Tag: UN

Religious freedom learning platform launched at UN

March 7, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Ahmed Shaheed, Human rights, Jan Figel, Religious freedom, Switzerland, UN

A new website to help promote understanding of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) was launched yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council. The Sweden-based FoRB Learning Platform provides downloadable resources in 13 different languages, including quick guides to religious rights, movie clips, theological . . . Read More

In Uzbekistan, religious freedoms ‘not recognised in law and practice’ – UN Special Rapporteur

March 5, 2018 Uzbekistan Ahmed Shaheed, Shavkat Mirziyoev, Tohar Haydarov, UN, Uzbekistan

Law changes and a strong political will are needed if Uzbeks are to freely practise their faith, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom or Religion or Belief. Ahmed Shaheed presented his findings on 2 March to the Human Rights Council as it meets for its 37th session in . . . Read More

Nepal’s ‘opportunity’ to review religion laws

February 27, 2018 Nepal Nepal, Religion Law, Religious freedom, UN

Being elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) gives Nepal an “opportunity for a fresh start” by reviewing its commitment to religious freedoms, writes Canadian MP David Anderson in the Kathmandu Post. Election to the UNHRC means the Council is satisfied with a state’s “contribution to the . . . Read More

5 killed in Islamist attack in DRC

February 12, 2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, North Kivu, UN

A fresh attack – on 9 February – in the volatile province of North Kivu, in eastern DRC, has claimed five lives and left several people injured. An undetermined number of others are also missing. According to French news site RFI, the attack took place at about 7pm, and targeted . . . Read More

UN denies complicity in Central African Republic massacres, but questions remain

February 9, 2018 Central African Republic Alindao, Bangassou, Bangui, Basse-Kotto, Bocaranga, Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Gambo, Kaga Bandoro, Paoua, Seleka, UN, UPC, Zemio

The UN has rejected allegations of complicity with armed groups in a string of massacres last year in the Central African Republic. A UN Special Investigation team, led by Brigadier General (rtd) Fernand Amoussou and including legal, political and human-rights experts, looked into attacks between 1 May and 31 August . . . Read More

Boko Haram sets churches on fire in latest attack on Cameroon’s Far North

January 29, 2018 Cameroon Boko Haram, Cameroon, Chad, Churches, Far North, IDPs, Mayo-Tsanaga, Muhammadu Buhari, Niger, Nigeria, UN

Residents of Roum village in the Far North region of Cameroon woke up to two churches and many houses ablaze on the night of 15 January. The fire was claimed by Boko Haram militants, who had stormed the village late at night. Four people were killed. Apart from the Union . . . Read More

Catholic priest stabbed as violence continues in Central African Republic

January 17, 2018 Central African Republic Bangassou, Bossangoa, Central African Republic, Paoua, Seleka, UN

Catholic bishops in the Central African Republic have condemned a recent upsurge of violence in the country and called on armed groups to lay down their weapons. Fighting between rival armed groups erupted in the north-western town of Paoua and its surroundings at the end of December, while in the . . . Read More

US and UN strike $55 million deal for Iraq’s religious minorities

January 12, 2018 Iraq Iraq, Islamic State, Minorities, Nineveh Plains, UN, USA

Iraqi families like that of 12-year old Noeh will receive assistance in returning home after they fled IS. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Ethnic and religious minorities in northern Iraq are set to receive assistance worth US $55 million from the UN’s international development agency (UNDP), funded by the US government. USAID, the development agency of the US government, said the money would be used to help minorities living in parts of Iraq . . . Read More

Netherlands joins UN Security Council to shine light on IS genocide

January 11, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Genocide, Iraq, Islamic State, Lord Alton, Middle East, Netherlands, Syria, UK, UN, Yazidis

A church in Karamles, a town near Mosul, after IS was pushed out in October 2016. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

The Netherlands has just joined the UN Security Council as a temporary member for a year. Ten days before, its Foreign Minister, Halbe Zijlstra, published a letter explaining the Dutch government’s response on the use by politicians of the term “genocide”. The Dutch Parliament had had several debates on the . . . Read More

Syria: Damascus churches damaged as Christian neighbourhoods hit

January 11, 2018 Syria Churches, Damascus, Syria, UN

Church in the old city of Damascus, an area that is currently under attack from rebel held positions on outskirts of the city. (Photo: World Watch Monitor, 2008)

Two churches have been damaged in a fresh escalation of fighting in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Dozens of shells were fired from the rebel-held enclave of Goutha East on Tuesday (9 January), in the space of just a few hours, “at random” and without a specific goal, witnesses told AsiaNews. . . . Read More

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