A/80/205
60. Faith-based organizations often play a vital role in the provision of essential
services to displaced persons, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, and often fill
gaps left by States. This is particularly the case in the provision of the “community
dimension of religious practice”, which many States tend to overlook in their
integration policies. 98
61. In Cyprus, several Christian groups and the Imam of the Hala Sultan Tekke
mosque provide material support to asylum-seekers, along with counselling and
pastoral care. Furthermore, the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process 99 brings
together faith representatives to promote understanding and cooperation. 100
62. The British Humanist Association runs the Faith to Faithless project, which
supports non-religious asylum-seekers in documenting their blasphemy or apostasy
for the purpose of their asylum claims. 101
63. In Morocco, faith-based organizations provide access to places of worship;
facilitate interfaith dialogue; provide advocacy support and legal assistance; provide
practical and humanitarian support, including basic needs assistance and support in
gaining access to integration services, shelter and temporary housing; support victims
of sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking; and support the burial and
repatriation of deceased migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. 102
64. The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and
Intercultural Dialogue organized the fifth European Policy Dialogue Forum, which
was focused on addressing hate speech against migrants and refugees. 103
65. Initiatives across denominational divides have included the case of the
Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, the
members of which were exiled to the Republic of Korea, where their asylum was
denied, and subsequently detained in Bangkok for overstaying their tourist visas. At
the risk of repatriation to China, they relocated to Texas, United States of America,
where they have built a permanent home with the support of other Christian
denominations. 104
66. In many places, faith-based organizations face hurdles and restrictions. This
includes detentions and accusations of proselytism for persons working with faith based humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to
power. 105 Special procedure mandate holders have also raised concerns regarding the
criminalization, investigations and administrative detentions of human rights
defenders concerned with the welfare of people on the move, including through their
provision of life-saving humanitarian aid and sea rescue operations. 106 Such
humanitarian initiatives are, understandably, sometimes inspired by religion or belief
and operated by faith-based organizations.
67. In only Benue State, Nigeria, it is estimated that the internally displaced
population stands at 2 million due to violence, especially Fulani militant attacks,
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98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
16/23
A/HRC/34/50/Add.1, para. 48.
See www.religioustrack.com/about.
Confidential submission.
See www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/religion/cfis/cfi -ga80/subm-freedomreligion-belief-cso-12-humanists-uk.pdf.
Confidential submission.
See www.kaiciid.org/epdf.
See www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/religion/cfis/cfi -ga80/subm-freedomreligion-belief-cso-4-christian-solidarity-worldwide.pdf.
Confidential submission.
See communications GRC 3/2022, ITA 1/2023, ITA 4/2024, LVA 1/2023, TUN 6/2024 and TUN
1/2025.
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