Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1992, Page 61
Report on Sects and New Religious Movements
(Rapporteur: Sir John Hunt, United Kingdom, Conservative)
Problem
The activities of certain sects disrupt public order.
Is there a need for legislation to curb the freedom of sects or even prohibit them? Or, on the
contrary, is there a need for a framework within which sects can pursue their activities freely,
provided that these match certain objective criteria?
Proposed measures
Consider the introduction of legislation to require the registration of all sects and new religious
movements.
Provide the public --and particularly adolescents --with maximum information on the nature,
activities, and aims of sects.
Draft Recommendation
1. The Assembly is concerned at certain problems connected with the activities of sects and
new religious movements.
2. It has been alerted by various associations and families who consider that they have been
harmed by the activities of sects.
3. It has taken account of the invitation, given to the Council of Europe by the European
Parliament in the Cottrell report, to consider this problem.
4. It has asked all the member states to indicate what practices they follow and what the
legal problems are.
5. It considers that the freedom of conscience and religion guaranteed by Article 9 of the
European Convention on Human Rights makes major legislation on sects undesirable, since
such legislation might well interfere with this fundamental right and harm traditional religions.
6. It considers, however, that legislative and other measures should be taken in response to
the problems raised by some of the activities of sects or new religious movements.
7. To this end, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers call on the
member states of the Council of Europe to adopt the following measures:
i. consideration should be given to introducing legislation, if it does not already
exist, which grants corporate status to all sects and new religious movements
which have been registered, together with all offshoots of the mother sect
ii. objective factual information on the nature and activities of sects and new
religious movements should be widely circulated. Independent bodies should be
set up to collect and circulate this information
iii. to protect minors and prevent abductions and transfers abroad, member states
which have not yet done so should ratify the European Convention on
recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on
restoration of custody of children (1980) and adopt legislation making it
possible to implement it
iv. existing legislation concerning the protection of children should be more
rigorously applied. Additionally, those belonging to a sect must be informed
that they have a right to leave
Report on Sects and New Religious Movements
(Rapporteur: Sir John Hunt, United Kingdom, Conservative)
Problem
The activities of certain sects disrupt public order.
Is there a need for legislation to curb the freedom of sects or even prohibit them? Or, on the
contrary, is there a need for a framework within which sects can pursue their activities freely,
provided that these match certain objective criteria?
Proposed measures
Consider the introduction of legislation to require the registration of all sects and new religious
movements.
Provide the public --and particularly adolescents --with maximum information on the nature,
activities, and aims of sects.
Draft Recommendation
1. The Assembly is concerned at certain problems connected with the activities of sects and
new religious movements.
2. It has been alerted by various associations and families who consider that they have been
harmed by the activities of sects.
3. It has taken account of the invitation, given to the Council of Europe by the European
Parliament in the Cottrell report, to consider this problem.
4. It has asked all the member states to indicate what practices they follow and what the
legal problems are.
5. It considers that the freedom of conscience and religion guaranteed by Article 9 of the
European Convention on Human Rights makes major legislation on sects undesirable, since
such legislation might well interfere with this fundamental right and harm traditional religions.
6. It considers, however, that legislative and other measures should be taken in response to
the problems raised by some of the activities of sects or new religious movements.
7. To this end, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers call on the
member states of the Council of Europe to adopt the following measures:
i. consideration should be given to introducing legislation, if it does not already
exist, which grants corporate status to all sects and new religious movements
which have been registered, together with all offshoots of the mother sect
ii. objective factual information on the nature and activities of sects and new
religious movements should be widely circulated. Independent bodies should be
set up to collect and circulate this information
iii. to protect minors and prevent abductions and transfers abroad, member states
which have not yet done so should ratify the European Convention on
recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on
restoration of custody of children (1980) and adopt legislation making it
possible to implement it
iv. existing legislation concerning the protection of children should be more
rigorously applied. Additionally, those belonging to a sect must be informed
that they have a right to leave
