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.

HRWF/ CAP (14.09.2023) – CAP/ Liberté de Conscience and Human Rights Without Frontiers, two NGOs active in Brussels, are deeply concerned about the situation of the members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Algeria and have addressed a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Peaceful Assembly and Association before his fact-finding mission in Algeria planned from 6 to 16 September.

Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (24.09.2023) – Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Algeria met today with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, during his official visit to Algeria from 16 to 26 September 2023.

Violence in Yemen in 2023 has seen an uptick , including an increase in targeted attacks  and violent speech towards religious minorities. On 25th May 2023, Houthi militia stormed a peaceful meeting of Bahais in Sana’a and arrested 17, including five women, and continue to detain 11 of them incommunicado. In 2 June 2023, the UN High  Commissioner on Human Rights reported how the Mufti Shamseddin Sharafeddin, appointed by leaders of the Houthi militant movement, accused the detained Bahais of being apostates and saying “they should be killed,” if they did not repent Similar hate speech and incitement has been recorded in Yemen towards Christian converts and others since the start of the conflict and was raised during the virtual 53rd Human Rights Council parallel event co-sponsored by the Slovak Republic Bureau of the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

In particular, the authors of joint submission 4 noted the use of these laws to close a number of places of worship and recommended that France ensure respect for freedom of religion, freedom to practise religious rites and freedom of association.[i] The Coordination des associations et particuliers pour la liberté de conscience recommended ensuring that article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is respected by French institutions.[ii] JS10 recommended to put an end to religious discrimination and stigmatization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.[iii]

he traffic light coalition in Germany has taken many  measures and passed laws to better manage  migration. However, the number  of deportations has also increased.  Even  to those countries where  blasphemy  laws are  practiced in  the  strongest terms.  Deportations of Ahmadi  Muslims  to  Pakistan  have increased  sharply  in the  past.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has suffered long-standing persecution in Pakistan, where the very identity of an Ahmadi Muslim, existential by definition, has been denied. The community is persecuted and discriminated by law and by religious ideology. The fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief as well as other human rights of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community have been seriously violated.