wfn.org | Human Rights-International Lawyers' Convention

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 30, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
www.stanet.ch/APD/2000/GK 

Taking a Stand for Human Rights-International 
Lawyers' Convention

Toronto, Canada.     Lawyers and religious liberty 
experts from around the world gathered in Toronto 
on June 27, to discuss their responsibility in the 
face of growing levels of religious persecution 
throughout the world. 

The convention, one of a number of events held in 
Toronto prior to the Seventh-day Adventist World 
Session 2000 from June 29-July 8, provided a 
networking opportunity for attorneys concerned 
about religious liberty issues. "The main purpose 
of this event was to facilitate a dialogue between 
legal professionals wanting to actively promote 
freedom of faith around the world," says 
conference organizer and attorney Barry Bussey, an 
Adventist Church leader based in Oshawa, Canada. 

Citing the bulldozing of an Adventist Church in 
Turkmenistan by government authorities in 
November, 1999, as an example, Bussey says that 
there is "a growing chorus echoing throughout the 
world" of people who have been, and continue to 
be, affected by religious persecution. 

In his introductory remarks, Bussey told 
participants that "we are becoming acutely aware 
that we have a responsibility" to people of faith 
around the world who are facing religious 
persecution. 

John Graz, religious liberty director for the 
Adventist Church worldwide, reported on the state 
of religious freedom around the globe, using 
material researched and compiled for the Adventist 
Church's annual report to the United Nations. 
Local Toronto lawyer Dr. Janet Epp-Buckingham, 
focused on ways lawyers can use their voices more 
effectively in fighting religious persecution both 
at home and abroad, calling for lawyers to be 
"vigilant against disinformation and 
discrimination" even in countries that profess 
religious freedom. 

Other speakers and participants included Steve 
McFarland, executive director for the United 
States Commission on International Religious 
Freedom; Dr. Derek Davis, of the J.M. Dawson 
Institute at Baylor University in Texas; and Dr. 
Clarence Hodges, religious liberty director for 
the Adventist Church in North America. [Editor: 
Bettina Krause for ANN/APD]