Orfect is an international network that counts more than 40 scholars. At the same time, it is an Interdepartmental Research Center carried on between the Department of Law, theDepartment of Education and Human Sciences and the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Studies of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with the aim of bringing together interdisciplinary skills and knowledge involving FoRB. Orfect brings together European professors, researchers and PhD students with the aim of developing interdisciplinary skills and knowledge on FoRB. Hence, particular emphasis is placed on research focusing on religious freedom in secular societies, and the interaction of religion, law and politics. Focusing on major developments at the level of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) the aim is to foster international collaborative projects and also develop successful university-industry partnerships.
A peculiar feature of the Center is the ability to bring together interdisciplinary skills and knowledge, which originate from the different research directions of its members.
The aim of the Center is to establish an academic and institutional reference point for European professors, researchers and doctoral students who deal in a specialized way with religious freedom, the secular state, interactions between politics and religion in the legal perspective within the space of the member states of the Council of Europe, and according to the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
In particular, the Center intends to promote research on the decisions of the ECtHR which affect religious freedom, the secular state, the interactions between politics and religion. ORFECT will address religious freedom cases presented before the Court, study possible solutions and provide recommendations and opinions that may be used in a trial.
ORFECT will also promote a culture of respect for religious freedom, non-discrimination and equal opportunities through awareness and communication campaigns; will organize and manage conferences and seminars, studies, legal clinics, research and training activities on issues and solutions relating to disputes relating to religious freedom and non-discrimination.
The Center has the general purpose of carrying out research activities, of study and training with the aim of:
a) periodically organize national and international seminars and conferences;
b) promote the implementation and development of bibliographic and archival resources;
c) planning, carrying out and curating studies and researches commissioned by
third parties.
The lines on which the research carried out within the Center will specialize are the following:
• Family models, secularism of the State, freedom of religion
• The criminal protection of religious sentiment
• Religious freedom and artificial intelligence
• Religious freedom and gender identity
• Religious freedom, secularism and the right to privacy
• The legal protection of religious minorities
• Religions and human rights
• Secularism, religion and politics
• Models of relations between the state and confessions and religious freedom
• Public health and freedom of worship
• Religions and radicalization
• Inter-religious dialogue
• Legal protection of places of worship
The Center is located in the Department of Education and Human Sciences.