In a review of France’s human rights record, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has highlighted significant concerns regarding religious freedom, law enforcement practices. The 142nd session’s report (CCPR/C/FRA/CO/6) offers a critical examination of systemic challenges facing the French Republic.

The submission highlights a concerning issue: the deportation of Ahmadi asylum seekers by Sweden to Pakistan, where they face a high risk of persecution. The submission argues that Sweden’s actions in this regard contravene international law, European legal frameworks, and established UN guidelines, which recognize the extreme vulnerability of Ahmadis in Pakistan.

The report by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) and CAP LC presented to the 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee paints a disturbing picture of the treatment of Romanian yoga practitioners by French authorities in the aftermath of wide-scale police raids in November 2023.

Since their implantation in Egypt in 2012, members of a new religious movement in Islam, self-named “The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light,” have been the victims of state repression, social hostility, death threats by extremist imams for being considered heretics.

In recent years, the rise of Islamophobia in Asia has emerged as a critical challenge to religious freedom and human rights across the region. This side event aims to transform dialogue into dedicated action, highlighting effective strategies and fostering international cooperation to address and mitigate Islamophobia.

In a step towards addressing minority concerns the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues has called upon civil society organizations worldwide. The appeal is for contributions to a report focusing on the role of NGOs in advocating for and safeguarding minority rights set to be presented at the UN General Assembly in 2024.

The recent report, by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has again brought attention to the human rights situation in Ethiopia specifically focusing on the hardships faced by the Amhara community.

The United Nations has restated its dedication to safeguarding freedom through a resolution approved by the Human Rights Council in its fifty session held from 26 February to 5 April 2024. This resolution, passed with support highlights the Community’s commitment, to upholding one of the essential human rights.

Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic country with over 76 different groups. The Amhara people are one of the largest ethnic groups with a history spanning over 4000 years in Ethiopia, distributed across various regions of the country. However, they have been impacted significantly by targeted attacks, displacement, and grave human rights violations. This report aims to address the widespread abuses faced by the Amhara community throughout Ethiopia,.

The report includes Germany’s responses to various human rights challenges, including efforts to combat racism, antisemitism, and discrimination, as well as measures to protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, migrants, and other vulnerable groups.

[Minghui.com, February 8, 2024] (Reported by Minghui Swiss Correspondent Station) On January 22, 2024, two non-governmental organizations – the European “CAP Freedom of Conscience” and “Doctors International” The Organization Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) held a briefing on the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Gong and organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

[Voice of Hope January 26, 2024] (reported by our reporter Wen Simin) The 45th session of the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review (Universal Periodic Review) of the United Nations Human Rights Council was held on January 22. It begins at the Palais des Nations (Palais des Nations) in Geneva, the European headquarters of the United Nations. The day before the review of human rights in China, a conference titled “China’s Deprivation of Universal Human Rights “, focusing on the persecution of Falun Gong and organ harvesting from living persons, was also held at the Palais des Nations . On the 22nd and 23rd, some Falun Gong practitioners from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, France, the German-speaking and French-speaking areas of Switzerland held truth-clarification activities at the Place des Nations opposite the Palais des Nations.

The day before the United Nations Human Rights Council held the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review ( UPR ) of human rights in China, a non-governmental organization with United Nations consultative status – “Association for Freedom of Conscience and Individual Collaboration” (French abbreviation CAP LC) organized , together with the organization “Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting ” (DAFOH), held an information meeting titled “China’s Deprivation of Universal Human Rights ” on January 22, specifically focusing on the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and organ harvesting. question.

The Coordination of associations and individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP LC in French), a non-governmental organization with consultative status with the United Nations , together with Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting ( DAFOH ), held a meeting in On January 22, the day before the fourth round of the Universal Periodic Review ( UPR ) of China’s human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council, a message titled “China’s Deprivation of Universal Human Rights ” was held at the United Nations Palais des Nations. Meeting.

1. This joint submission addresses the state of freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression in Nigeria. In particular, it presents an overview of the country’s domestic legal framework and draws attention to specific concerns related to the criminalization of blasphemy. Additionally, the report examines the rise in acts of terrorism and mob violence against Christians and religious minorities, including Muslim minorities, and the related climate of impunity over the reporting period.

We are pleased to extend an invitation to you for a crucial conference addressing pressing human rights issues in China. The focus of this event revolves around the impending Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China, with particular attention to the ongoing persecution and forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that requires each UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights record every 4.5 years. The UPR provides an opportunity for each state to regularly
Report on the measures it has taken to improve the human rights situation in its country and to address challenges to the enjoyment of human rights; and
Receive recommendations for continuous improvement from UN Member States, based on input from various stakeholders and pre-session reports.
The aim of this side-event we are organising today is to highlight points 203 and 204 of Azerbaijan’s national report on landmines.

During his visit, the UN expert will assess the measures in the areas of truth, justice, reparation, memorialisation and guarantees of non-recurrence that have been adopted by authorities in Armenia to address the legacy of serious violations of human rights committed in situations of conflict, state repression or civil unrest.

Purpose: To inform the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief’s thematic report to be delivered to the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

With an estimated 26,000 people a year becoming landmine victims, this indiscriminate weaponry poses one of the most challenging threats to human life and dignity and thus affects inalienable fundamental human rights.
The UN human rights machinery has a key role in addressing the negative impact of landmines, explosive remnants of war and other improvised explosive devices on the enjoyment of human rights of mine victims in the context of humanitarian mine action. It can also be instrumental in bringing to the fore the utmost importance of providing international assistance in mine action including protection and restoration of inalienable human rights of mine victims.
The side event intends to discuss humanitarian mine actions in light of this very role of the UN human rights machinery. It also aims to raise awareness on the importance of full and effective protection of fundamental human rights when related to humanitarian mine action. Other objectives of the event include exploring effective ways to address the humanitarian, socio-economic and environmental impact of landmines, explosive remnants of war and other IEDs; highlighting the importance of international cooperation and assistance in mine action which aims at eliminating the threat posed by mine contamination to the security of States and safety of their populations, facilitating post-conflict rehabilitation, including the return of refugees and IDPs to their homes, and contributing to sustainable peace and development.

UPHOLDING UNIVERSAL COMMITMENTS:

Addressing the damaging impact of landmines on the enjoyment of human rights

Side event within the 44 session of  the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review

Room XXII, E building, Palais des Nations, Geneva  13 November 2023 / 14.30-16.00

68. JS2, JS5,JS9 and JS20 expressed concerns about discrimination, persecution, and limited access to justice faced by marginalized communities.115
JS2 highlighted the  discrimination and stigma experienced by Dalits, recommending immediate action through the enactment of an Anti-discrimination Act, representation, access to social services, and addressing discrimination in education and employment. JS5 focused on the persecution  of Ahmadi Muslims and called for stronger legislative and institutional responses, protecting religious practices, ensuring access to justice, and addressing violence and discrimination.  JS9 and JS16 were concerns about the limited justice access, violent attacks, and religious intolerance affecting various religious minorities.

Thousands  of Ahmadi  Muslims  in  Germany who  have fled  severe  religious persecution in Pakistan are awaiting a decision on their asylum  applications. They   belong   to  a religiously  and  politically  persecuted   minority  – the Ahmadiyya Muslim  Community. It  is  recognized   around  the  world   by  human   rights  groups  that Ahmadi Muslims  are  constantly,  ruthlessly  persecuted.