Ghana (42nd Session)

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Ghana (42nd Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report outlines how the permissibility of assisted suicide in Switzerland stands in flagrant violation of both the values enshrined in the Swiss Constitution and international human rights, including the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Assisted suicide is an affront to human dignity and violates the rights of persons in situations of vulnerability. Furthermore, the report identifies the inadequate provision of palliative care, suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention resources and programs, the for-profit nature of the healthcare sector, and the role of media as key factors contributing to increasing suicide rates in the country.

Guimares family: Portugal

Protecting Parental Rights in Portugal

#protectparentalrights

Topic | Parental Rights

“As a mother I want to shield my children from being exposed to unsuitable graphic and controversial ideological material. My older children were allowed to sit out the sex-ed classes, but now the state wants to force my youngest to repeat two whole school years even though the school had agreed they did not have to take the classes,” says Ana Guimares. 

ADF International Allied lawyers are supporting the Guimares family to protect parental rights in Portugal and set a positive precedent for Europe. 

Who:
The Guimares family

Where:
Portugal

Advocacy Team:
Lorcán Price

"Clearly, the state is not acting in Tiago and Rafael’s best interest when it’s trying to force them to be set back and repeat two whole school years. Parents and children should not be punished for wishing not to be exposed to ideologically charged material."

- Lorcán Price, Legal Counsel for ADF International

Case Summary

As a mother, Ana Paula Guimares was concerned about the graphic and ideological content that was being taught in the sex-education classes of her children’s school. Thankfully, the public school in Porto agreed to exempt her two youngest sons, Tiago and Rafael, from the classes, as they had previously done for Ana’s older children. Because these arrangements had worked for years, Ana thought the matter resolved, until a new curriculum was introduced that made the controversial content part of the compulsory “citizenship classes” that her children were required to attend in order to graduate from each school year.  

To Ana’s dismay, the Ministry of Education took issue with the arrangement in 2020 and ordered that the boys be held back by 2 full years, just to repeat the classes. Because this was such a disproportional demand, Ana and her husband Arthur were successful in appealing this decision in early 2021. The first instance court ordered that the boys could continue their education without having to attend these classes. But the Ministry of Education didn’t leave it at that. It fought the first court’s decision until the second instance court overturned it.  

To keep their sons from being held back, Ana and Arthur Guimares sought and were granted an injunction, which is currently in place restraining the state from forcing the children from their current year until the case is determined. The Guimares family, continue to seek justice, hoping that the Supreme Administrative Court will decide in their favour as they appeal the second court’s unfavourable decision in spring 2022.  

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Pastor Premnath: India

Pastor Premnath spent 150 days in jail after a hostile group invaded his prayer meeting and falsely accused him of engaging in forced conversions. He is now on trial.

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United Kingdom (41st Session)

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United Kingdom (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions.

This report draws attention to the United Kingdom’s (UK) shortcomings in protecting freedom of expression and opinion in public spaces and in promoting the right of parents to educate their children in accordance with their religious and philosophical beliefs.

Tunisia (41st Session)

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Tunisia (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report highlights the special vulnerability to discrimination and social hostility faced by persons belonging to religious minorities in Tunisia, as well as the lack of adequate protection from the authorities for those facing threats to their safety and rights on the basis of their faith. It also draws attention to the concerning situation of freedom of expression in the country.

The Netherlands (41st Session)

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The Netherlands (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions. This report outlines how the Netherlands’ regulation of euthanasia and assisted suicide undermines respect for human dignity and violates the rights to life and to health, particularly of older persons and persons with disabilities. It also highlights how the introduction of so-called “buffer zones” around abortion facilities constitutes an illegitimate restriction on the exercise of the freedoms of expression and assembly.

Morocco (41st Session)

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Morocco (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report focuses on the situation of freedom of religion or belief and expression in Morocco, highlighting the urgent need for measures to ensure their full and effective protection, including particularly for persons belonging to religious minorities.

Indonesia (41st Session)

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Indonesia (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report highlights the obstacles and dangers that religious minorities face in Indonesia due to both governmental restrictions and interreligious tensions. It also outlines the ways in which freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are restricted and what the government is required to do to provide relief for those affected.

India (41st Session)

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India (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report outlines the continued lack of respect for, and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief in India. In particular, it addresses the grave impact of anti-conversion laws, which an increasing number of states across the country have been enacting, on the freedom to adopt and practise a religion of their choice, particularly of those belonging to minority faith groups. Furthermore, this submission stresses the urgent need for the Indian government to increase its efforts to tackle and eradicate the ongoing, widespread practice of sex-selective abortion.