Kingdom United Worship
United Kingdom
The law provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The Church of England and the Church of Scotland are established churches. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom. Centuries-old sectarian divisions--and instances of violence--persist in Northern Ireland.The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of prom ... [Read More]
United Kingdom
United Kingdom ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a longstanding constitutional monarchy with a democratic, parliamentary government. Some central government powers have been devolved to locally elected bodies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The judiciary is independent. ... In addition, schools have to provide a daily act of collective worship, which may be waived if a school's administration deems it inappropriate for some or all of the students. Under some circumstances, non-Christian worship may be allowed. Teachers' organizations have criticized school prayer and called for a government review of the practice. ... [Read More]
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United Kingdom
United Kingdom ... Religious groups are not required to register with the Government. No church or religious organization--established or otherwise--receives direct funding from the State. Religious bodies are expected to finance their own activities through endowment, investments, and fund-raising. The Government funds the repair of historic church buildings, such as cathedrals, but such funding is not restricted to Church of England buildings. A government grants program helps to fund repair and maintenance of listed places of worship of all religions nationwide. The Government also contributes to the budget of the Church Conservation Trust, which preserves "redundant" Church of England buildings of architectural or historic significance. Several similar groups in England, Scotland, and Wales repair non-Anglican houses of worship. ... [Read More]
United Kingdom
The armed forces have a procedure to handle complaints of harassment, racial and otherwise. Service personnel also have the right to submit complaints to employment tribunals. In 1998 the services entered into a 5-year partnership agreement with the Commission on Racial Equality (CRE) to promote racial equality practices. On September 16, the Crown Prosecution Service entered into a partnership with the CRE designed to assist in its continued progress towards the elimination of racial discrimination.The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, who has an independent staff, has extensive powers to investigate complaints in Northern Ireland filed against the police or referred by the PSNI chief constable, the Police Authority of Northern Ireland, or the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Ombudsman is required to investigate cases involving death or serious injury where there may have been police involvement and may investigate all other cases ... [Read More]
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom ... A case brought by three NGOs--BIRW, Liberty, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties--before the European Court of Human Rights in 2002, stating that the Government had intercepted their telephone calls to clients in Ireland without a warrant, remained suspended while the plaintiffs continued to argue their case in domestic courts and tribunals. In December, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled that the Government's warrant system for intercepted communications between the United Kingdom and other countries was compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. ... [Read More]
Thailand (03/05)
The first ruler of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, King Rama Thibodi, made two important contributions to Thai history: the establishment and promotion of Theravada Buddhism as the official religion--to differentiate his kingdom from the neighboring Hindu kingdom of Angkor--and the compilation of the Dharmashastra, a legal code based on Hindu sources and traditional Thai custom. The Dharmashastra remained a tool of Thai law until late in the 19th century. Beginning with the Portuguese in the 16th century, Ayutthaya had some contact with the West, but until the 1800s, its relations with neighboring kingdoms and principalities, as well as with China, were of primary importance. ... [Read More]
Foreign Policy - United States Mission to Germany
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offers the people of the United Kingdom the support and sympathy of the United States following the July 7 bombings in London. "The United Kingdom has no better friend than the United States, and we stand with the United Kingdom in the fight against terrorism," the secretary says. Full text ... The United States congratulates Sudan on its inauguration of a new Government of National Unity (GONU) and its implementation of an interim constitution. At the same time, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick - who represented the United States at the inauguration - says "it is equally important for the new GONU to address the tragedy in Darfur." Full text ... [Read More]
Promotion of Human Rights, Democracy Vital to U.S. Interests - US Department of State
She spoke about the importance of multilateral diplomacy, mentioning the Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative launched by the Group of Eight industrialized nations and saying that it has made “democratic reform the central pillar of our and others’ engagement in this pivotal region.” The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia. ... Washington -- It is completely within the United States’ interests to champion human rights abroad, according to Human Rights Watch’s Washington Advocacy Director Tom Malinowski. ... [Read More]
Press and Information Office, Public Affairs Office, United States Embassy, South Africa
United States recognizes anniversary of medical breakthrough A vaccine that could save lives and prevent disability was unveiled on April 12, 1955. U.S. researchers announced an effective vaccine to protect against crippling polio after field studies involving 1.8 million children from the United States, Canada and Finland. 04-13-05: United States Committed to U.N. Reform, Tahir-Kheli Says (Urges upcoming U.N. summit focus on Millennium Development Goals) U.S. Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on U.N. reform, said that "the United States remains committed to the United Nations and feels it is critically important for member states to help the U.N. meet the challenges and promise of the 21st Century." 04-13-05: United States Leads the World in Developm ... [Read More]
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