HRC49: Oral statement during ID with the Special Rapporteur on FoRB

Item 3:Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB)

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President.

CSW thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report and its recommendations.

We concur with the Rapporteur’s assessment regarding the instrumentalisation of religious or belief identities as a means of furthering agendas in situations of conflict and insecurity.

The ongoing severity of the security crisis in Nigeria includes longstanding systemic and systematic violations of the rights of ethno-religious minorities in the north and central regions, and unabated attacks by armed non-state actors, including assailants of Fulani origin, and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram, and Ansaru terrorist organisations.

Thousands of members of predominantly Christian ethnic minorities have been killed and abducted in Kaduna state alone, while IDPs across the country’s Middlebelt number in the millions.

We urge Member States to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its failure to protect vulnerable citizens, and to assist in combatting these threats at every opportunity.

In Myanmar, continued human rights scrutiny is crucial while the country remains in the grip of a military already accused of decades of war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of humanitarian law. CSW remains deeply concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the military’s continued use of lethal force against dissidents and ethnic and religious minority groups since the February 2021 coup.

We call for the restoration of a democratically elected government and urge the military to end all aggressions against civilians, ethnic and religious minorities, to release all prisoners of conscience and to allow unhindered humanitarian access.

Special Rapporteur, among civilians affected by situations of conflict or insecurity, religious or belief minorities often face challenges in accessing remedies, or suffer uniquely where there are protection gaps. What measures have been put in place to address this?

Thank you