MOST ABUSE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?
[01:07:37.767]>> WELL, I MENTIONED SOME OF THEM THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
[01:07:40.633]HAS IDENTIFIED.
[01:07:41.367]AND I THINK THAT'S NOT A BAD LIST.
[01:07:48.667]CHINA, SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN, THE -- SUDAN.
[01:08:05.834]AS WELL AS UZBEKISTAN, AND -- I HAD CITED...
[01:08:20.066]TODAY THE U.S. HAS BEEN CITED AFGHANISTAN OR PAKISTAN.
[01:08:25.133]BUT I THINK TODAY THOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE HIGH ON OUR LIST OF
[01:08:29.834]SEVERE ABUSES AS WELL.
[01:08:33.700]NIGERIA.
[01:08:34.800]ANOTHER.
[01:08:35.767]FOR THE REASONS I'VE DESCRIBED.
[01:08:37.400]>> HERE'S A QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
[01:08:40.834]IS THERE IMPUNITY AND LACK OF PROSECUTION INVOLVED IN THE
[01:08:44.133]VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS?
[01:08:48.066]>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
[01:08:50.867]>> IS THERE IMPUNITY AND LACK OF PROSECUTION INVOLVED IN THE
[01:08:55.200]VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS?
[01:08:59.500]>> WELL, THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH HAS EVOKED A LOT OF ATTENTION.
[01:09:05.400]FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNITED NATIONS.
[01:09:09.967]AND YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT ONLY A YEAR OR SO AGO, JUSTICE
[01:09:17.066]GOLDSTONE WHO HAD RAISED THE QUESTION OF IMPUNITY IN HIS
[01:09:21.400]REPORT CAME TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND "THE WASHINGTON
[01:09:26.266]POST" AND SAID THAT ACTUALLY -- WHAT HE HAD THOUGHT WAS IMPUNITY
[01:09:31.166]AND A FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE WAS -- WAS NO
[01:09:36.033]LONGER A RELEVANT ISSUE BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DOES RESPOND IN
[01:09:39.333]THOSE ISSUES.
[01:09:41.200]IN -- IN THOSE CASES.
[01:09:42.066]BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN EVERY COUNTRY.
[01:09:46.266]AND CERTAINLY THE COURTS COULD DO A BETTER JOB.
[01:10:02.367]>> DO RELIGIOUS RIGHTS TRUMP HUMAN RIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, A
[01:10:05.500]RELIGION THAT EXERCISES ABUSE OF WOMEN?
[01:10:12.133]>> THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
[01:10:16.133]SOMETIMES RIGHTS CONFLICT.
[01:10:18.867]AND THE QUESTION AND, DOES GOD'S LAW TRUMP MAN'S LAW.
[01:10:22.867]OR WOMAN'S LAW IN THIS CASE.
[01:10:26.066]AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT USUALLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES
[01:10:29.734]HAVE TO BE EXAMINED AND A BALANCING TEST
[01:10:33.533]HAS TO BE APPLIED.
[01:10:33.900]BUT THE UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS PROVIDE FOR THAT BALANCING TEST.
[01:10:36.667]THEY SAY NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO DESTROY SOMEONE
[01:10:40.367]ELSE'S HUMAN RIGHTS.
[01:10:40.700]SO THE BALANCING TEST IS, YOU CAN'T DESTROY MY RIGHTS.
[01:10:44.500]MY RIGHTS STOP WHERE YOUR RIGHTS BEGIN.
[01:10:47.500]AND YOU HAVE TO PUT THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER.
[01:10:51.667]>> THIS QUESTION ALMOST -- IS A WONDERFUL ONE TO
[01:10:55.066]FOLLOW ON THE LAST.
[01:10:55.400]DO YOU SEE THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND PRACTICE
[01:11:00.233]EXTENDING TO THOSE WITHOUT RELIGION SUCH AS ATHEISTS?
[01:11:04.367]>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
[01:11:05.600]YOU KNOW, IN FACT, THE U.S.
[01:11:07.033]COMMISSION EVEN MADE A STATEMENT ON THIS RECENTLY IN WHICH THEY
[01:11:11.166]SPOKE ABOUT IT.
[01:11:12.367]BUT LOOK AT THE -- LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE.
[01:11:15.700]LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE.
[01:11:16.834]WE'RE PROTECTING FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE,
[01:11:19.967]RELIGION, OR BELIEF.
[01:11:21.700]WELL, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT THE BELIEF -- NON BELIEF IS
[01:11:26.000]A FORM OF BELIEF.
[01:11:26.333]OR YOU COULD SAY THAT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND CONSCIENCE IS THE
[01:11:29.834]RIGHT TO CHALLENGE RELIGION AND BELIEF AND -- OTHERWISE.
[01:11:32.934]SO OF COURSE, THE FREEDOM OF PERSONS NOT TO BELIEVE HAS TO BE
[01:11:39.834]ENSURED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE RIGHT OF ALL PERSONS TO BELIEVE.
[01:11:45.533]>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE RELIGIONS THAT USE VIOLENCE IN
[01:11:51.767]RELIGIOUS PRACTICE?
[01:11:56.166]>> YOU KNOW...
[01:11:58.734]IT'S THE DEED, NOT THE CREED.
[01:12:02.533]AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS IS CRIMINALIZED AND I THINK -- IN I
[01:12:07.300]THINK EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
[01:12:10.667]SO IF A RELIGION USES VIOLENCE IN ITS PRACTICE, IT WOULD BE
[01:12:17.667]SUBJECT -- ONE WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION
[01:12:22.367]UNDER NATIONAL LAW.
[01:12:24.066]AND THIS IS TRUE ALSO -- YOU KNOW, SLAVERY AND BRIDE BURNING
[01:12:34.700]AND ISSUES OF THIS SORT HAVE BEEN CRIMINALIZED BY GOVERNMENTS
[01:12:39.867]AROUND THE WORLD AND CONDEMNED BY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
[01:12:45.700]SO SOMETIMES UNDERSTANDING EVOLVES, AND WE HAVE TO -- WE
[01:12:51.767]HAVE TO REMEMBER TO PROTECT PEOPLE, NOT TO PUNISH THEM.
[01:12:58.233]>> SINCE EVE TEASING IS COMMON AND UNPUNISHED IN INDIA, WHY HAS
[01:13:01.967]THE RECENT RAPE OF A WOMAN ON A BUS CAUSED MUCH CONCERN?
[01:13:06.333]DOES THIS SIGNAL A CHANGE OF THE CULTURE TOWARD WOMEN IN INDIA?
[01:13:14.033]>> WELL, THIS IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE INCIDENT.
[01:13:18.867]AND IT MOBILIZED PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN INDIA.
[01:13:23.967]LET'S HOPE THAT IT MOBILIZED ACTION BY GOVERNMENT
[01:13:28.100]OFFICIALS -- MOBILIZES ACTION BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND BY THE
[01:13:30.667]POPULATION AS A WHOLE TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
[01:13:35.800]TO CHANGE THE TOLERANCE OF SUCH PRACTICES.
[01:13:41.834]AGAIN, THEY'RE CRIMINALIZED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THEY
[01:13:46.233]NEED TO BE NOT IGNORED, NOT FORGET ABOUT IT.
[01:13:48.967]THEY NEED TO BE FIXED.
[01:13:50.533]>> PLEASE JOIN WITH ME IN OUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU,
[01:13:55.600]FELICE GA ER, FOR THIS EVENING.
[01:13:57.533][APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

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Protecting the Human Rights of Religious Minorities Worldwide: International Religious Freedom in U.S. Policy

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