Working at the UN has long been a cornerstone of CSW’s advocacy work. This week, Nigeria, China and Mexico will each undergo their Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a four-yearly analysis of their human rights situation by the other UN member states.

We’ve also been working closely with the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Professor Bielefeldt, as he reports on the freedom of religion situation in countries around the world. We believe this kind of campaigning in international institutions such as the UN is vital if we’re going to see lasting change in the situations we work in.

This week please:

• Thank God for the successes we’ve seen as a result of lobbying, including a UN investigation into human rights in Eritrea;
• Ask God for favour for CSW staff as they lobby at the UN in the run up to the UPR;
• Pray that the other member states would listen carefully to our information about freedom of religion violations in Nigeria, China and Mexico;
• Pray that the representatives of these countries would be open to having honest discussions about human rights;
• Thank God for the work that CSW has already been able to do with Professor Bielefeldt;
• Pray that Professor Bielefeldt’s report on religious freedom issues would be taken seriously by repressive governments;
• Pray that the events of this week would result in real improvements for people on the ground in these countries.