Amendment No. 12 | Doc. 13441 | 09 April 2014

The protection of minors against excesses of sects

Signatories: Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Ms Ana GUŢU, Republic of Moldova, ALDE ; Mr Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Johann WADEPHUL, Germany, EPP/CD

Origin - 2014 - Second part-session

In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 5 with the following paragraph:

"The Assembly is concerned by the lack of comprehensive data on the phenomen of excesses of religious, spiritual or esoteric movements affecting minors. Even though historical factors mean that some countries have preferred not to legislate in this area, the problem needs to be neutrally evaluated due to the fact that it could be sufficiently serious to warrant greater efforts by the authorities."

Explanatory note

The data gathered in the report shows that there is neither data nor evidence to support the fact that "sects" would be a significant problem throughout Europe. On the contrary, there is collected data contradicting such claims. Collecting data is the only step that could be justified by the report.