Asia Archives

Indonesia (41st Session)

Indonesia

(41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects
fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report highlights the obstacles and dangers that religious minorities face in Indonesia due to both governmental restrictions and interreligious tensions. It also outlines the ways in which freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are restricted and what the government is required to do to provide relief for those affected.

India (41st Session)

India

(41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report outlines the continued lack of respect for, and protection of the right to
freedom of religion or belief in India. In particular, it addresses the grave impact of anti-conversion laws, which an increasing number of states across the country have been enacting, on the freedom to adopt and practise a religion of their choice, particularly of those belonging to minority faith groups. Furthermore, this submission stresses the urgent need for the Indian government to increase its efforts to tackle and eradicate the ongoing, widespread practice of sex-selective abortion.

Shagufta and Shafqat: Pakistan

The Pakistani Christian couple Shagufta and Shafqat languished on death row for seven years on false blasphemy charges. Their death sentence was overturned in June 2021. They are now safe in Europe.

Syria (40th Session)

Syria

(40th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions.

This report highlights the situation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), and SAR’s shortcoming in promoting and defending this right.

Singapore (38th Session)

Singapore

(38th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International has accreditation with the European Commission and Parliament, and the Organization of American States. ADF International is also a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.

This report highlights the legal restrictions on the rights to freedom of religion, expression and conscience in Singapore. It raises concerns about arbitrary and overly restrictive regulations on faith-based associations and religious activities, as well as the Singaporean government’s failure to respect the right to conscientious objection.

Nepal (37th Session)

Nepal

(37th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International has accreditation with the Organization of American States, the European Commission and Parliament, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.

This submission reviews the current state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal,
where religious minorities are restricted from, inter alia, freely manifesting their faith and possessing religious texts and materials. Accordingly, it makes recommendations
regarding the need to align relevant laws with international human rights standards.

Secondly, this report highlights the negative impact of Nepal’s culture of “son preference” and the resulting sex ratio imbalance and makes recommendations on further protecting women’s equal enjoyment of their right to life and freedom from exploitation.

Georgia (37th Session)

Georgia

(37th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects
fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national
and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the
United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International
has accreditation with the Organization of American States, the European
Commission and Parliament, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights
Platform.

This report highlights evidence of institutional discrimination and societal violence
against religious minorities in Georgia, and suggests recommendations relating, to inter
alia, to the protection of places of worship and the safeguarding of freedom of
movement for people of all religious groups and none.

Lebanon (37th Session)

Lebanon

(37th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects
fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people before national
and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the
United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International
has accreditation with the Organization of American States and the European
Commission and Parliament, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights
Platform.

This report examines the threat posed to freedom of religion and belief in Lebanon by
outbreaks of societal violence and the action of militant groups; as well as highlighting
the plight of religious minorities fleeing into the country to escape religious
persecution.

Myanmar (37th Session)

Myanmar

(37th Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name ‘Alliance Defending Freedom’), ADF International has accreditation with the Organization of American States, the European Commission and Parliament, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.

This report explains why Myanmar must commit to the protection of religious freedom for all people, especially for historically persecuted ethnic and religious minorities.

Vietnam (32nd Session)

Vietnam

(32nd Session)

ADF International is a global alliance-building legal organization that advocates for religious freedom, life, and marriage and family before national and international institutions. As well as having ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations (registered name “Alliance Defending Freedom”), ADF International has accreditation with the European Commission and Parliament, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Organization of American States, and is a participant in the FRA Fundamental Rights Platform.

This report explains why Vietnam must ensure that the right to freedom of religion is fully respected and protected within its borders, as well as prevent and end all forms of religious persecution and discrimination, both by the State and by non-state actors, including violent attacks on Christians and their churches.