The United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva and the World Council of Churches are holding a panel discussion on religious freedom in international diplomacy on 23 September 2016.

This event will mark the 70^thanniversary of public advocacy work of Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), an advisory body of the World Council of Churches.

The panel discussion “Religion and Religious Freedom in International Diplomacy” will take place on Friday, 23 September from 9.30 am to 11.30 am at Palais Des Nations, Room XXIV.

After welcome remarks by Ambassador Peter Sorensen, head of the EU Delegation to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, the panel discussion will feature:

• Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, chair of International Panel for Parliamentarians on freedom of religion or belief and member of British House of Lords;
• Peter Prove, director of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, World Council of Churches;
• Heiner Bielefeldt, UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief;
• Ahmed Shaheed, professor, Human Rights in the School of Law and Human Rights Centre, University of Essex.

For NON-UN participants, registering with [email protected] is necessary by Tuesday, 20 September 2016.

Download the invitation (pdf)