News releases
The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) had a workshop in Accra, Ghana this November. The workshop aimed at equipping Members of Parliament (MPs) across Africa with the tools to better address issues related to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) within their countries.
The Kristiansand Interfaith Dialogue occurred on May 4th during the Kristiansand’s Democracy Week and facilitated meaningful discussions on enhancing democracy and human rights while addressing the balance between freedom of expression and hate speech. The event was co-organized by IPPFoRB, the Kristiansand Municipality, the University of Agder, Faith Associates and the Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway (STL).
IPPFoRB Launches Advocacy Letter showing concern on Belarusian New Law. Sitting and Former Parliamentarians are invited to sign the letter.
Malaysia recently underwent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2024, IPPFoRB and the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) developed a “Toolkit for Parliamentarians to Promote an Inclusive Malaysian Society Through the UPR Process.”
In honor of International Women's Day, we are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with Sabina Ćudić, a member of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Parliament. With a robust background as a political scientist holding a master's degree in human rights, Sabina has been deeply involved in the human rights sector through her work with non-governmental organizations prior to venturing into politics and academia, where she focuses on the political science of human rights. Sabina Ćudić is a women human rights defender!
January 19, 2024, marked a pivotal moment in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the official launch of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief - Southeast Europe (IPPFoRB SEE) network. In the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this inaugural event represented a significant advancement towards protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief in the region.
The 5th IPPFoRB Academy is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from December 12 to December 15, 2023. The Academy will feature intensive training and strategic sessions, with a special collaborative workshop with the G20 Interfaith Forum and the Brazilian Center for Studies in Law and Religion.
In a landmark event from October 1-3, 2023, IPPFoRB and Humanists International joined forces in Bangkok, Thailand, for the South Asia Regional Workshop on Freedom of Religion or Belief, uniting parliamentarians from Nepal and Sri Lanka with critical stakeholders to address pivotal aspects of the human right to freedom of religion or belief.
In response to the growing interest in establishing a regional network of parliamentarians for freedom of religion or belief in the Western Balkans, the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) organised an online consultation. The Zoom consultation, held on August 28, 2023, brought together current and former parliamentarians from Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Romania.
The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) is proud to introduce an original podcast series: "FoRB and Politics" in collaboration with the Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network, FoRBLN.
Hon. Sanela Shkrijelj, a distinguished Member of Parliament from North Macedonia, and Paulina Andrea Nunez Urrita, a respected Member of Parliament from Chile, are the new members of the IPPFoRB Steering Group. We congratulate Honourable Nqabayomzi Kwankwa on his well-deserved promotion to the IPPFoRB Steering Group Vice Chair position.
From 2 to 14 May 2023, IPPFoRB brought parliamentarians from all over the world to discuss Freedom of Religion or Belief and the UN 2030 Agenda in Nairobi, Kenya.
IPPFoRB convened a digital workshop with the participation of a broader group of parliamentarians from Southeast Asia and Africa. The workshop series “The Learning Path” aims to accomplish multiple objectives, including introducing new Members of Parliament (MPs) to the competence-building activities organized by IPPFoRB. Additionally, participants will be able to share their experiences and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies devised during their timeatn the Academy in Oxford.
We are pleased to introduce the new member of the IPPFoRB team, Mia Meyer Walle-Hansen. She will be joining us for the coming months' activities, including the Nairobi Global Conference.
Norwegian parliamentarian Abid Raja is all set to join as the new Chair of IPPFoRB Steering Group. As a long-time defender of freedom of religion or belief, Raja has been instrumental in advancing dialogue and actions on strengthening this human right, both nationally and internationally.
The right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and freedom of expression (FoE) have many similarities. Both protect the individual’s dignity and right to develop an independent way of thinking. One cannot exist without the other.
Last month, we hosted our third High-level Dialogue on ‘Education and Freedom of Religion or Belief’. As part of bringing forward learnings from these Dialogues, this article summarizes the different themes and issues explored by participants during the webinar together with recommendations and a way forward.
IPPFoRB welcomes the election of women to leadership positions in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), one of Indonesia’s most prominent Islamic organizations.
At the launch of the ’Strengthening the Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Western Balkans: A Roadmap for Parliamentarians’ report this month, parliamentarians from the Western Balkans region discuss ways to build mutual dialogue and cooperation, across political and religious lines, at the national, regional and international level, to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief for all in the broader region.
Last month, we hosted our second High-level Dialogue on ‘Gender and FoRB: opportunities for synergies and learning’. As part of bringing forward learnings from these Dialogues, this article lays out the different themes and issues explored by participants during the webinar together with recommendations and a way forward.
This 27th October, on the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day, the two new IPPFoRB Steering Group parliamentarians draw attention to the importance of seeing this human right in a broader context, including its interconnections with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Last month, we hosted our first High-level Dialogue on 'Applying a FoRB lens to achieving the SDGs'. As part of sharing learnings from these Dialogues, this article lays out the different themes and issues explored by participants during the webinar together with recommendations and a way forward.
This month, the Centre for Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), where the IPPFoRB Secretariat is based, received its first student intern from the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo.
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).
We must work collectively and meaningfully to curb violence in the name of religion and belief across the world. Smaller, collective, and sustained efforts can result in a wave of positive change.
This September, on the anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ‘Global Goals Week’, we launch the first of our six High-Level Dialogues in our ‘Leave No One Behind: Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Sustainable Development Goals’ series.
Parliamentarians and religious leaders from Indonesia have signed the “Sentul Declaration for Peace Building and Freedom of Religion or Belief”.
The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) will play a major role in the project ‘Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network’ (FoRBLN).
On this six-year anniversary, we look at six ways IPPFoRB continues to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere.