Through global project work, ACN’s aid reaches millions of suffering and persecuted Christians around the world. However, more is needed to improve their political environment. Our advocacy on behalf of these Christians consists primarily of promoting the exchange of information and organising visits by bishops, priests and religious sisters to Brussels, Washington and Geneva, where they meet with political decision-makers.
We give persecuted Christians a voice.
Mark von Riedemann, Director of Public Afairs and Religious Freedom
In this way, politicians receive first-hand reports on the situation of Christians in conflict areas where the government has largely collapsed and from which the United Nations, diplomats and NGOs have withdrawn for security reasons.
In 2023, in addition to presenting the Religious Freedom Report, which was published in numerous countries (see also page 26), we once again dedicated a large part of our advocacy activities to Nigeria. At the request of our local project partners, ACN had already begun to shed more light on the situation in the “Middle Belt” of the West African country in 2022. Our focus is particularly on the state of Benue, where egregious atrocities are increasingly being committed. We intend to further expand our commitment here in 2024–25.
January
ACN achieved a major success with its advocacy eforts for persecuted Christians in collaboration with like-minded political decision-makers and experts. On 31 January 2023, a bipartisan U.S. Congressional resolution was introduced acknowledging the atrocities committed against Nigerian Christians. The resolution called on the U.S. State Department to place Nigeria back on the list of Countries of Particular Concern and to appoint a special envoy for the Lake Chad region.
July
Resulting from a resolution proposed by ACN on the situation of internally displaced persons there, a UN delegation visited Makurdi, the capital of the Nigerian state of Benue. Previously, the Chairman of the Foreign Afairs Committee of the U.S. Congress had contacted representatives of the United Nations and demanded accountability for the lack of support for internally displaced persons in Benue. The delegate was shocked by the situation and assured that the UN was prepared to support church projects for internally displaced persons.
October
At the suggestion of ACN, the Czech Parliament requested the establishment of a government programme to support persecuted Christians and other religious communities. The decision is still pending.
November
An important ministerial conference on the freedom of religion and belief took place in the Czech Republic during RedWeek 2023. The Czech Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Federation of Jewish Councils and Protestant churches jointly hosted the conference, which was attended by some 400 people from over 50 countries. ACN representatives presented the Religious Freedom Report and moderated important events. RedWeek 2023 was also celebrated in the Croatian Parliament. High-ranking representatives from academia and the media were present, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio and the Israeli ambassador. The Croatian Parliament also presented the Bishop of Ondo, Jude Arogundade, with a donation for Christian families whose relatives were killed in a massacre at Pentecost 2022.
June
In Strasbourg, ACN gave a seminar to members of the European People’s Party who have been campaigning for the protection of Christians for years. The representatives had asked our foundation to organise a seminar on the topic “How to respond to Christian persecution and document abuses”.
September
In a letter to the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, 40 delegates of the European Parliament called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Freedom of Religion and Belief. Information from ACN was also cited. Together with other Catholic organisations, ACN was invited to the U.S. Mission to the Holy See in Rome for a meeting with the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Increasing violence and numerous kidnappings, especially those involving priests and religious sisters, were the impetus be- hind the meeting. ACN arranged a Zoom speech by project partner Sister Nkiru from Nigeria.
October
ACN organised the visit of a Nigerian delegation including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi and other Nigerian representatives to the three bodies of the EU: Parliament, Commission and Member States. During this meeting, the near-daily assaults on Christians, the plight of internally displaced persons and the looming threat of famine were discussed. Another topic was the establishment of an election observation commission in view of the national elections in Nigeria in February 2023. The aim was to involve the Catholic Church in this commission, as it has experience in monitoring electoral transparency.
During a government meeting in the Slovakian capital Bratislava on religious freedom, Nigerian Bishop Wilfred Anagbe met with national government representatives for religious freedom from Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Austria. The Bishop received pledges of support for his requests. All participants were able to send messages to their respective foreign ministers. The Slovakian Parliament then passed a resolution denouncing violations of religious freedom. The resolution also cited ACN’s Religious Freedom Report.
November
ACN participated in the first meeting of the G20 Engagement Group on religion, in Bali, which consisted of 60 people from different countries and religions. Strategic planning for the future of religious freedom was discussed.
December
At a meeting with the European External Action Service on the topic “Violation of religious freedom in Pakistan”, ACN presented documents motivating delegates to advocate for greater religious freedom.
January–February In the run-up to the Pope’s visit to Iraq, ACN’s information material reminded policymakers of the many continuing needs of Iraqi Christians and encouraged member states to continue to participate in rebuilding the infrastructure. Close cooperation with French Dominican Father Olivier Poquillon enabled ACN to take up contact with the French government. This culminated in a visit by President Macron to Iraq and the handover of 1.5 million euros for the reconstruction of the Church infrastructure in Mosul.
April The month was marked by the publication of the Religious Freedom Report 2021 and the subsequent presentation of the publication and findings at various events and platforms initiated by the ACN national offices. The publications generated unprecedented media coverage and reached a potential readership of over 1.2 billion people. Over 50 presentations were made via webinars and in-person conferences to media, policy, legal and advocacy groups worldwide.
July In Washington DC, an international gathering of policymakers, stakeholders and victims of religious persecution took place at the International Religious Freedom Summit in July with some 800 participants. This was convened by the former U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback. ACN was represented by Father Joseph Fidelis from Maiduguri, Nigeria, whose testimony was heard in two panels. ACN also organised bilateral meetings for him with international and US religious freedom groups and other stakeholders.
August During the annual conference of the International Catholic Legislators Network (Frascati, Italy), a gathering of over 200 international politicians and experts, ACN took the lead in briefing the working group on persecuted Christians in Nigeria. Mark von Riedemann and Marcela Szymanski were also able to present the Religious Freedom Report 2021 to Pope Francis at a special meeting for the ICLN at the Vatican.
October Due to pandemic restrictions, a face-toface visit by Cardinal Joseph Coutts of Pakistan with EU representatives was cancelled, and was instead transformed into a series of online meetings.
November–December On the occasion of Red Wednesday in Prague, ACN took the opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. The current foreign minister and leading members of the Christian Democratic Party also attended the meeting. The aim was to take action on the trade agreement with Pakistan and the appointment of a special ambassador for religious freedom.