New briefing paper calls for more attention to Freedom of Religion or Belief in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Published ahead of the Global Goals Week to #Act4SDGS, and the first in a series of publications called ‘Leaving No One Behind’, the ‘Freedom of Religion or Belief and Sustainable Development Goals’ briefing paper is an innovative take on addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the lens of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
Produced by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) for the Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network (FoRBLN) the newly published briefing paper asserts that in the implementation and monitoring of the Agenda 2030, it is essential to pay attention to FoRB and the broader discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.
’’While the common points between Agenda 2030 and numerous specific human rights are easily identified, it is often the case that religion and belief-based inequalities and discrimination in connection to SDGs are not immediately recognised. This yawning gap is deeply concerning when in fact it is impossible to fully achieve the SDGs and their targets without also focusing on the equal dignity and entitlements of religious and belief minorities, indigenous peoples, religious feminists, LGBT+ persons and others who face discrimination and exclusion on the basis of religion or belief.’’ said Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
The briefing paper highlights that a FoRB perspective to the SDGs contributes more broadly to building open, pluralist, and inclusive societies. The paper also emphasizes that FoRB together with other human rights, can provide effective protection against those forms of inequality and discrimination that are justified with reference to religion or belief.
‘’If we want to improve the lives and prospects of everyone, ‘leaving no one behind’, we must ensure due attention to those who are subject to discrimination, marginalisation and inequality on the grounds of religion or belief. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made it painfully clear that religious or belief minorities and indigenous peoples are often left behind when it comes to access to health care and quality treatment, but attention to FoRB is equally important in relation to many other SDGs, including those concerning education, women’s rights, climate change and access to justice”, said Marie Juul Petersen, Senior Researcher, DIHR, and the author of this briefing paper.
This briefing paper will be launched at the upcoming High-Level Dialogue on 23rd September, where parliamentarians, faith leaders, experts and policy experts will have the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between FoRB and the SDGs within their context. Such spaces provide the opportunity to move from theory to practice and involve individuals with different roles in society to meet, listen and learn from each other on what policy and action is needed, based on relevant experiences and needs of those experiencing FoRB and intersecting SDG issues.
This High Level Dialogue is organized by the FoRBLN, DIHR, International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB), African Parliamentarians Association for Human Rights (AfriPAHR), Religions for Peace (RfP) and UN’s Faith for Rights Initiative.
REGISTER FOR THE HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE 1
Speaking ahead of the Dialogue, Hon Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, a member of Parliament in South Africa and Chair of AfriPAHR and FoRBLN Board Member said: ‘’Parliamentarians and faith leaders are in unique positions to promote fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief. They hold powerful positions in society and have social influence that can bring about not only policy, legal and institutional change but also attitudinal change in society.’’
“Over 50 years of Religions for Peace’s unique capacitation of multi-religious collaboration in over 100 countries, proves that freedom of thought, conscience and belief underlines any and all human freedoms and rights. Faith actors remain critical agents of change or the lack thereof.”, said Prof. Dr. Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace.
The High-Level Dialogue is part of a series of consultations taking place this Autumn which will coincide with other briefing papers on FoRB and health (SDG 3), inclusive and equitable education (SDG 4), gender equality and empowerment (SDG 5), reducing inequalities (SDG 10), combatting climate change (SDG 13) and access to justice for all. More information can be found here.
The Leaving No One Behind series of publications and consultation has been commissioned by FoRBLN, an international consortium funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
‘’This and subsequent briefing papers will provide concrete suggestions for parliamentarians and faith leaders to address inequalities in relation to religion or belief using the SDGs framework. The aim is to bring larger, more international concepts closer to the ground, so that policies and laws are informed by context-based discussions and lived experiences’’, said Dr Charles Reed, Director of Operations FoRBLN
‘’Such publications and consultations stir an important debate that should be part of our global discourse. In exploring ways FoRB might contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and equitable social and economic development for all, we find that cross-network sharing, and peer-to-peer learning is vital for parliamentarians’’, adds Liv Kvanvig, Director, IPPFoRB (a consortium member of the FoRBLN) and Head of the Freedom of Religion or Belief Centre, Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC)