United Nations, NGO's, Policy Groups Participate

Contact: Lindsay Vessey, 801-512-1713, Lindsay@venninstitute.org

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Jubilee Campaign is cosponsoring a United Nations side event with Venn Institute, International Christian Response, and International Christian Voice on October 28, 2013, at the United Nations Church Center. This important event will highlight the perilous situation and rampant religious persecution of women and girls in the Middle East.

EVENT DETAILS

Location: UN Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Date: October 28, 2013

Time: 9:30 AM - 11 AM

RSVP: Please RSVP by October 27th to admin@venninstitute.org

Several key experts on this issue will share their expertise from an academic perspective as well as from personal experience. Panelists include Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, UN special rapporteur for freedom of religion or belief; Sabatina James, founder of  Sabatina-Freedom for Women in Chains; and Peter Bhatti, president of International Christian Voice. 

Women and girls suffer disproportionately from religious persecution and few efforts have been made to draw attention to their dire predicament. Religious persecution against women and girls includes frequent beatings, rapes, kidnapping of girls and forced marriages to their kidnappers followed by forced conversions, discrimination in education and jobs based on gender and religion, and much more. Religious persecution also deeply impacts women through the death or imprisonment of male family members who often are the providers for their families. Often women of minority faiths are left with few options to provide for their families and endure great physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual hardship with little help.

This event is open to diplomatic staff, media and the general public.

Jubilee Campaign promotes the human rights and religious liberty of ethnic and religious minorities; advocates the release of prisoners of conscience imprisoned on account of their faith; advocates for and assists refugees fleeing religious based persecution; and protects and promotes the dignity and safety of children from bodily harm and sexual exploitation.  Jubilee Campaign holds special consultative status with ECOSOC at the United Nations.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact lindsay@venninstitute.org.