OIDAC Europe: Lack of response to Christian persecution in the EU and UN

OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe). Photo: ionainstitute.ie

The Austrian non-governmental organization OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe) published its 2022-2023 report on the persecution of Christians in Europe.

It is noted that the EU and other intergovernmental organizations, such as the UN, provide humanitarian aid and are focused on addressing human rights violations and other social conflicts in various countries.

At the same time, as the report states, "many NGOs are raising awareness that the religious persecution of Christians has not been met with a proportionate response from the international community, particularly in the West."

"In the EU, the lack of priority given to the protection of religious freedom became particularly visible as the position of the Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief remained vacant from 2019 to 2022 until finally Frans van Daele was appointed as the new EU Special Envoy," OIDAC Europe emphasizes.

The report particularly highlights that Christian minorities in countries like India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, or other Christian groups such as those in Armenia, suffer from increasing incidence of violence and persecution, which have so far not received considerable media attention apart from some human rights organizations or Christian media.

"Until now, the reaction of international organisations like the EU or the UN has also been disproportionate," the organization concludes.

As previously reported by UOJ, people in Ukraine are being persecuted for their religious affiliation, according to the report.

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