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WEA at UN :

September 2022 Newsletter

Dear friends,

In recent months, WEA’s UN offices, together with WEA members and partners, advocated for the acquittal of pastors and Christians facing unjust court procedures, for the reopening of closed churches, and for an end to legal discrimination against religious minorities.

In Latin America, evangelicals are taking action against the plight of human trafficking. In Geneva, we relayed to the United Nations their reports and appeals for structural change to prevent and criminalize human trafficking.

For Evangelicals advocating for greater freedom and respect for human rights in their respective countries, WEA’s UN offices are their voice in the halls of power, diplomatic circles and the United Nations offices. Our advocacy enables, informs and nudges the UN system in order to fulfill its stated goals in the UN Charter.

This newsletter provides you with a glimpse into our visible and public advocacy.

To learn more about the work of the WEA Geneva Office and how UN Human Rights Mechanisms can support National Evangelical Alliances’ advocacy, we invite you to watch our newly released explainer video.

We ask you to support us in prayer as we speak up publicly as well in our backroom diplomacy and appeals.

Latest News from Our Offices

Geneva

Michael Mutzner is transitioning to a new work position with a Swiss advocacy group and will finish ten years of faithful work as WEA’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva end of September. We thank God and are highly grateful for all the hard work and dedication of Mutzner to bringing our constituencies’ voices to the halls of power for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, calling for Justice and Peace. We ask for the Lord’s blessings upon him and his family for what’s next to come.

But we are pleased to welcome Gaetan Roy as the new WEA Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. Gaetan Roy is Chairman of network-m, Board member of the Association of Evangelical Missions (AEM), and represents both in the German and European Parliaments. He has extensive experience in international humanitarian aid and advocacy.

He is also Missions Director of the Evangelical church Jugend-, Missions- und Sozialwerk (JMS) in Germany and leads the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Initiative of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (pard.international). His additional role as Permanent Representative will exploit existing synergies, and his Evangelical leadership and experience in international affairs will undoubtedly be of great value for our human rights advocacy. May God bless and guide him as he starts this new and meaningful ministry for God’s Kingdom.

Advocacy Officer Wissam al-Saliby has now been promoted to the position of Geneva Office Director. We are thrilled to continue working with him as he takes on more responsibilities in our Geneva Office. We ask the Lord to continue to use al-Saliby in the mission and plans He has for him as part of our work for the freedom and human rights of our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.

In June, Wissam al-Saliby was also elected as the new vice-president of the United Nations NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Geneva. The committee aims to promote the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and ensure these fundamental freedoms are upheld according to international standards at the UN.

On the occasion of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) pre-session meetings from 29th August to 2nd September, the WEA Geneva office had the pleasure to welcome Pastor Youssef, vice-president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). The visit was part of our advocacy for religious freedom in Algeria, where Protestant churches have been facing discrimination by the state for several years, with churches being forcibly closed by authorities. During his visit, Pastor Youssef had the privilege to speak at the UPR pre-session on Algeria and meet with several diplomatic missions and UN experts.

From left: Hee Tee, Sarah, Youssef (EPA), Wissam al-Saliby (WEA), in front of the Palais des Nations.

New York

John Girgis, WEA Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, has continued his diplomatic engagements with the leadership of Member States to the United Nations. 

Mr Girgis met with Representatives to the UN of South Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Rwanda.

Much positive feedback on the work of the WEA and its role emerged during these meetings, including admiration for the WEA’s support for peace-making efforts through prayer and for bringing the hope of Christ into the corridors of power.

H.E. Muhammad Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN meeting with John Girgis at the Nigeria Mission in New York City. 

Working with the Human Rights Council

Legal restrictions on NGO access to funding | Oral statement calling on the governments of India and Algeria to repeal laws that put stringent requirements and restrictions on access to funding and require additional burdensome and overly intrusive reporting. June 20, 2022.

Central African Republic | Oral statement by WEA and Caritas Internationalis, calling on all parties in Central African Republic to respect the ceasefire, for dialogue between the government and the armed groups, and the implementation of a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process with a view to the return of the exercise of sovereign powers by the State and respect for the rule of law throughout the Central African Republic. July 6, 2022.

Sri Lanka | Joint oral statement by WEA, Baptist World Alliance and ADF International, calling on Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), to withdraw unlawful circulars and policies pertaining to registering places of worship, and to ensure full accountability for acts of violence, discrimination and harassment against religious minorities. September 12, 2022.

Armenia | Oral statement marking the thirtieth anniversary of the massacre of Armenian Christians in Maragha village in Nagorno-Karabakh during the first Karabakh war and urging the international community to honour the memory of the victims of Maragha by making good on its many promises to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. September 20, 2022.

Working with the Human Rights Committee

Iran | The WEA, Open Doors, Article 18, and Middle East Concern submitted a joint report to the to the Human Rights Committee ahead of the consideration of the List of Issues Prior to Reporting for Iran during the Committee’s 136th session. The joint submission reported on freedom of religion or belief and discrimination in Iran, focusing, among other issues, on the prosecution of minority faith adherents for their peaceful religious activities, for apostasy, and cases of church property of traditional and recognized churches confiscated by authorities or forcibly closed. August 15, 2022.

Contributing to the Universal Periodic Review

Algeria | On 30 March 2022, the World Evangelical Alliance, the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), and Middle East Concern submitted a joint report to the Human Rights Council ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Algeria scheduled for November 2022 during the UPR 41st session. Our joint submission reported on violations of the right to Freedom of religion or Belief in Algeria, focusing on violations against the Protestant Christian community and the failure of authorities to grant registration of EPA churches and to re-open all forcibly closed churches.

India | On 31 March 2022, a coalition, consisting of Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council, International Commission for Dalit Rights, Open Doors International, Justice for All, and World Evangelical Alliance, drew attention to the challenges India’s minorities face, by submitting a report on India to the Universal Periodic Review 41st session, which will take place on 10 November 2022. The joint submission details how the Indian government has fostered violence and legal discrimination against India’s religious and social minorities. The stakeholder report describes the confluence between state and non-state actors that encourage human rights violations in India.

Peru | On 8 July 2022, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Union of Evangelical Christian Churches of Peru (UNICEP) submitted a joint report to the Human Rights Council ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Peru scheduled for January 2023 during the UPR 42nd session. Our joint submission reported on the situation of human trafficking in Peru, calling for an increasing of justice operators specialized in human trafficking, and to strengthen protection of trafficked women and girls.

Argentina | On 14 July 2022, the World Evangelical Alliance, the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA), and Mujeres por la Nación (Women for the Nation) submitted a joint report to the Human Rights Council ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Argentina scheduled for January 2023 during the UPR 42nd session. Our joint submission reported on the situation of human trafficking victims in Argentina, focusing on the challenges that must be met by authorities to properly help, assist, and accompany victims of trafficking.

Switzerland | On 8 July 2022, the World Evangelical Alliance, Freikirchen.ch, the Swiss Evangelical Alliance (SEA-RES), and the European Evangelical Alliance submitted a joint report to the Human Rights Council ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Switzerland scheduled for January 2023 during the UPR 42nd session. Our joint submission reported on the criminalization of the assistance to illegal migrants, the discriminatory practices against religious communities in the area of tax exemptions, and the discrimination between religious communities in the use of public grounds for duly authorized religious celebrations in the Canton of Geneva.

Sri Lanka | On 14 July 2022, the World Evangelical Alliance, the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) submitted a joint report to the Human Rights Council ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka scheduled for February 2023 during the UPR 42nd session. Our joint submission reported on the situation of religious minorities and freedom of religion in Sri Lanka, focusing on the fallout from the Easter Sunday attacks, the registration of places of worship, the discrimination and violence against Christians, the acquisition of and encroachment on Muslim and Hindu places of worship, and the surveillance of religious worship places and faith-based organisations.

In the Media

EAUK | Brothers united in prayer, May 27, 2022.

RADIO R | ODD 16 « Promouvoir l’État de droit » avec l’Alliance évangélique mondiale et Markus Hofer, June 9, 2022.

Evangelical Focus | Evangelicals warn about the violation of minorities’ rights in India, June 23, 2022.

WEA YouTube channel | The Week with Thomas Paul – No 26, June 25, 2022.

IDEA | Religionsfreiheit unter der Lupe, July 15, 2022.

Worldea.org | WEA Appoints New Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and New Director of Geneva Office, September 15, 2022.

IDEA | Gaetan Roy ist neuer Leiter des Genfer Büros der Weltallianz, September 16, 2022.

Évangéliques.info | Alliance évangélique mondiale: Un nouveau représentant expérimenté auprès des Nations Unies, September 16, 2022.

Info Chrétienne | Gaétan Roy, nouveau représentant de l’Alliance évangélique mondiale auprès des Nations Unies, September 19, 2022.

EACH.CH | Zehn Jahre evangelische Präsenz am UNO-Menschenrechtsrat, September 23, 2022.

Info Chrétienne | L’édito de Camille : Une voix évangélique à l’ONU, September 23, 2022.

Stop Pauvreté | “Nous devons combiner l’aide aux victimes à une action ciblant les causes profondes de l’injustice”, September 27, 2022.

Upcoming Event

Click here for more Information on our website. You can also register directly here.

The Geneva Office Calls on Evangelical Alliances to Nominate a Candidate for the Geneva Human Rights Experience

The Geneva Office has the pleasure to invite national Evangelical alliances to nominate candidates to volunteer with our office. The two-months program includes one month remote preparation, and one month all expenses paid internship in Geneva during a Human Rights Council session. This exciting opportunity will allow a young man or woman affiliated with a WEA member to engage in human rights advocacy and contribute to a Human Rights Council session. The Geneva Human Rights Experience is a partnership between the Geneva Office and national Evangelical alliances.

To learn more and to nominate candidates, contact us at [email protected]

Would you like to invest in building the advocacy capacity of Evangelical Alliances? You can support the Geneva Human Rights Experience through a donation to cover the annual costs of CHF 5’000.

Partner with Us!

WEA’s UN offices in Geneva and New York need to increase capacity to respond to the advocacy requests from our global Evangelical constituency. If you are interested in becoming partners and support our advocacy work, please contact us.

For donations, please visit www.worldea.org/donate where you may select to donate towards the Global Advocacy.

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