Incorporating the Principles of Freedom of Religion or Belief into all our work
The NGO committee of Freedom or Religion or Belief held their final meeting for this season on June 8. Presenters from the NGO Committee on the Status of Women and the NGO Committee on Social Development shared their thoughts and activities on the topic” Incorporating the principles of Freedom of Religion or Belief into all our work.”
A few interesting items mentioned were that Religion was not mentioned in the Beijing Women’s Conference document and religion was not allowed to be mentioned officially.
Also, there is a correlation from a Pew sponsored study that there is low freedom of religion with low economic development.
A story was shared of a family and how issues of religion and culture and meaning effected them. The topic was regarding headscarves.
The story presented illustrated the need for choice and especially when others have turned articles of clothing and fashion into statements to be used for their own policital goals.
A young professional Iranian adult women, raised in a ‘modern and liberal’ family without much influence of politics or religion, chose to wear a headscarf. She received much criticism to do so. This daughter chose to wear a headscarf not for any political or religious purpose but on her own choice along with a few of her friends to honor their place in their culture. The professional comunity she worked with was reported to behave in a manner which was isolating and career-limiting.
Her experience was that the headscarf was viewed and interpreted by many others in the way they viewed the headscarf rather than for her reasons.
The presentation was about the right to choose and to have the freedom to try or experiemnt in our life and the freedom to let go of beliefs or behaviors or fashion which we find may not suit us any more.
The daughter did choose later not to contuinue to wear a headscarf but because she no longer wanted to. Not because her religion, politics or friend dictated she did or did not.
May we all be free to choose what is best for us and what does not harm others.
Erik