Source (09.08.2024): https://mfi.gov.hu/esemenyek/az-emberi-jogok-ertelmezeserol-a-szlovak-koztarsasag-alkotmanybirosaganak-gyakorlataban/
On 28 May 2021, the International Scientific Conference ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal orders of Central and Eastern European countries’ took place in Warsaw, which was organised within the Central European Professors’ Network 2021 by the Institute of Justice in Warsaw, in collaboration with the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law and the European Association for Comparative Law. The conference was one of the Research Group’s ‘Freedom of Conscience and Religion in Europe’ events. Due to the state of the pandemic, the conference was organised online on the Zoom platform as part of Prof. Paweł Sobczyk and Dr. Michał Poniatowski’s research group’s tasks. The concept of the conference: The discussion around the prominence of religious symbols in European realities has been going on for decades. It is often marked by enormous emotional intensity, reflecting society’s attitude towards the fundamental principles that underpin European culture and civilisation, and it also testifies to the nations’ Christian identities. The analysis’ main assumption is to demonstrate the normative aspect of the possibility of manifesting one’s beliefs through religious symbols in chosen European countries. The judiciary’s position, as stated by international bodies and the national judicial system, is critical in shaping the contemporary model. It should also be emphasised the presence of religious symbols in public spaces is influenced by historical circumstances. The research will reveal believers’ right to manifest their religious beliefs in public space while respecting the privacy and tolerance of people with different views. The scientific part of the conference began with a lecture by Prof. Balázs Schanda, a special guest, entitled ‘Religion or culture? The protection of the Christian cultural identity vs. state neutrality and the lack of faith’. After the introductory lecture, in the first conference session, ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal orders of chosen Central and Eastern European countries’, the lectures were delivered by:
Dalibor Đukić – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Serbia’
Damián Němec – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in the Czech Republic’
Vanja-Ivan Savić – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Croatia’
Frane Staničić – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Slovenia’
Vojtech Vladár – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Slovakia’
In the second session, ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal orders of Hungary and Poland. Specific issues and jurisprudence of ECHR’, Prof. Marek Bielecki, the second special speaker of the international conference, delivered a presentation titled ‘The presence of religious symbols in Polish educational law’.
The following lectures in this session were delivered by: Lóránt Csink – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Hungary’ Paweł Sobczyk – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in the legal order in Poland’ Dr Michał Poniatowski – ‘Religious symbols in the public sphere in jurisprudence of ECHR’
The conference was followed by a brief discussion on the religious motifs in international organisations’ logos, such as the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
Prof. János Ede Szilágyi, Head of the Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law, summarised and concluded the conference. He emphasised the importance of the concerns highlighted, as well as the international significance of religious symbols in public spaces and the shared values that underpin various contemporary legal solutions.
