The Balancing Act

Description

This presentation, titled "Religious Freedom and Other Human Rights: 'The Balancing Act'," examines the inherent tension between religious freedom and other rights in our modern, secular world. It uses two key examples: a state limiting religious expression for public good (Quebec's Bill 21) and a religious group's freedom infringing on individual rights (an adoption agency case).

To analyze these conflicts, the presentation introduces a framework combining philosophy and international law. It draws on the work of Charles Taylor ("buffered self"), John Rawls ("public reason"), and Martha Nussbaum ("capabilities approach"). This ethical framework is integrated with legal standards from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Siracusa Principles.

The presentation concludes by advocating for a principled "non-harm" approach, arguing that freedom should not be used to undermine the fundamental capabilities and rights of others. It calls for the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) to lead an informed and courageous conversation on navigating these difficult balancing acts.