- June 16th – 3PM-4PM – Room XXV – Human Rights in Japan “The eradication and dissolution of a religious community of 600000 followers: The Case of the Unification Church in Japan“
- June 16th – 5PM-6PM – Room XXV – Human Rights in China “Criminalizing Faith: Religious Persecution and Forced Organ Harvesting in China“
- June 17th – 2PM-3PM – Room XXVII – Countering Hate Speech at the intersection of religion and gender
- June 25th – 2PM-3PM – NGO Resources Room – Meeting of the NGO Committee on FoRB – Bureau elections.
Human Rights in Japan “The eradication and dissolution of a religious community of 600000 followers: The Case of the Unification Church in Japan“
June 16, 2025: 15h00 – 16h00 – Room XXV (25)
The Universal Peace Federation would like to draw your attention and extend an invitation for a side event, parallel to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, to examine the human rights situation in Japan, in particular highlighting the eradication of an entire faith community of 600000 followers. The case entails serious concerns regarding the rights of minorities to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of expression and freedom of education in Japan.
There will be a discussion panel as follows:
Session Chair:
Heiner W. Handschin, Director Universal Peace Federation Office for UN Relations
Speakers:
- Dr. Hirohisa Koide, Medical Doctor: Testimony about coercive de-conversion, abduction, confinement and imposed persuasion.
- Mr. Norishige Kondo, Director of legal affairs for the Unification Church in Japan: The scope of the forced de-conversions in Japan and the flaws in the judicial decision of dissolution.
- Prof. Massimo Introvigne, sociologist and religious scholar, Center for Studies on New Religions, Italy: Japan’s religious landscape and the implications of the dissolution decision of the Unification Church
- Ms. Patricia Duval, Attorney specialized in international human rights law, France: The use of “Public Welfare” and “social norms” to dissolve undesired religious organizations, and the “re-education” of children at school against their parents’ faith.
- Mr. Jacques Marion, President Universal Peace Federation Europe& Middle East: Closing remarks.
Human Rights in China “Criminalizing Faith: Religious Persecution and Forced Organ Harvesting in China“
June 16, 2025: 17h00 – 18h00 – Room XXV (25)
The 59th session of the Human Rights Council offers an urgent platform to address China’s systematic and state-driven persecution of religious and spiritual communities, particularly the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang and practitioners of Falun Gong.
Reports from UN experts and independent tribunals have revealed widespread violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, surveillance, indoctrination, and forced labor. In the case of Falun Gong and Uyghurs, credible allegations point to the state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting, a crime against humanity.
This side event will:
- Examine the current state of religious repression in China, especially targeting Uyghurs and Falun Gong adherents.
- Share survivor testimonies and findings from international investigations.
- Explore the mechanisms of forced organ harvesting, including hospital-military collusion.
- Present legal arguments and international responses to these violations.
- Offer recommendations for coordinated international action and accountability.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Charlotte Zehrer, Human rights officer at Global Human Rights Defence
- Dr Andreas Weber, MD: Deputy director Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, expert at the Ministry of Health of the 20th German Bundestag
- KaYan Wong: Falun Gong practitioner, advocate for victims of the CCP regime
- ManYan Ng: China expert, board member International Society for Human Rights
- Yumei Liu: Victim and survivor, Falun Gong practitioner
Countering Hate Speech at the Intersection of Religion and Gender: Challenges and Pathways Forward
June 17, 2025: 14h00 – 15h00 – Room XXV (25)
Co-organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue (GCHRAGD), on the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
Hate speech continues to be a global issue with far-reaching consequences. Its dehumanizing effects not only harm the targeted individuals but also fracture communities, leading to increased discrimination, violence, hate crimes and social fragmentation. Hate speech is spreading both offline and online, nourished by echo chambers of ignorance.
Religious intolerance, in particular, has been weaponized in ways that target religious or belief minorities, and women and girls often bear the brunt of this hatred. Whether through harmful stereotypes, physical violence, or the denial of rights, the intersections of religious hatred and gender-based violence are deeply concerning. The High Commissioner for Human Rights flagged that expressions of religious hatred against individuals wearing religious symbols often disproportionately target women and girls.
The UN’s “Faith for Rights” framework emphasizes the need for inclusive peer-to-peer learning across religions and belief systems to foster peace and safeguard human rights. On the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 75/309, it is crucial to reflect on the role of religious engagement and gender equality in addressing this global issue. This side event, co-organized by the OHCHR and the GCHRAGD, seeks to highlight the gendered dimensions of hate speech and explore concrete strategies to combat it. By focusing on the intersectionality of religion and gender, the event aims to strengthen efforts to address hate speech while ensuring that gender perspectives, particularly those of women and girls, remain at the forefront.
Moderators
- Mr. Michael Wiener, OHCHR & Dr. Umesh Palwankar, Executive Director, Geneva Centre
Potential Speakers
- Ms. Adriana Quiñones, Head of Human Rights and Development and Deputy Director of UN Women Geneva Office
- H.E. Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations Office in Geneva
- Ms. Salima Dalibey, Counsellor for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
- Dr. Sarah Markiewicz, Senior Advisor for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
- Dr. Saba Haddad, Representative to the United Nations in Geneva of the Baha’i International Community
- Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of Global Advocacy for the World Evangelical Alliance
