The values which form the basis for law have a profound impact on modern Europe. This was the topic of the House on the Rock “Axiology of Law for the Europe of Tomorrow” Conference, which saw many prominent researchers engage in discussion in Rome.

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues, adopted a series of resolutions on matters such as children’s, women’s and family rights.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that Switzerland violated human rights by denying asylum to an Afghan man who converted to Christianity from Islam and fled his homeland fearing persecution.

Helena Dalli is a new member of the European Commission, and a proponent of same-sex couple and sexual and reproductive rights. The Maltese has taken the newly-created position of Commissar for Equality.

Norway is notorious for human rights infringements, in particular when it comes to respecting family life. The European Court of Human Rights will soon rule on a case involving a group of families torn apart by the country’s child welfare services – the Barnevernet.

The increasingly frequent reports of religious insults and attacks on Christians, churches and clergy indicate that the number of religiously motivated hate crimes is on the rise, both in Poland and the rest of Europe.