Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12595 | 18 April 2011

The protection of minors against sectarian influence

Signatories: Mr Christos POURGOURIDES, Cyprus, EPP/CD ; Mr Miloš ALIGRUDIĆ, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Ms Marie-Louise BEMELMANS-VIDEC, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Laurent BÉTEILLE, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Oksana BILOZIR, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Fernand BODEN, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Ms Olena BONDARENKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Bożenna BUKIEWICZ, Poland, EPP/CD ; Ms Karmela CAPARIN, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Ms Lolita ČIGĀNE, Latvia, EPP/CD ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Ms Ingrida CIRCENE, Latvia, EPP/CD ; Mr Agustín CONDE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr David DARCHIASHVILI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Mr Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Ms Cindy FRANSSEN, Belgium, EPP/CD ; Mr Martin FRONC, Slovak Republic, EPP/CD ; Mr Marco GATTI, San Marino, EPP/CD ; Ms Claude GREFF, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Dzhema GROZDANOVA, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Norbert HAUPERT, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Ms Olha HERASYM'YUK, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Mr Stanisław HUSKOWSKI, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Željko IVANJI, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Mr Rom KOSTŘICA, Czech Republic, EPP/CD ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Mr Pavol KUBOVIČ, Slovak Republic, EPP/CD ; Mr Theo MAISSEN, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Ms Christine MARIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Jean-Claude MIGNON, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Krasimir MINCHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Alejandro MUÑOZ-ALONSO, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Mirosława NYKIEL, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Pieter OMTZIGT, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Ms Elsa PAPADIMITRIOU, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Zaruhi POSTANJYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr Gabino PUCHE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Mailis REPS, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr François ROCHEBLOINE, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Mr Latchezar TOSHEV, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Mr Petré TSISKARISHVILI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Mr Miltiadis VARVITSIOTIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Stefaan VERCAMER, Belgium, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly recalls the commitment of the Council of Europe to a policy for the protection of minors, through the adoption of conventions on adoption, the repatriation of minors, the legal status of children born out of wedlock, recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children, exercise of children’s rights, contact concerning children and the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

The Assembly furthermore recalls its Recommendations No. 1121 (1990) on the rights of children, No. 1551 (2002) on “Building a 21st century society for and with children” and No. 1778 (2007) on “Child victims: stamping out all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse”.

The Assembly has expressed concern regarding influences that may arise from sectarian phenomena in its Recommendations No. 1178 (1992) on sects and religious movements and No. 1412 (1999) on illegal activities and sects.

The Assembly finds that minors are especially at risk from sectarian phenomena.

Sectarian influence can cause human rights violations, particularly in the spheres of health, education and respect for personal freedoms. A child exposed to sectarian influence is likely to be restricted in its fundamental rights and in future access to a free, enlightened citizen. It is particularly vulnerable to both physical and psychological ill-treatment.

Minors drawn in by sects are often withdrawn from their protective family environment, and their parents thrown into disarray.

The Assembly therefore resolves to study the question of sectarian influence on minors on a European level.