HJI Int'l Conference: Session VI - Faith and Family at the UN: Challenges and Opportunities

Session VI - Faith and Family at the UN: Challenges and Opportunities
While human dignity, the family, and the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion are affirmed in the UN charter and the UDHR, the UN has been impacted by the culture wars, resulting in a challenging environment for religious freedom and advocacy of the “natural” or “traditional” family. Member states at the UN are divided on the issues of the faith and family. The USA and Western European countries tend to promote progressive values, while often the more traditional or authoritarian countries, including many Islamic states, affirm a more traditional family. The right to freedom of thought and religion however, is generally decreasing in more widespread areas. The annual UN Commission on the Status of Women event, which just concluded a few weeks ago, has become less appreciative of more traditional views on family.
In this session, panelists will discuss the challenges faced and opportunities taken by faith and family affirming NGOs at the UN.
Moderator: Ms. Lynn Walsh, Adjunct Instructor, Title IX Coordinator, HJI
Speakers:
•Dr. Ján Figeľ, Former European Commissioner; Former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia; First European Commission Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion Outside the EU
•Ms. Sharon Slater, President, Family Watch International, Chair, UN Family Rights Caucus
•Mr. Tom Sarrouf, Senior Academic Programs Manager at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute; Co-host of ISI’s Podcast, “Conservative Conversations with ISI”; Teacher for the World Youth Alliance