International Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief – New York Resolution for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: September 28, 2015
WUNRN
WUNRN, Women’s UN Report Network, is based on the UN
Resolution on the Status of Women, Freedom of Religion or Belief, and
Traditions.
https://wunrn.wpengine.com/un_study/un_study.htm
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Also Via Human Rights Without Frontiers
International Panel
of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief
About IPPFoRB
The
International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief
(IPPFoRB) is an informal network of parliamentarians and legislators from
around the world committed to combatting religious persecution and advancing
freedom of religion or belief, as defined by Article 18 of the UN Universal
Declaration for Human Rights.
Article
18 declares, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and
freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to
manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
At
a time of rising violations of freedom of religion or belief around the globe,
the IPPFoRB seeks to advance this fundamental freedom for everyone everywhere.
The
IPPFoRB is centered around the Oslo Charter for Freedom of Religion or Belief. The
Oslo Charter was signed in November 2014 by over 30 parliamentarians from
around the world at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.
All
participating parliamentarians are committed to accomplishing shared goals of
advancing freedom of religion or belief, as outlined below in the Oslo Charter:
·
Promote
freedom of religion or belief for all persons through their work and respective
institutions;
·
Enhance
global cooperation by endeavoring to work across geographical, political, and
religious lines; and
·
Undertake
efforts to jointly promote freedom of religion or belief, share information,
and mobilize effective responses.
The
Oslo Charter guides the work of parliamentarians joining the IPPFoRB and
commits them to action. Towards this goal, the IPPFoRB:
·
Responds
to cases where religious freedom is threated. To date the IPP has written
several letters to heads of state to raise concerns about religious freedom
issues – Burma, Pakistan, and North Korea.
·
Encourages
the formational of national groupings of parliamentarians committed to
combatting religious persecution and advancing freedom of religion or belief.
To date the IPP has assisted the efforts of parliamentarians in Brazil.
·
Supports
parliamentarians around the world who stand up for religious freedom often at
significant personal risk to themselves. The IPPFoRB’s website provides a
secure space for parliamentarians to seek support and advice in the area of
religious freedom.
There
is no formal membership, but the IPPFoRB welcomes parliamentarians from around
the world committed to combatting religious persecution and advancing freedom
of religion or belief for all, as defined by UDHR Article. The IPPFoRB is
committed to regional, political, and religious diversity.
There
is no official IPPFoRB office. Parliamentarians participate as
individuals not representing their parliament or government. Meetings
occur on an ad hoc basis, subject to funding. The IPP is led by an
informal steering committee and a volunteer secretariat of advisors.
Despite
this global crisis for religious freedom, people who cherish this right are
found across the globe. Now, people around the world must speak for the
persecuted with one powerful, united voice.
in New York, the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) took its latest step in promoting that aim, bringing together
like-minded people from nearly 50 countries for an unprecedented meeting.
Cosponsored by the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of
Religion or Belief (IPP), the gathering included more than 100 parliamentarians
as well as diplomats and civil society and religious leaders. They met next to the
United Nations, where the General Assembly is now in its 70th annual session.
Highlights Included:
- Panels with leading parliamentarians and diplomats
about how to advance religious freedom for all in the face of repression
by ISIS and authoritarian governments
- A discussion with religious leaders, including a cleric
from Iran, a bishop from Nigeria, and a Buddhist leader from Japan
- Hearing from family members of jailed believers in
Iran: the wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini and a relative of an imprisoned Baha’i
leader
- The signing of the New York Resolution on Freedom of
Religion or Belief by 100 parliamentarians, committing them to renewed
action to promote this fundamental right
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https://freedomdeclared.org/news/new-york-resolution-for-freedom-of-religion-or-belief/
NEW YORK RESOLUTION FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
September 23, 2015
Cognizant that severe violations of
freedom of religion or belief continue to occur around the world, perpetrated
by states, state proxies, and non-state actors;
Taking note of studies indicating an
increase in restrictions on the free practice of religion or belief, with the
majority of the global population living in countries where their freedom to
peacefully practice their faith could be or is restricted;
Whereas in response to these violations, a
group of parliamentarians gathered in Oxford, England, in June 2014 to discuss
ways to confront the abuses;
Recalling that at the Nobel Peace
Center in Oslo, Norway, parliamentarians from around the world gathered in
November 2014 to pledge to advance religious freedom for all and launched the
International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief;
Reaffirming the Charter for Freedom of
Religion or Belief signed in Oslo that commits parliamentarians to support
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right of
individuals to hold or not to hold any faith or belief, to change belief, to be
free from coercion to adopt a different belief, and to peacefully practice the
faith of their choice alone or in community with others;
Welcoming the creation of panels in
domestic parliaments since the Oslo meeting, including in Brazil, Norway, and
Pakistan, and existing bipartisan caucuses in Canada, the European Parliament,
the United Kingdom, and the United States;
Taking note of and welcoming the
creation of the International Contact Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief
networking likeminded governments committed to advancing freedom of religion or
belief around the world;
Appreciating the critically important
work of civil society organizations, religious leaders, and individuals in academia
who are endeavoring to advance freedom of religion or belief with their
communities of influence and societies at large;
Now, in New York, on 19 September 2015, the
International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief commit
to pursue efforts that:
- Advocate for individuals
suffering from persecution because of their religious or other forms of
belief and urge greater respect for freedom of religion or belief
- Strengthen and promote freedom
of thought, conscience, religion and belief as a universal, established
and non-derogable human right, as set out in the Universal Declaration, in
international customary law and treaties, and in the work of national,
regional, and global agencies and political bodies
- Enhance global cooperation by
working across geographical, political, and religious lines to mobilize
effective responses through regular communications, sharing of
information, and endeavoring to meet annually
- Expand the network of
parliaments focused on freedom of religion or belief around the world by
supporting the creation of new parliamentary platforms or groups that
support Article 18 and that are politically and religiously diverse
- Build capacity among parliamentarians
committed to advancing religious freedom, both for those in stable
countries and those in countries with problematic records on freedom of
religion or belief, so as to equip parliamentarians to advocate for change
at home and abroad
- Increase the number of
governments and international institutions responding to the growing
crisis of persecution of believer and non-believers and encourage the
commitment of increased resources to ensure greater respect for this
fundamental freedom; and
- Build stronger linkages between
members of parliament and civil society organizations, religious leaders,
and members of academia so as to find more impactful ways to advance
freedom of religion or belief globally.
Signed by Parliamentarians in attendance at the September, 2015
conference in New York, “Multinational Efforts to Strengthen Freedom of
Religion or Belief“.
Categories: Releases
