Human Rights Council

As an integral facet of its Global Advocacy Campaign, MPV has been engaged with the UN Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies in Geneva to ensure that a progressive and inclusive Muslim voice is represented in this crucial international forum. MPV's work in this space generally falls under 1) Human Rights Council Statements ; 2) Collaboration with Special Rapporteurs ; 3) Universal Periodic Review Stakeholder Submissions.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL STATEMENTS

Since 2014, MPV has delivered statements, drafted in collaboration with other human rights organizations, during official Council sessions on human rights issues ranging from freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

2019

September Session

Precolonial Societies on Gender and Sexuality: A Hindu, Muslim and Indigenous Peoples' Perspective

In September 2019, MPV hosted a Panel at the Human Rights Council entitled “Precolonial Societies on Gender and Sexuality: A Hindu, Muslim and Indigenous Peoples' Perspective.” The panel was co-organized by GIN-SOGGIE and sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Iceland and Permanent Mission of South Africa. The panel featured stories celebrating diversity, love, and inclusion by centering the voices of marginalized people, predominantly from the Global South, who represent pre-colonial cultural and religious traditions and contexts that are inclusive and affirming of #LGBTIQ people around the world. Speakers included: Imam Dr. Ludovic-Mohammed Zahed (Islam, Algeria/France), Dr Yvette Abrahams (Khoesan indigenous spirituality, South Africa), Manisha Dhakal (Hindu, Nepal), and Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere (Maori indigenous spirituality, New Zealand). The keynote speaker was Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko (South Africa) and the moderator was Ani Zonneveld (President, Muslims for Progressive Values). Please enjoy the video of the event, embedded to the right.

July Session

CEDAW Report on Tunisia

In July 2019, MPV, partnering with the International Human Rights Center of Loyola Law School (Los Angeles) and Association Tunisienne Des Femmes Democrates, submitted a parallel report on Tunisia’s report on its implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). You may read the report here.

June Session

From the Political to the Personal:(Mis)understandings of the Freedom of Religion and Belief and Freedom of Expression Across the World.

On June 24, MPV hosted a side event at the Human Rights Council entitled: “From the Political to the Personal:(Mis)understandings of the Freedom of Religion and Belief and Freedom of Expression Across the World.” We had an esteemed high-level panelists with the Secretary General and Vice Minister of the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands Ms. Yoka Brandt giving the keynote speech, announcing the hosting of the Istanbul Process at the The Hague. Other panelists were: Professor Elham Manea (University of Zurich), Ahmed Shaheed (Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief), Eamon Gilmore (EU Special Representative for Human Rights), and Dr. Imam Arben Ramkaj, Chairman of Interreligious Collaboration Center. Chairing the panel was Ani Zonneveld.

Transcript of the speech: Keynote Address from Vice Minister of the Foreign Ministry of the the Netherlands, Ms. Yoka Brandt at “From the Political to the Personal: (Mis)understandings of the Freedom of Religion and Belief and Freedom of Expression Across the World” (See Video to the Right).

Religious Communities Affirming LGBTIQ People Around the World

On July 2, MPV co-hosted a side event entitled “Religious Communities Affirming LGBTIQ People Around the World.” This side event sought to amplify the efforts of people of faith and share the realities lived by individuals and communities from different contexts around the world, particularly from key affected contexts (mostly in the Global South), and most especially, inclusive religious experiences and interpretations.

Transcript of Joint Statement made in support of Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2, and the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

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2018

May Session

Symposium Freedom of Religion or Belief , Cultural Rights and Women: Promoting a Gendered Perspective on Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion.

On May 23, 2018, MPV organized with the Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands a Symposium on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Cultural Rights, and Women, held at the United Nations in Geneva, in partnership with Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM), and the offices of the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Cultural Rights. The goal of this symposium was to ask critical questions as to what religious, cultural, or nationalist narratives inhibit women and girls from exercising their freedom of religion or belief, their rights to cultural life, and their right to free expression.

Our A-list panelists were: Ahmed Shaheed (UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief), Karima Bennoune, (UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights), Walid Doudech (Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the UN), Monique T.G. van Daalen (Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN), Carl Hallergard (Deputy Head of the E.U. Delegation to the UN), Dr. Liviu Olteanu (IADRL-EU), Professor Amel Grami (Tunisia), Liliana Religa (Federation for Women and Family Planning - Poland), Fernanda San Martin, MP (Bolivia), Fawzia al Ashmawi (President of the European Forum for Muslim Woman), and Ani Zonneveld.

Copy of Report from “Symposium on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Cultural Rights and Women: Promoting a Gendered Perspective on Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion.”

2017

March Session

Facing the Global Avalanche of Hate

On 3 March 2017, during the Human Rights Council March session, MPV co-sponsored a side event hosted by UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights, Karima Bennoune, along with the Center for the Study of Human rights of the London School of Economics, the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), the Fonds pour les femmes en Méditerranée, and Freemuse. During the event, entitled "Facing up to the Global Avalanche of Hate: The Impact of Fundamentalism and Extremism on Cultural Rights," the Special Rapporteur gave a compelling discussion on her recent report detailing a human rights approach to preserving cultural rights from extremism. This discussion was buttressed by the insights of several panelists, including those of: Mr Magnus Ag (Freemuse), Ms Samia Allalou (Fond pour les femmes en Méditerranée), Professor Cheran Bhatt (LSE), Ms Alejandra Sarda-Chandiramani (AWID), and MPV Founder and President Ani Zonneveld, who served as moderator. There is a video of the event available below. There is also a copy of the Special Rapporteur's report available on her website.

2016

June Session

MPV Takes on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Sexuality

Attendees of the Freedom of Religion and Belief and Sexuality Conference, Geneva, June 2016

On 8-10 June 2016, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, in partnership with Muslims for Progressive Values, held a three-day private conference and public event on freedom of religion and belief and sexuality. This report summarizes the panel discussions and presentations that took place during the private segment of the conference as well as the public event, which featured civil society actors and UN experts examining issues at the intersection of freedom of religion and belief and sexuality.

March Session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights Statement by Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit - COC Nederland in close consultation with Muslims for Progressive Values

June Session

September Session

Statement by the Allied Rainbow Communities International in Consultation with Muslims for Progressive Values the Item 4 – Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

2014

June Session

Collaboration with Special rapporteurs

Additionally, MPV has forged working and collaborative relationships with specific human rights experts known as Special Procedures mandate holders (or Special Rapporteurs), and regularly submits information to be reviewed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) during Special Procedures report drafting processes. More information on the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies, including the mandates of the Special Procedures, can be found here. For a list of events featuring UN Special Rapporteurs, please visit our UN Events page.

June Session

MPV Brings Together Human Rights and Progressive Islam

MPV’s Ani Zonneveld spoke on a side panel to the United Nations Human Rights Council Session 26 on the topic of Human Rights and Progressive Islam: its theological application on countering “blasphemy laws”, the support for separation of religion and state, gender equality and LGBTQI rights. Watch the video.

During the 26th Session of the Human Rights Council, MPV collaborated with the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) to deliver an oral statement in response to the report by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief Heiner Bielefeldt on preventing violence in the name of religion. Read and watch the statement.

MPV Goes to Geneva for Global Advocacy Tour

As part of MPV’s global advocacy tour, when MPV returned to Geneva, Switzerland for meetings with civil society leaders, diplomats and United Nations’ officials countering radicalism and human rights abuses in the name of Islam as well as addressing discriminatory practices toward Muslims in Europe with solutions. MPV also met with progressive Muslim civil society and UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of and from Religion and Belief in Berlin, Germany.

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

MPV is also actively engaged with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which offers entry points for civil society organizations to submit Stakeholder Reports (or “shadow reports”) which highlight country-specific human rights issues to the State-led UPR Working Group tasked with evaluating the human rights track records of fellow UN Member States. Detailed information on the UPR process can be found here.

Through its stakeholder reports, MPV addresses intolerant positions and assaults on human rights that are being justified in the name of Islam. MPV seeks to change the narrative and reshape the perception of Islam as a loving, inclusive and human rights-promoting faith. MPV does this by engaging in constructive dialogue on human rights issues with various stakeholders at global policy platforms, while simultaneously raising awareness of such issues in relation to Islam at the grassroots level.