Successful initiatives
“In virtually all traditions one can indeed find persons or groups who make use of their freedom of religion or belief as a positive resource for the promotion of equality between men and women. Impressive examples of initiatives undertaken by women and men of different religious persuasions clearly show that synergetic efforts in this regard actually exist and should not be underestimated.”
-UNGA, Report on the Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance
The models below are successful initiatives of the intersection between FoRB and women’s rights to empower women from religious minority communities.
The Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief.
The Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief.
On November 17, 2020, the team of the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative launched the first-of-its-kind Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief. The Declaration acknowledges the double vulnerability that women of religious minorities face. In the Declaration, its tenants encourage faith leaders to condemn stigma, discrimination, and conflict-related sexual violence, to redefine the understanding of rape and sexual violence, and affirm the innocence of survivors and the need to fully honor and accept them. It acknowledges the role faith played in a survivor’s resilience, their bravery, and their escape. It also puts action to words and commits signatories to doing everything in our power to both prevent conflict-related sexual violence and support survivors.
It is a declaration that acknowledges the power that religion has in supporting women victim of sexual violence and their families, which is the greatest tool to show perpetrators that they are failing in their mission to destroy religious minority groups. In addition, emphasizing the necessity of victim reintegration into their community is crucial to allow the religious and ethnic minorities to heal and thrive.
Namely, signatories are dedicated to:
1. Support the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence,
2. Support persons vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence, including minority groups,
3. Work to dismantle harmful interpretations of faith or belief,
4. Work to dismantle harmful cultural norms that underlie impunity for acts of sexual violence,
5. Support the voices of survivors,
6. Stand for justice to prevent oppression, violence, and false accusations,
7. Speak out to defend survivors and their right to justice,
8. Holding accountable those who have perpetrated crimes,
9. Foster unity between survivors and their communities to effectively support their social integration and their economic and psychological development,
10. Seek to understand the experiences of survivors and their needs, taking care to avoid their re-traumatization,
11. Utilize media, religious discussion, educational materials, texts and all other platforms of our faith or belief community to empower survivors.
The Declaration was signed by faith leaders, survivors, and foreign governments from all over the world.
The Declaration has now been signed by many leaders—from Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd and Rt Hon Justice Welby, Pastor Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Founders of Alpha and Holy Trinity Church in Brompton, UK, Yazidi head spiritual leader, Baba Sheik, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London Archbishop Angaelos, Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Shia Muslim Mufti Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, Chief Rabbi of Commonwealth Rabbi Mervis, President of the Buddhist Society, Dr. Desmond Biddulph CBE, to the Highest Religious authority of the Sikh faith, Giana Harpreet Singh, Bishop Issam Darwish, Melkite Archdiocese of Zahleh, Lebanon, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Head of Catholic Church UK, the President of Humanists International and more are signing every day—a powerful illustration of how past ideas and views are changing for the better.
Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief in Spanish
Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief in English
Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief in French
Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief in Arabic
Grateful to @TariqAhmadBT for the opportunity to be part of #DeclarationOfHumanity since inception. So pleased to share in its launch today with @BishGloucester @JacqueIsaac #EsperandeBigirimana
— Archbishop Angaelos (@BishopAngaelos) November 17, 2020
“We acknowledge and honour survivors’ independence, courage, hope and resilience” pic.twitter.com/To3JNt6ZoE
I feel heard. Hope for the future arose watching my story told by @jacqueisaac to faith leaders & witnessing the launch of #declarationofhumanity for survivors!Thnx @tariqahmadbt #esperandabirigimina @BishopAngaelos @BishGloucester @end_svc #FaithAndBeliefAgainstSVC @FCDOGovUK pic.twitter.com/mdMiSUJ5Gy
— Ekhlas Bajoo (@BajooEkhlas) November 19, 2020
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution to Enhance Protection of Religious Minorities in Conflict
Lets unite to prevent religious persecution in conflict.
— Jacqueline Isaac (@jacqueisaac) March 20, 2021
Thankful to UK chair @tariqahmadbt for his leadership & honoured 2 stand w/ brave survivor @BajooEkhlas at the @UN Security Council. @JustinWelby @religions4peace exemplified the role of religious leaders in promoting peace pic.twitter.com/QzbnrgDRj5
The UNSC Resolution
The UNSC meeting in March 2021 acknowledged, examined, and condemned the surge in religious persecution in conflict, particularly among women of minority faith groups in the Middle East, as well as discussed the role religious actors can play in conflict resolution, supporting women and encouraging the exercise of FoRB. The goal of this meeting was to seek a future UN Security Council Resolution which could significantly enhance the protection given to Christians and other minorities in the Middle East as well as other regions of the world.
Powerful interventions by UN Security Council Member Nations
After her speech, UN Security Council Member Nations shared words of solidarity and support. Permanent Representatives from Norway, Estonia, Tunisia, Kenya, Russia, Niger, Vietnam, the United States, France, Ireland, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Mexico united in acknowledging the reality of religious persecution and the role of religious leaders in supporting survivors of persecution.
- H.E. Linda Thomas Greenfield, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations highlighted that religious freedom is a fundamental freedom held among their highest values and that no one should fear violence because of their faith.
The Permanent Representative explicitly recognized the vulnerability of religious minorities. She acknowledged the atrocities perpetrated to Yazidis and Christians in the Middle East, the abuses of religious freedom in Iran against Baha’is and Christian converts, and in Ethiopia against the Orthodox church. By stating that ‘ISIS has [… ] forced more than 3,000 Yezidi women and girls into sexual slavery’ she also acknowledged the double vulnerability that women from minority communities face.
- The Deputy Permanent Representative of France, H.E. Nathalie Broadhurst, acknowledged the link between the protection of the FoRB with the violation of other human rights such as gender discrimination and sexual violence.
Her speech concluded by encouraging everyone “to protect the rights of religious minorities at every turn. Especially because […], religions can be a unifying force for peace.”
- Barbara Woodward, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, in her last remarks defended the need for action to protect and liberate innocent victims in the Middle East.
- Tunisia and Niger specifically mentioned that women, as children and other vulnerable people, are the first victims of violence and discrimination driven on religious or ethnic grounds. By doing this, they recognized the compounded vulnerability of women and girls from Yazidi, Christian and other minority faith communities.
The powerful statement of Ekhlas Bajoo, an ISIS captivity survivor
Ekhlas Bajoo, who suffered horrendous crimes just for being part of the Yazidi minority community. During her intervention, she highlighted the crucial role that religious leaders play in the healing process of survivors: ‘the role of religious leaders is very important to send a message to protect and stand with victims and minorities’. She also recalled the importance that her holy leader, Baba Sheikh, had in encouraging her community to support them: ‘The High Holy Leader Baba Sheikh was there to not only welcome us but what was beautiful was, he called us saints’.
The Declaration of Humanity, which acknowledges the double vulnerability that women of religious minorities face, was also mentioned during her speech. She encouraged everyone to support it for its importance focusing on religious minorities and its power to protect their existence and the future of victims.
Examples of positive public comments about the UNSC meeting
- Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: ‘We must include religious groups in the peacemaking process if we are to strengthen global security. I chaired a @UN Security Council meeting today, where @JustinWelby, @Religions4peace, @KarimKhanQC and Ekhlas Khudur Bajoo shared insights on religion’s role in peacemaking.’
- Archbishop of Canterbury: ‘Pleased to speak at the UN #SecurityCouncil Arria-Formula meeting on Religious Actors in Peace Processes today. The Church is present in communities around the world, before, during and after conflict. It’s vital that we work together to build sustainable peace.’
- Jacqueline Isaac: ‘Lets unite to prevent religious persecution in conflict. Thankful to UK chair @tariqahmadbt for his leadership and honoured to stand with brave survivor @BajooEkhlas at the @UN Security Council. @JustinWelby @religions4peace exemplified the role of religious leaders in promoting peace.’
H.E. Linda Thomas Greenfield, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations
The Deputy Permanent Representative of France, H.E. Nathalie Broadhurst
Barbara Woodward, the Permanent Representative for the United Kingdom
Other Declarations
The Beirut Declaration
The Declaration aims to unite religious communities of various faiths to counter religious-based violence through promoting human rights and upholding FoRB. It calls on believers of all faiths to join hands and hearts in articulating ways in which they can stand together in defending fundamental rights, including women’s right to be safe from discrimination and violence.
Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together
The Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar signed a historic declaration of fraternity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) calling for an end to wars in the Middle East and for peace between religions, nations, and races. They also recognized how the UAE is promoting itself as a regional leader in religious diversity and tolerance in which women from minority faiths are the ones that could benefit the most from it.
Tech Over Trauma
The pilot program Tech Over Trauma of Roads of Success to help survivors heal and become empowered.
