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Adventists Protest to UN Human Rights Commission
April 12, 2001. Geneva, Switzerland.

Citing a number of cases of the violation of religious freedom, Adventists protested to the United Nations Commission of Human Rights during its current 57th session (March 19-April 27) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Representing the Seventh-day Adventists World Church at the Commission, Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, UN Liaison director for the Church, said that in a number of instances countries were guilty of "a flagrant abuse of human rights and were committing severe violations of fundamental religious freedoms."

"We are calling these nations to account since they are signatories to such UN agreements as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief," said Gallagher.

Countries cited included Turkmenistan, other Central Asian states, and China.

The statement read to the full session of the Commission included the charge that

"Minority faiths in Turkmenistan are targeted for intimidation and persecution by the state. Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists and others are the targets for state-sponsored attacks on their faith. Attacks and methods harassment have included the destruction of a number of places of worship, the seizing of personal possessions, arbitrary detention, levying heavy fines, physical abuse, confiscation of apartments, and imprisonment."

Dr. Gallagher presents statement to Commission

In the case of China, Gallagher said that the experience of harassment and imprisonment of citizens for their spiritual beliefs continued to be a matter of great concern, and that in the words of the statement to the Commission, "Such a climate of control and hostility does not speak well of a commitment to human rights as numbers of Christians and believers of other faiths and practices can testify."

The statement also highlighted the ongoing religious conflicts in Indonesia, calling for the government there "to uphold the rule of law and order, and where police actions are required, to avoid compounding inter-religious conflict by not utilizing troops predisposed to one side of the dispute. As the conflict becomes more intense, more militant, there come reliable reports of forcible conversions and circumcisions. In such a situation of gross human rights abuse, the provisions and principles of the international instruments need to be upheld by the state signatories and the concerns of the international community conveyed to the relevant parties."

"As a religious organization, we are particularly concerned that religious freedom is respected in all countries for all citizens," Gallagher concluded. "That is why we intentionally raise these matters at such high-level international meetings. We seek to ensure that nations honor their commitments to freedom of conscience and human rights, and that violations of people's religious liberties are not disregarded."

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