NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Protecting freedom of thought and conscience within the international community of nations

1

Invitation – 8/22/22 Discussion event on the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

The UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief invites you to attend an event on the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

Date: Monday, 22 August 2022

Time: 2:15pm – 3:30pm EDT

Location: Zoom (link to be sent out to registrants the day of the event)

Please register by emailing unforb@gmail.com by Sunday, 21 August 2022.

On the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief (established by the United Nations General Assembly), the UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief in New York will be hosting an online event highlighting the continued need for action and advocacy aimed at preventing, condemning, and seeking accountability for violence against individuals on the basis of their religion or belief.

Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the UN Bani Dugal and UN NGO Committee on FoRB President Kelsey Zorzi and will provide overviews of several recent freedom of religion or belief initiatives, including the Washington D.C.-based Summit on International Religious Freedom and the London-based Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, and related future avenues for advocacy.

Dr. Thang Nguyen, founder and President of Boat People SOS (BPSOS) will provide an overview of the violence carried out against religious minorities in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia and will detail the Vietnamese government’s efforts to hide and punish advocacy efforts aimed at shedding light on this violence or commemorating this International Day.

Participants are invited during the Q+A portion of the meeting to commemorate victims of religiously-based violence and share information about the recent violent persecution of religion or belief minorities around the world.

INVITATION – 10/26/21 A Conversation about Freedom of Thought with Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Title: A Conversation about Freedom of Thought with Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Sponsor: The Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief

When: 26 October 2021, 10:00am to 11:15am (Eastern)

Where: Virtual Forum – Registration Required

RSVP: To receive a link to the webinar, RSVP at: info@UNFoRB.org

Summary: On the occasion of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief is hosting a conversation with Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to discuss his most recent report (presented to the Third Committee on October 19, 2021), which focuses on the Freedom of Thought. Dr. Shaheed will discuss what freedom of thought entails, how and where it is most in danger of being violated, the ways in which emerging technologies are threatening this right, how it connects with religious freedom and freedom of expression, and how it is impacted by social media, among other things.

Dr. Shaheed’s report can be accessed here: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/A_76_380_AUV.docx

We will have time for questions from attendees, so please feel free to come with questions for Dr. Shaheed.

Format:

  • Opening Remarks
  • Introduction of Dr. Shaheed
  • Discussion with Dr. Shaheed moderated by Kelsey Zorzi (35 minutes)
  • Questions from Attendees (20 minutes)

A Zoom link will be sent to you on the day of the event.

INVITATION – 05/07 2021 FoRB Priorities at the United Nations

Title: 2021 FoRB Priorities at the United Nations
Sponsor: The Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
When: 7 May 2021, 1:15pm – 2:45pm Eastern
Where: Virtual Forum – Registration Required

Join us on Friday, May 7th, from 1:15pm-2:45pm Eastern for a virtual event that will highlight various missions’ recent past and upcoming efforts to promote religious freedom and related rights in 2021 at the United Nations. The event will feature a panel of UN diplomats who will present their mission’s specific priorities on this issue. Following the presentations, there will be ample time for Q+A.

Our expert panelists include: 

  • Madeeha Ashraf, Advisor, U.S. Mission to the UN
  • Timothy Sylvester, Second Secretary, U.K Mission to the UN 
  • Klas Nyman, Counsellor, EU Delegation to the UN

Format: Each speaker will present for 10-12 minutes followed by a time of Q+A from the attendees.

To register, please RSVP to unforb@gmail.com by 12pm on May 6. A Zoom link will be sent to you on the day of the event.

INVITATION – 03/16 The Power of Freedom of Religion or Belief to Elevate Women and Girls

Title: The Power of Freedom of Religion or Belief to Elevate Women and Girls
Sponsor: The Non-Governmental Organizations Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
When: 16 March 2021, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Where: Virtual Forum – Registration Required
Link to Register: https://tinyurl.com/3csr4678
Summary: On the occasion of the 65th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief is bringing together a panel of prominent female leaders to discuss how their diverse religious and belief backgrounds have shaped their views and prepared them for leadership positions around the world as well as how the freedom of religion or belief is critical to empowering women and girls.

Panelists:

·       Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office 

·       Blu Greenberg, Founding President of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance 

·       Carole McConkie, Latter-day Saint Charities Representative at the United Nations in Geneva 

·       Margaret Downey, Founder of the Freethought Society 

Format: Each speaker will present for 10-12 minutes followed by a time of Q+A from the attendees.