UN Geneva NGO Committee on FoRB — Geneva & New York

Defending the Right to Believe at the United Nations

We are a coalition of civil society organisations that works within the UN system to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief for everyone, everywhere.

Discover Our Work

Mission

Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief Worldwide

The NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) works to ensure that every person can hold, practice, and change their beliefs — whether religious or non-religious — without fear of persecution or discrimination. We bring together civil society organisations to speak with one voice at the United Nations, where international human rights standards are shaped and monitored.

Through our work in Geneva and New York, we support the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, engage with the UN Human Rights Council, and collaborate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Where We Work Within the UN System

The Committee operates through the principal UN human rights mechanisms based in Geneva and New York. Here is what each of these bodies does and how we engage with them:

Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council is the world's main forum for addressing human rights violations, holding three regular sessions each year in Geneva. We participate by delivering oral statements, organising side events, and coordinating NGO interventions on country situations and thematic issues.

Universal Periodic Review

Every UN member state undergoes a peer-review of its human rights record every four to five years. We support this process by helping NGOs prepare submissions that document FoRB violations on the ground, and by ensuring that these concerns are raised during the interactive dialogue when states present their reports.

Special Rapporteur on FoRB

The Special Rapporteur is an independent UN expert who investigates violations of freedom of religion or belief worldwide, conducts country visits, and reports to the Human Rights Council. We provide the Rapporteur with first-hand information from civil society, facilitate meetings with affected communities, and support the dissemination of their findings.

About

Two Committees, One Mission

The NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief operates in both Geneva and New York. The Geneva committee serves as a sub-committee of the CoNGO Special Committee on Human Rights, engaging directly with the Human Rights Council and other Geneva-based UN bodies. The New York committee, established in 1991, coordinates NGO activities at UN Headquarters and works to ensure that freedom of religion or belief is reflected in General Assembly resolutions and other UN instruments adopted in New York.

Both committees maintain regular dialogue with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and collaborate with NGOs worldwide on cases where freedom of religion or belief intersects with other human rights — for example, when restrictions on religious dress affect women's rights, or when blasphemy laws are used to silence journalists and human rights defenders.

CoNGO

Our Place Within CoNGO

CoNGO — the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations — is an independent international membership association founded in 1948, the same year as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It serves as a bridge between civil society and the UN system. CoNGO itself does not take positions on substantive matters. Instead, it provides, through its Substantive Committees, forums where members can discuss issues with UN officials, delegates, and independent experts.

CoNGO provides, through special and ad hoc NGO Committees, fora for discussion of substantive matters by its members and members of the UN Secretariat, UN delegations, and other experts.

The NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief is one of nearly 30 CoNGO Substantive Committees. CoNGO brings together 525 member organisations and 106 associate members in support of the UN mission. Our Committee reports regularly to CoNGO as part of the Special Committee on Human Rights in Geneva.

Members

Our Member Organisations

The NGO Committee on FoRB in Geneva brings together a diverse coalition of civil society organisations — faith-based and secular, large and small — united by a shared commitment to defend freedom of religion or belief for all.

Full Members (with ECOSOC consultative status)

These organisations hold formal consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling them to participate directly in UN proceedings.

ADF International

Agence Mondiale pour la Bonne Gouvernance

AIDLR

Baha’i International Community

Baptist World Alliance (BWA)

CAP LC (Freedom of Conscience)

Center for Inquiry (CFI)

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Conference of European Churches

Congregation Pirchei Shoshanim

Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI)

ECLJ

Fundación para la Mejora de la Vida

Fundación Vida Grupo Ecológico Verde

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (SDA)

GIN-SSOGIE

Humanists International

Humanists UK

ICJW (since 2008)

Interfaith International

International Association for Religious Freedom

Jubilee Campaign

Jus Cogens (JC)

Latter-day Saint Charities

Liberal International

Mothers Legacy Project

Muslims for Progressive Values

Quaker United Nations Office

Soka Gakkai International (SGI)

United Religions Initiative (URI)

Universal Peace Federation (UPF)

USCIRF / UN / Liberal International

World Council of Churches

World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)

World Jewish Congress (WJC)

Youth With A Mission CIJR (YWAM CIJR)

Associate Members (without ECOSOC accreditation)

These organisations are associate members of the Committee and contribute to its work without holding separate ECOSOC accreditation.

DaN Basel

Daniel Khokhar Foundation

European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB)

European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

IAAAE

International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)

Member Care Associates (MCA)

Mundo Younido

Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA)

Stefanus Alliance International (SAI)

Bureau

Current Leadership

The Bureau, elected in May 2025 for a three-year term, brings together expertise from a range of global faith and advocacy communities.

President

Ivan Arjona-Pelado

President of Fundación para la Mejora de la Vida, la Cultura y la Sociedad. A seasoned advocate for religious freedom with nearly three decades of experience engaging European and international institutions.

Vice President

Jonas Fiebrantz

Advocacy Officer for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International. Chair of the UN Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable. MA in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.

Secretary

Stefano Bosco

Director of Public and International Affairs of Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDS Charities), founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

News

Latest Updates

Stay informed about our activities at the United Nations, side events, statements, and developments in the field of freedom of religion or belief.

View All News →

July 19, 2026

Faith at Work, UN Geneva Event Warns of Bias

By Juan Sanchez Gil – 5 July 2026 Speakers urged governments and employers to protect freedom of religion or belief…

July 15, 2026

Iran: UN experts urge reversal of Tehran church compound seizure and return of its Christian residents

GENEVA – UN experts* today condemned the confiscation of the compound of St Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tehran and the…

June 19, 2026

Nigeria: Urgent call for effective protection and inclusion to secure freedom of religion or belief, says UN expert

ABUJA – There is an urgent need for effective protection and inclusion of people of all people, irrespective of their…

Get in Touch

For inquiries about the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, membership, or collaboration, please reach out to us.

Geneva Website New York Website CoNGO