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The "Religion or ethics in school – what is our real choice" conference

 

The following people will take part in the conference:

 

*HALINA BORTNOWSKA - theologian, commentator, public activist

*ELŻBIETA CZYŻ - Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights

*ADAM BODNAR- coordinator of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights Precedential Cases Program

*DOROTA PUDZIANOWSKA - lawyer holding the case of the Grzelak family on behalf of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights

THE CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY 24 OCTOBER AT THE HELSINKI FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (11 ZGODA STR., 6^th FLOOR - CONFERENCE HALL)

THE CONFERENCE BEGINS AT 12:30

 

On the same day the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights will submit its amicus curiae opinion to the European Court on Human Rights in Strasbourg in the Grzelak vs. Poland trial held before the Court (complaint number 7710/02). The opinion concerned the problem associated with organizing ethics lessons at schools - Urszula Grzelak, Czesław Grzelak and their son Mateusz Grzelak are the complainants in this case.

 

We wish to recall that Mateusz Grzelak - in accordance with his parents' will - did not participate in religion lessons at elementary school. Then, although the Polish law grants students the opportunity to participate in alternative ethics classes, it turned out that none of the schools, to which he attended, organized such classes. As a result, the Mateusz Grzelak's report card included only a cross-through in the field adjacent to the subject religion/ethics. Moreover - Mateusz Grzelak had to change schools twice due to discrimination and physical and mental abuse from other students.

 

In 2002, the Grzelak family lodged a complaint against Poland to the European Court on Human Rights. The complainants indicate that Poland violated Art. 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), Art. 13 (the right to effective means of appeal) and Art. 14 (ban on discrimination) of the Convention, as well as Art. 2 of Protocol no.1 to the Convention (the right to education).

 

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights joined the case at the stage of proceedings before the European Court in Strasbourg.

 

The fact that the HFHR submitted an amicus curiae opinion in this case is particularly important in light of recent legal amendments that assume the inclusion of the grade in religion or ethics in the grade point average.

 

2007-09-24