On October 22, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Refugee Highway Partnership held a side event in collaboration with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Nazila Ghanea. The event, “Religious Persecution and Refugee Protection: Response to the Special Rapporteur’s Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief” was held during the United Nations Third Committee, 80th session, when the Special Rapporteur gave her annual report.
The side event was based on the joint submission that the WEA and RHP made to the Special Rapporteur’s report on freedom of religion or belief for people on the move, specifically migrants, refugees, internally displaced people, and asylum seekers. The event highlighted the lived experiences of Christian asylum seekers.
In her report and address during the event, Special Rapporteur Nazila Ghanea emphasized that violations of freedom of religion or belief often compound other human rights abuses, particularly for displaced populations. She stated: “So, regardless of the legal obligations of freedom of religion or belief, we find that this freedom for people on the move is often overlooked, it’s misunderstood, or it is outright denied.”
Five young Christian refugees spoke on video about their experiences of persecution:
Sami*, a Rohingya Christian, described being stateless and persecuted for both ethnicity and faith, with no hope for resettlement despite UNHCR registration.
Jasmine*, a young Iranian Christian, highlighted the pain of protracted displacement and barriers to education: “Refugeehood is not a choice.” Lena*, an Iranian Christian survivor of torture, spoke of ongoing deprivation in host countries despite fleeing persecution.
Nara*, an Afghan Christian, shared her fear of deportation after four years in limbo. Ameela*, another Afghan Christian, expressed anxiety over forced returns by non-signatory states to the Refugee Convention.
Jude Simion, Oceania Regional Facilitator for the Refugee Highway Partnership and Executive Director of Philoi Global stated: “Millions of refugees, especially religious minorities, are at risk of being forcibly returned to their very own country they fled from. Places where their lives and religious freedoms remain under threat.”
With 60 participants (25 in-person, 35 virtual), including diplomats and civil society leaders, the event successfully connected lived realities to UN policy spaces ahead of the Special Rapporteur’s Third Committee presentation. Jude Simion called upon those attending to remember those who testified: “They are real people and they are waiting for us to represent them with courage, compassion and clarity.”
*Names changed for security reasons.