On December 10 the world recognizes Human Rights Day. This year is the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, here in Canada and around the world we have a long way to go to ensure that all people enjoy the rights this declaration lays out. And many of the barriers to universal human rights involve religious infringement in people’s lives.
The Centre for Inquiry Canada promotes secularism (government neutrality in matters of religion).
- Around the world people are facing persecution for their beliefs and even more often, for their lack of belief. (Join us for our fifth annual “Protecting Blasphemers” webinar, Sunday at 4pm ET, as apostates share their experiences.)
- For the past 4 years, CFIC has been supporting ‘Omer’, a refugee who was tortured, raped and disowned because he questioned the teachings of his faith. Omer has been living in exile for more than 4 years while his sponsors remain committed to helping him integrate once he arrives in Canada.
- South of the border, we have watched in horror as religious tenets remove individuals’ rights, especially in the area of reproductive rights.
- Closer to home we also see religion used as a reason to violate universal human rights. Three provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta) and two territories (Yukon and Northwest Territories) continue to publicly fund Catholic Schools. These schools have overtly and subtly persecuted LGBTQI+ students in their system.
- In what seems like US-style politics, some provincial governments are using the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ notwithstanding clause to pass laws that clearly violate human rights.
CFIC makes you aware of human rights violations and advocates for change so that no one has to fear the erosion of their personal rights to meet the tenets of religious beliefs.
This year, board member and Human Rights Chair, Onur Romano has agreed to match all donations made in November and December(to a maximum of $15,000). For more on Onur’s motivation see Please Support Secular Human Rights.
For more resources on Human Rights see:
- Mahsa Amini’s Legacy: Update on Iran
- Foreign money from Human Rights Abusers
- Leslie Rosenblood on Humanism in Children and Women’s Rights
- Which Rights are Right?
- When Doubting Means Death – Ali Rizvi and “Omer”
- Podcast for Inquiry: Escaping North Korea with Eunju Kim
- Podcast for Inquiry: Homophobia in Catholic Schools with Tonya Callaghan
