WOMEN IN BUDDHISM ❧❤❧ EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

HERITAGE OF MANKIND

Visual Dharma 95 WOMEN IN BUDDHISM by H. E. Lama Tara Tulku Drimed Drolkhar Rinpoche (from Collected Work Vol. IV) is published to benefit all and to commemorate 100.International day of women (March 8, 2008). All Visual Dharmas are empowered with the Sound of Dharmata. We ask everyone to treat them with respect. To embed and to sponsor the preparation of Visual Dharmas brings great merit to the place and all who view them. It means to perform 1. Dharmic Activity as taught by the Buddhas (see The Gift of Truth).

According to our research Buddhist women are more often confronted with hate speech.

LEGAL ADVISE :  European convention on human rights, International convention about abolition of all forms of racial discrimination, International agreement on civil and political rights, Convention on cybernet crime with Additional protocol (adapted on 1.o7.2004). The Council of Europe (COE)  accepted the Recommendation 1805 regarding blasphemy, religious insult and hate speech against persons on ground of their religion.

„The Assembly reafirms that hate speech against persons, whatever on religious grounds or otherwise, should be penalised by the law in accordance with the General Policy Recomm. No.7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination produced by the EC against racism and intolerance. For speech to qualify as hate speech in this sense, it is necessary that it is directed against a person or a specific group of persons.” HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 71 2007 COE Strasbourg  http://www.coe.int/human-rights

47 member states of the COE have legislation which is prohibiting hate speech toward religious people. According to our research most of the public is uneducated about such legislation and which speech is classified as hate speech ! Because of uneducation and unawareness hate speech is practiced in countries where there is no correct education about different religions . Buddhism is traditionaly present in Europe and America as well on other continents. Buddhists around the world are contributing to the development of human rights, gender equality and the state of law. Thus we are contributing toward more positive and spiritualy advanced world.

Slovenian translation is published on http://www.coe.si – Information & documentation center of the COE  at NUK was our partner in organising IV. Dialogue — symphosium about Religion and democracy at the Congress center in Ljubljana , spring 2000. Hate speech should be reported to  web watch — http://www.spletno-oko.si (for Slovenia) . Similar web watches are present in other states. Other useful internet addresses : http://www.coe.int/stopviolence Equality between women and men — Gender equality ; http://www.drustvo-dnk.si Association against violent communication sent us useful broshure : Violence! What can I do? http://www.stop-discrimination.info EU project For diversity-against discrimination; http://www.Iscomet.org   NGO with consulting status at the COE– booklet by dr. S. Devetak – Are you treated equaly regardless of your nationality or religion ? Tara Rinpoche actively partitipated at their EU conference in Oct.2006.  http://www.varuh-rs.si Newsletter of the ombudsman for human rights No.10 (Dec. 2006) gives many useful advices regarding the protection of human rights : Code of penalty art. 141 — violation of equality, art. 300 hate speech  etc.)  All cases of hate speech should be reported together with evidence ( copy from internet etc.) to the police or state attorney. According to the convention of UN all victims of criminal acts have the right to be treated with respect , to be notified about the case procedures, counceling, active collaboration in the process of decision making, they must be directed to appropriate services of help,they have the right of  physical security , privacy and compensation. Legal procedures should be without undue delay. Republic Slovenia is since many years member of the Council of Europe and since 3,5 years member of European union. The Constitution of Slovenia is advanced and democratic. New law on religious freedom is valid some year ago. In Febr. 08 we requested Slovenian government — president of the government  http://www.gov.si and the office for religious communities  http://www.uvs.gov.si to prepare consultation  about hate speech and related legislation- until the end of  6-months of Slovenian presidency in EU.

COE advised human rights training for all religious teachers. This research provides some aspects of such training for Buddhists worldwide.

Related research :

1. GENDER EQUALITY IN BUDDHISM -promoting millenium golas of United nations :Gender equality and empowerment of women http://www.myspace.com/BuddhaDharma_OBFI

Bibliographies of researchers http://www.izum.si/cobiss 90321 Tara Tulku

1.02 scientific article 90352 Konchok Norbu 2.16 Art work

BUDDHA DHARMA-OBFI & INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST STUDIES– Serving, upholding & protecting the Teachings of Buddhas

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