Kirkeudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
KIU Alm.del Bilag 31
Offentligt
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Multinational Efforts to Promote Freedom of Religion or Belief
Joint Action for the Common Good
New York, Thursday 17
th
– Saturday 19
th
September 2015
Violations of freedom of religion or belief are increasing globally with devastating effects
on individuals and communities as well as global security and stability. Both international
and intra-national strife is spawned by these violations, well documented by institutions
such as the Pew Forum or the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
People of all convictions and faiths have been the objects of human rights abuses for
merely wanting to live out their beliefs peacefully. Billions of people live in countries
where their religious freedoms are restricted through government and/or societal actions.
Perpetrators include authoritarian regimes, extremist groups, terrorists and other non-
state actors (especially in failed or failing states).
International standards are clear on religious freedom. Article 18 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights provides a robust definition of freedom of religion or belief,
including the right to have any or no faith, to change one’s faith or other personal rights
such as the freedom to practice and express religious convictions. The UDHR was forged
out of the ashes of World War II and remains incredibly relevant to today’s environment
plagued by violence and war. Although UN Member States have agreed to these
standards, compliance has dramatically declined globally in the past decade.
Meeting these challenges and successfully pushing back against this rising tide of
violations goes beyond the capabilities of any one country or organization. Governments
and parliaments for the first time have begun working across national boundaries to
advocate together for greater respect for freedom of religion or belief. The Oslo meeting
of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief in
November 2014 launched an inter-parliamentary effort to advance religious freedom for
all. Parliamentarians signed the ‘Charter for Freedom of Religion or Belief’, pledging
themselves to uphold international standards and to work to promote the right, thus
starting an international and interreligious alliance for parliamentarian action. In addition,
the Inter-Governmental Contact Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief was publicly
launched in Brussels in May 2015, which seeks to network government efforts for greater
impact.
The purpose of this meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly, hosted by the
International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Konrad
Adenauer Foundation is to take the parliamentarian effort to the level of the United
Nations. It will provide a platform to further discuss ways to increase international
cooperation to combat persecution and advance religious freedom for all. Case studies and
blueprints for action both on the parliamentarian as on government level will be reviewed.
The meeting will assemble diplomats, UN officials, parliamentarians, civil society and
religious groups to participate in an interactive discussion. The event will be the first such
meeting of its kind bringing together governments, parliamentarians, international
organizations and civil society in the context of the United Nations
KIU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 31: Invitation til konference i New York 17.-19/9 2015
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Multinational Efforts to Promote Freedom of Religion or Belief
Joint Action for the Common Good
New York, 17
th
– 18
th
September, 2015
Draft Programme
Thursday, 17
th
September
6:30 PM
Reception – at the German Mission to the UN
Welcoming Remarks
Volker Kauder Parliamentary Group Leader of the CDU/CSU
Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, House of Lords
Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament
ret. and Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Prof. Dr. Ursula Männle, Minister of State for Bavaria ret. and
Chairwomen of the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
Friday, 18 September
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Our Common Challenge: An Overview of Religious Restrictions and
Social Hostilities Worldwide
Speakers
James Bell, Vice President, Global Strategy, Pew Research Centre
Ambassador Andrew Bennett for Office of Religious Freedom,
Canadian Ministry of Foreign
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Our Common Security: Developing a Multinational Effort to Deliver
Freedom of Religion or Belief for All
Introductory Remarks
High Representative H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations - UNAOC
Panelists
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights
Ambassador David Saperstein, U.S. State Department for
International Religious Freedo
KIU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 31: Invitation til konference i New York 17.-19/9 2015
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Ambassador Petter Wille, Norwegian Ambassador-at large for
Minorities,
Prof. Heiner Bielefeld, UN Special Rapporter on Freedom of
Religion or Belief
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Our Common Responsibility: Enhancing Global Cooperation between
Parliamentarians in Defense of the Right to Freedom of Religion or
Belief for All.
Moderator
Dr Aykan Erdemir, Member of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey
Panelists
To be drawn from representatives from the International Panel
of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief.
11:45 AM – 12:45 AM
Our Shared Dignity: Intensifying Multi-religious Cooperation to
Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief for All
Moderator
Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace
Panelists
Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, President, Forum for Peace in
Muslim Societies, Abu Dhabi
H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Archdiocese
of Abuja, Nigeria
Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious
Affairs, American Jewish Committee, United States of America
Dr. Vinu Aram, Director, Shanti Ashram, India
Rev. Kosho Niwano, President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-Kai, Japan
H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel, Vice President of the Conference
of European Churches, Belgium
Ayatollah Seyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad, Head, Islamic
Studies Department, The Academy of Sciences, Iran
12:45 PM – 1:00 PM
Break and move to lunch at Permanent Mission of Germany to the
UN
KIU, Alm.del - 2014-15 (1. samling) - Bilag 31: Invitation til konference i New York 17.-19/9 2015
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1.00 PM - 2:30 PM
Keynote Speaker
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations (tbc)
Afternoon session continues at Germany Mission to the UN
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Break [Parliamentarians move to closed session)
IPP Opening Remarks
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
From the Oslo Charter to the New York Action Plan
Discussion of IPP activities; growing the IPP network; agreeing a
statement to issue
Evening
Reception (Host TBD)
Saturday, 19 September
Morning session at Germany Mission to UN
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Implementing the New York Action Plan