The UN day for commemorating those who are victims of violence due to religion or belief started as just an idea in Ewelina Ochab’s head – a legal researcher, writer for Forbes and Roman Catholic (pictured above, far left).
Having worked on religious freedom and human rights for nearly four years, she wondered whether it might be helpful to victims and survivors and charities that work with them if there was a day that was recognised worldwide where religious persecution was acknowledged.
“I was always very impressed with how the UN states and civil society mark one of the days focused on acts of violence against women and girls and I wanted to create something similar.”
“It required a lot of work. The first step I took was to approach a number of NGOs…I wanted to hear from them whether they would appreciate having such a day, whether this would help in their work and be appreciated by survivors of such atrocities.”
After hearing positive feedback from aid charities and lobby groups about the idea, she took it forward.
“It’s not only up to the NGOs whether they want to have such a day. To establish such a day, we needed to have states who were willing to support it, who were willing to table it at the UN. So, that was the second step – to approach states to get their support and to approach parliamentarians as well, who could then encourage governments to…
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