Standing Together for Religious Freedom and Human Rights
FFWPU Netherlands held a conference in The Hague on September 21 focusing on human rights and religious freedom in Japan, marking the International Day of Human Rights.
Keynote speaker Toru Goto shared his personal testimony about the 12 years and five months he spent in forced confinement while being pressured to abandon his faith, highlighting the serious impact of violations of freedom of thought, conscience and belief.
Three human rights attorneys and the Associate Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) Brussels then examined the legal situation surrounding religious freedom in Japan and discussed the role of international mechanisms, including the Rome Statute, in protecting fundamental religious freedoms.
Following the formal program, leaders and representatives from various religious organizations took part in a networking lunch and exchanged views on human rights and religious freedom issues affecting members in both Japan and Korea.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of international solidarity in protecting freedom of religion and universal human rights.
