{"id":6692,"date":"2011-01-15T14:56:40","date_gmt":"2011-01-15T03:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/?p=6692"},"modified":"2011-01-15T14:58:18","modified_gmt":"2011-01-15T03:58:18","slug":"submission-to-tasmania-rights-charter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/2011\/01\/15\/submission-to-tasmania-rights-charter\/","title":{"rendered":"Submission to proposed Rights Charter for Tasmania"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0The Department of Justice of Tasmania has released for comment\u00a0A Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for Tasmania<\/strong><\/em>. See Charter\u00a0information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While I am not in agreement with having a Charter or Bill of Human Rights and Responsibilities, I decided to make a brief submission highlighting the inadequacies of the religious freedoms provided by\u00a0the proposed Charter and recommending the six areas which need to be included in any Charter of rights and responsibilities. I sent my submission yesterday:<\/p>\n

To:\u00a0Department of Justice, Tasmania<\/p>\n

Submission to \u2018A Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities for Tasmania\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Chart for Tasmania.<\/p>\n

Consultation Point 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

It does seem at variance with logic that the word \u201cResponsibilities\u201d would be included in the title of the Charter but absent from its content! I acknowledge that there is a measure of logic in the claim that \u201crecognition of rights implicitly involves recognition of responsibilities\u201d but am not at all persuaded that this is sufficient. A sufficient entry to responsibilities must engage with the values of our society such as concern for the underdog, a fair go, generosity, compassion, graciousness and love. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Consultation Point 18 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the heading \u2018General Political and Civil<\/span>\u2019 my over-riding concern is that the Charter does not deal sufficiently with the rights to religious freedom.<\/p>\n

I strongly urge the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights rather than the proposed Charter.<\/p>\n

This preference is evidenced in the absence of the freedom to change one\u2019s religion from the proposed Charter.<\/p>\n

In contrast The UNIVERSAL DECLARATION of HUMAN RIGHTS (UDHR<\/strong>) 1948<\/a> of the General Assembly of the United Nations includes the freedom of a person to change their religion:<\/p>\n

\u00a0Article 18<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief<\/span>, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.<\/p>\n

\u00a0It is important to note that the freedom of a person to change their religion\u00a0should not be taken for granted <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Islamic States refused to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because of the inclusion of this right of a person to change their religion.\u00a0\u00a0In 1990 the member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference\u00a0made\u00a0The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0The freedom of a person to change their religion is not included in the Islamic response to the UDHR. In fact together certain Articles of the Islamic Declaration on Human Rights exercise force against a Muslim changing their religion. Articles 10 and 22: (Further info for comment, here<\/a>):\u00a0<\/p>\n

Article 10\u00a0 Prohibited to exercise compulsion or exploit\u2026to convert him (a Muslim)\u00a0to another religion or atheism.<\/p>\n

Article 22\u00a0 Everyone shall have the right to express his opinion freely in such manner as would not be contrary to the principles of the Shariah<\/span>.<\/p>\n

For these reasons <\/strong>I believe that the freedom of a person to change their religion should be included in the Charter.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moreover, there are other religious freedoms that are not adequately safeguarded by the proposed Charter<\/span>.<\/p>\n

I therefore ask that the six freedoms in the statement on Freedom of Religion by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia meeting in Melbourne last October be included in A Charter for Tasmania: \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Motion relating to Freedom of Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n

That this General Synod calls on the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to reaffirm their commitment to religious freedom and to take all practical steps necessary to ensure that the following six freedoms are safeguarded in Australia within the constraints of the civil and criminal law generally applicable:<\/p>\n