UN Freedom of Religion Official Recommends Controversial Sex Ed

By Stefano Gennarini, J.D. | October 30, 2013

Only a couple of weeks ago I reported in the Friday Fax how the sexual left wants nations to undermine parental authority in order to treat children as autonomous holders of sexual rights. It looks as though they have made inroads with the UN’s religious freedom expert.

No one ever expects the UN Special Rapporteur on Religion or Belief Mr. Heiner Bielefeldt to say anything controversial. His tone is usually conciliatory, and to his credit, he puts a very strong emphasis on the freedom to exercise religion. But this year his report to the General Assembly on the subject of freedom of religion and belief and equality between men and women did raise some eyebrows. Specifically, on his treatment of the right of parents to educate their children as they see fit.

The rapporteur effectively says that the right of parents to educate their children in matters pertaining to sexual mores is limited by the right of children to education, specifically on sexual and reproductive health matters. Here, the rapporteur refers to the “evolving capacity” of children as the term of art for limiting parental authority. He even cited Committee on the Rights of the Child with regards the right of children to sexual education.

Here is a highlight from the report, which merits to be read in its entirety, because Mr. Bielefeldt, while tactful, also makes some very troubling assertions about how the state and religious institutions interact.

54. From a normative perspective, school education falls in the focus of a number
of human rights, including the right to education, minority rights, equality between
men and women, and freedom of religion or belief. As a subcategory to freedom of
religion or belief, article 18, paragraph 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights demands respect for the “liberty of parents and, when applicable,
legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in
conformity with their own convictions”. This provision should not be interpreted in
isolation but should be read in conjunction with article 5 and article 14, paragraph 2,
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which require parents and legal
guardians to provide appropriate direction and guidance “in a manner consistent
with the evolving capacities of the child”. With regard to adolescents, the
Committee on the Rights of the Child emphasizes that States parties should provide
them “with access to sexual and reproductive information, including on family
planning and contraceptives, the dangers of early pregnancy, the prevention of
HIV/AIDS and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases”.11
The Committee furthermore insists that adolescents should “have access to
appropriate information, regardless of […] whether their parents or guardians
consent”.

 

 

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Tagged with: • • •