Asia Action for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Duration: December 2024 – November 2028
Communities: religious minorities
What is this programme about?
This programme aims to secure the right to freedom of religion or belief, and all rights of religious minorities in Asia. Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a key component of civil and political rights, and without this protection, minorities struggle to achieve their economic, social and cultural rights. We therefore target all key actors to achieve this goal, including civil society, human rights defenders, and decision-makers at the local, national, regional and international levels.
The programme aims to achieve its goals through capacity-building, networking and awareness-raising, as well as advocacy and legal mechanisms. With capacity building at the centre of the intervention, the programme empowers civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders. It builds advocacy opportunities, raises public awareness and builds alliances. We also utilize strategic litigation to contribute towards repealing discriminatory laws, policies, measures and practices against persons belonging to religious minorities, also including persons with non-theistic beliefs or those who do not profess any religion or belief. Strategic litigation will also contribute to policymaking in the area of non-discrimination and tolerance to improve equality, inclusion, respect and engagement for religious minorities and those protected under FoRB, in all spheres of public and private life.
Why are we delivering this programme?
Discrimination, hate speech, persecution and stigma against religious minorities and those protected under the right to FoRB is prevalent in our target regions. Laws and policies reflect the level of systemic discrimination in a country; there is a need for increased rights protection under national laws and policies, and increased pressure internationally to push governments to implement these rights.
More robust CSOs are needed, in terms of their institutional capacity and their understanding of FoRB and religious minority rights frameworks. In many of the target countries, CSOs are increasingly the target of restrictive policies and have less freedom to fulfil their roles as independent organisations. Many struggle to ensure that their institutional functioning is of high standards, which would help them withstand government pressure. Strengthened institutional mechanisms will allow CSOs to secure more long-term and substantive funding, putting them in a better position to challenge threats by the government and in turn respond to FoRB violations more effectively.
A lack of strong networks that can effectively respond to violations of FoRB or religious minority rights also poses an issue. Partners are engaged with civil society networks that work on FoRB, these are loose networks that have been slowly establishing themselves in their respective subregions as key players in the FORB and religious minority rights arenas. Additionally, in our target regions, there is a need for more quality data on the situation affecting religious minorities and the right to FoRB in order to make a real impact on the affected communities.
What are we doing?
- Capacity-building: We will build the capacities of CSOs and human rights defenders through: an online course on FORB and religious minority rights; facilitating regional trainings on FoRB, minority rights and institutional capacity building; providing subgrants to CSOs to advocate for FORB; and facilitating inter-regional exchanges of experience.
- Awareness-raising: We aim to raise awareness by: implementing national campaigns to promote the rights of religious minorities and FoRB; producing a short film focused on religious minority rights and the right to FoRB in Asia; and creating international media campaigns. We are also gathering data on the situation affecting religious minorities in the target countries with a focus on hate, persecution and rights, which will then be analysed in regional research briefings and an overarching report.
- Advocacy and legal mechanisms: We are making submissions to UN mechanisms; holding national and sub-regional advocacy roundtables; undertaking international advocacy missions; engaging in international and national anti-discrimination strategic litigation; and providing emergency grants to human rights defenders and religious minorities facing legal harassment.
Who are our partners?
- Human Rights Society Ezgulik of Uzbekistan (Ezgulik) is an independent human rights organization registered in Uzbekistan in 2003 with the support of the U.S. Department of State and the OSCE Mission. The organization operates in all 12 regions of the country. According to its August 1, 2023 report, it has 212 members. The society prepares annual analytical reports on freedom of speech, religious freedom, torture, gender equality, socio-economic issues, and legal matters. These reports are presented to diplomatic missions, international organizations, and other relevant parties.
- Asia Centre is a civil society research institute with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). The Centre’s core activities involve research, training, communications, and advocacy initiatives, having its programmatic priorities on four key constitutional liberties as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR): freedom of religion or belief (Article 18), freedom of expression (Article 19), freedom of association (Article 20) and the right to political participation (Article 21). Asia Centre collaborates with civil society stakeholders, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), and duty-bearers to support their respective initiatives. It operates from its Research Hub and Meeting Hub in Bangkok (Thailand), Media Hub in Johor Bahru (Malaysia), and Training Hub in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).
- Social Science Baha Services Private Limited (SSB) is an independent, non-profit organisation established in January 2002 with the objective of promoting and enhancing the study of and research in the social sciences in Nepal. Besides operating the only specialised social science library in the country, SSB’s activities include hosting lectures, discussions, workshops and conferences; publishing books and other research papers; and undertaking research, both as a collaborating partner with academic and research institutions and on a contractual basis.
Who is funding this programme?
Featured image: Training held by MRG partner Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) on Indigenous and Minority Rights Advocacy for the Sanuwar community who practise the Kirat religion, in Manthali of Ramechhap district, Nepal. Credit: Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ).
