More Good News: International Coalition for Religious Freedom Launched

on November 8, 2014

Our friend, Canadian Member of Parliament David Anderson (Cypress Hills-Grasslands), Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, just released a statement about the launch today, in Oslo, Norway, of the new International Coalition of Parliamentarians Committed to Religious Freedom. MP Anderson signed onto the Charter for Freedom of Religion or Belief at the launching.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom initiated this effort with Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, who leads the All Parties Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the British Parliament, to build an international coalition of parliamentarians committed to advocating against religious persecution and supporting religious freedom for all.

Here is MP Anderson’s press release:

Canada Welcomes Launch of International Coalition of Parliamentarians Committed to Religious Freedom

MP David Anderson signing the Charter for Freedom of Religion or Belief, which formally launched the International Coalition of Parliamentarians Committed to Religious Freedom, in Oslo, Norway.

November 8, 2014 – MP David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, today signed the Charter for Freedom of Religion or Belief, which formally launched the International Coalition of Parliamentarians Committed to Religious Freedom, in Oslo, Norway.

“I am particularly honoured to be present as an active participant in this meeting of parliamentarians from around the world,” said Parliamentary Secretary Anderson. “Religious freedom is a basic human right that should exist everywhere in the world, whatever the predominant faith or belief in a given region. It is a freedom that speaks to human dignity, which we need to defend—especially in the face of increasing atrocities against so many religious communities around the world.”

The Office of Religious Freedom and the Government of Canada welcome the launch, which was also attended by Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

“I welcome the formal creation of an international group of parliamentarians to advance and defend religious freedom in the world,” said Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom. “This initiative will strengthen the voice of oppressed communities worldwide and can rely on the support of the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, a parallel Canadian-led initiative composed of foreign government representatives. The combined efforts of these two groups will strengthen our common fight against the persecution of religious minorities and will help promote religious freedom in the world.”

Canada congratulates the Government of Norway and all participants for this worthwhile gathering of parliamentarians from the world over to discuss how to jointly combat rising religious persecution and protect religious freedom globally.

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More information about this gathering and the new coalition will be forthcoming.

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