Defend and promote freedom of belief or religion as a universal, inalienable and non-derogable human right for all persons, for individuals and communities of ASEAN, the Association of nations of Southeast Asia; work toward the nondiscriminatory realization, where there is no discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, indigenous identity, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, and disabilities; enhance global and regional cooperation by working across geographical, national boundaries: are the commitments solemnly undertaken by organizations for the protection of human rights, NGOs, associations, with offices in the countries of Southeast Asia gathered recently in Bangkok ( from 30 September to 1 October 2015)
As Fides learns, the event, co-organized by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), the "International Commission of Jurists" (ICJ), and "Boat People SOS" was attended by members of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on human Rights and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the rights of women and children and the UN.
Special Rapporteur on Freedom on Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt.
Bielefeldt stressed that in Southeast Asia, "The politicization of religion undermines freedom of religion or belief, not only to the detriment of minorities, but also of followers of majority religions who do not wish to see their faith be turned into a tool of political power gambling".
Among the Christian organizations present, Christian Solidarity Worldwide noted that the meeting represented a unique opportunity, because "people of different religions, from all over Southeast Asia, could meet and talk of intolerance and freedom of religion in that region". The perspective is to build "a platform of organizations that together promote religious freedom in the ASEAN area".
Source: http://www.fides.org/
