The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur identifies existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and presents recommendations to the Council on ways to overcome these obstacles.

In recent years, the Special Rapporteur has produced several thematic reports on a range of issues, including on Islamophobia and anti-Semitism globally, the intersection of religious freedom with gender equality and freedom of expression, discrimination and violence against individuals in the name of religion, as well as the nexus between security and freedom of religion or belief.

The current mandate holder, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, joins us today to discuss what he thinks are the most pressing challenges to freedom of religion or belief globally.

Read USCIRF’s Factsheet on Shari'a and LGBTI Persons

Click here for Ahmed Shaheed’s report on Report on freedom of religion or belief and gender equality

Featuring:
Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF

Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, United Nations