Today 13th of September 2018 Alessandro Amicarelli, chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB) has represented the federation at the OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2018 in Warsaw.
He made a statement at session 6, on Tolerance and Non Discrimination, enphasising the vitality of the dialogue with minorities and State bodies and international organisations for the improvement of Freedom of Religion and Belief in the world.
He also recalled the International Convention on "Freedom of Belief in Europe", held in Florence on 18-19 January 2018, organised under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and accredited by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Tuscany Region, University of Florence and honoured with the Medal of the President of the Republic of Italy.
FOB works in connection with the religious and spiritual and philosophical minorities and the chairman in his capacity as human rights attorney represented members of The Church of Almighty God, victims of religious persecution in China, filing complaints with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva.
These complaints received the support of Lord Alton of Liverpool in the British Parliament.
Also Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State, did show support on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, by saying that the Government "remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief in China" and also added that "Her Majesty’s Government remains committed to promoting and defending the right to freedom of religion or belief for all individuals" and finally concluded that the Government will keep a close focus on the developments in this matter by reaffirming that "The UK has a close working relationship with UN bodies and is committed to upholding the rule of law and rules-based international system" and "My officials continue to monitor the progress of the complaint filed by Alessandro Amicarelli and await the outcome".
Her Majesty's Government support arrived while the chairman was representing FOB at an event on religion persecution in China at the Ministerial to improve Religious Freedom in the world held in Washington DC on 23-27 July 2018.
The chairman commended the United States for leading an international movement for improving religious freedom in the world and for organising the Ministerial called by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo that gathered representatives of 87 States and International organisations.
He has concluded his statement by recalling the Call of the EUROPEAN FEDERATION FOR FREEDOM OF BELIEF (FOB) to European nations to promote and implement the Right to Freedom of Belief, Thought, Conscience and Religion in Europe launched by FOB in January 2018, calling on State parties to REMOVE the obstacles hindering the full implementation of the Freedom of Belief, Thought, Conscience and Religion within the National territory of the States; and FAVOUR AND PERFORM actions to allow the concrete implementation of the Freedom of Belief, Thought, Conscience and Religion within the National territories of the States.
In the following months, we will keep working with the minority groups and the national authorities and International organisations for the full implementation of Rule of Law, Justice and Human Rights, the fundamentals on which the International community is founded.
