RLP ANNUAL CONSULTATION 2017



The purpose of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) is to encourage and nurture partnering and collaboration among Christian organizations focused on religious liberty. With members from over 20 countries, the RLP seeks to work more intentionally together to increase advocacy, assistance, and awareness about the people facing religious restrictions globally. Although the members of the RLP are Christian-based organisations, the RLP supports and advocates religious freedom for all. In the past several years, the RLP has collaboratively addressed religious liberty issues and challenges in many countries including Afghanistan, China, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Annually, the RLP conducts its global consultation bringing together leaders from around the world who work to protect religious freedom. In 2017, for the first time the meeting will be in Brazil and ANAJURE (National Association of Christian Lawyers in Brazil) was chosen to host the Consultation. The event is one of the most important in the world with regard to Freedom of Religion.

Venue

Quality Hotel & Suites, located at SMAS, Trecho 03, Conjunto 02, Block A - Guará, Brasília - Distrito Federal, Brazil.

Photos

Date

From 03 to 06 April 2017

Speakers

Dr. Uziel Santana

President of the National Association of Evangelical Cristians Lawyers in Brazil (ANAJURE). Professor of Law at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie and Federal University of Sergipe. Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA-FD). President of the Inter-American Federation of Christian Jurists (FIAJC). Secretary of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) for Latin America.

Dr. Davi Charles Gomes

Chancellor of the Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Graduated and Master in Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics from Theological Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church / Philadelphia Theological Seminary and Ph.D. in Historical, Theological and Apologetic Studies by Westminster Theological Seminary.

Pr. Cassiano Luz

Theologian and specialist in Urban Theology and Intercultural Anthropology, Former Executive Director of SEPAL (Serving Pastors and Leaders) and Missionary of MEVA (Evangelical Mission of the Amazon), He is currently the President of AMTB (Brazilian Transcultural Missions Association) and Director of World Vision.

Pr. Ronaldo Lidório

Pastor at Brazilian Presbyterian Church, consultant to the World Evangelical Alliance, PhD in Intercultural Studies and Anthropology from Royal London University. He has worked for nine years in North-West Africa, among the konkomba-bimonkpeln people, as a church planter and New Testament translator, but at present he leads a missionary team among several indigenous ethnic groups in the Brazilian Amazon.

Dep. Leonardo Quintão

Federal Deputy in Brazil. President of the Parliamentary Coalition for Refugees and Humanitarian Aid of the National Congress; Member of the IPPFoRB (International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief) Steering Committee.

Pr. Russell Stendal

As a missionary and pilot in the Colombian jungle he was kidnapped in 1983 by guerrilla rebels, being held for five months. As a writer, among other books, in his series "Rescue the Captors," he recounted his missionary experience among FARC guerrillas. He has edited two Bible translations for local languages. He is currently directing a work called "Colombia for Christ", where he conducts missions through radio stations in remote areas of Colombia.

Dep. Gerardo Amarilla

Doctor in Law and Social Sciences, Master in Environmental Law, Professor of Constitutional law and Legal Bases Environmental. BA in International Legal Studies at Handong Global University. Deputy and currently chairman of the House of Representatives of Uruguay.

Dr. Liviu Olteanu

He is PhD and is currently serving as the Secretary General of the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (IADRL/AIDLR). He is an observer and representative at the United Nations in Geneva, New York and Vienna, a permanent representative at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels and representative at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and at the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (O.S.C.E.) in Warsaw, Poland. Liviu Olteanu has achieved the title of Doctor in Law “Summa Cum Laude” following his doctoral studies at the universities of Madrid and Oxford, on “Origins and Horizon for the Fight of Religious Liberty. The United Nations and Diplomacy in Action for the Protection of Religious Liberty”. He has also earned a Bachelor’s degree in law, a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in theology, a Master’s degree in education, the title of Expert in human rights, a degree in diplomatic and international studies, and a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Law (DEA). He received a scholarship from Oxford University where he worked with Professor Joseph Raz. He is the author of articles, studies and books on education and culture, international law, human rights, diplomacy and geopolitics, religion, religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

Dug. Bandow

He is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, specializing in foreign policy and civil liberties. He worked as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and editor of the political magazine Inquiry. He writes regularly for leading publications such as Fortune magazine, National Interest, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Times. Bandow speaks frequently at academic conferences, on college campuses, and to businesse groups. He has been a regular commentator on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC. He holds a JD from Stanford University.

Prof. Janet Epp Buckingham

She is a professor at Trinity Western University and the Director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre, an Ottawa-based, live-in, extension program focusing on leadership in public policy, business and communications. She has been the Director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre since 2006. Janet researches and publishes on religious freedom in Canada and internationally. She is also interested in the relationship faith, public policy and the legal system. Janet has lived and studied in England, France and South Africa. Before teaching at Trinity Western, Janet was the Executive Director of Christian Legal Fellowship (1991-94) and worked with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada as general legal counsel (1999-2003) and director, law and public policy (2003-2006).

Mr. Mervyn Thomas

A passionate advocate for the right to religious freedom, Mervyn speaks at conferences and churches both in the UK and internationally. He is a member of the World Assemblies of God Religious Freedom Commission, Chairman of the Religious Liberty Partnership (an international network of organisations focused on religious liberty,) and is is a member of the Foreign Office Advisory Group on freedom of religion or belief. Mervyn has been Chief Executive since 1999, and was one of the founding members of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) over thirty years ago.

Mr. Brian F. O’Connell

Brian has served as the facilitator of the Religious Liberty Partnership since its founding in 2007. He is also the CEO of REACT Services which catalyzes, facilitates and coaches global issue-based networks and partnering efforts, including ones addressing refugees, orphans, and vulnerable children. In a previous senior leadership positions with World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the National Association of Evangelicals (USA), he helped launch the WEA Religious Liberty Commission and the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted.

Programme

Monday, 3 April

09:30

ARRIVALS

Registration opens

13:00

Lunch

15:00

Private meeting for the RLP members

16:30

Coffee Break

17:00

Private meeting for the RLP members

18:00

Dinner

19:30

Opening Session
Plenary Session #1
- Dr. Uziel Santana, President of ANAJURE and FIAJC
- Dr. Davi Charles Gomes, Chancellor of Mackenzie Prebyterian University

Launch of ANAJURE Book / Report in the OAS: Religious Freedom in the Inter-American System of Human Rights

Tuesday, 4 April

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Plenary #2
Pr. Ronaldo Lidório, Brazilian Theologian and writer

09:30

Plenary #3
- Focus on Cuba
- Focus on Mexico

Prayer for the Persecuted

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

Plenary #4 - Private meeting for the RLP members

12:30

Lunch

14:30

Meeting at Brazilian National Congress
- Dep. Leonardo Quintão, Federal Deputy President of the Joint Parliamentary Front for Refugees and Humanitarian Aid (FPMRAH)
- Dr. Uziel Santana, President of ANAJURE and FIAJC
- Dep. Gerardo Amarilla, Deputy and President of the National Congress of Uruguay
The public session will be in the Auditorium Senator Antônio Carlos Magalhães - Interlegis, Address: Annex E of the Federal Senate - Civic-Administrative Zone, Brasília - DF, 70165-900.

17:00

Audience with the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Michel Temer

18:00

Dinner

20:00

Private Session: Reserved meeting with MENA ambassadors and Brazilian and UN authorities

Wednesday, 5 April

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Plenary #5
Pr. Cassiano Luz, Pastor and President of AMTB

09:30

Plenary #6: "Global Secularism"
- Dr. Liviu Olteanu, AIDRL
- Mr. Doug Bandow, Cato Institute
- Dr. Janet Epp-Buckingham, Trinity Western University
- Dep. Gerado Amarilla, Uruguay

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

Plenary #7
- Colombia: Russell Stendal
- Prayer for the persecuted

13:00

Lunch

15:00

Plenary #8
- Apostasy Laws: Focus on Malaysia (Kamal Fahmi / Eugene Yapp)
- Research Task Group (Christof Sauer)

16:30

Coffee Break

17:00

Plenary #9 - Private meeting for the RLP members

18:00

Dinner

19:30

Private meeting for the RLP members

Thursday, 6 April

08:00

Breakfast

09:00

Moment of prayer and devotion

09:30

Private meeting for the RLP members

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

Next steps and the way forward:
- Declaration on Refugees
- RLP 2018 Consultation
- Communion and Conclusion

13:00

Lunch

15:00

DEPARTURES

Costs

Single Accommodation*
R$ 2.935,67


Double Accommodation (per person)*
R$ 2.496,32


PARTICIPATION IN THE LECTURES (without lodging)
R$ 300,00 (Reais - Brazilian currency)


PARTICIPATION IN THE LECTURES (without lodging and with food: lunch from Monday to Thursday and dinner from Monday to Wednesday)
R$ 800,00 (Reais - Brazilian currency)


* This value also includes:


Conference Fees

Meals – breakfast from Tuesday to Thursday, lunch from Monday to Thursday, and dinner from Monday to Wednesday and coffee breaks

Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport


Special session at National Congress of Brazil

Simultaneous Translation Services (English, Spanish and Portuguese)

Certificate of participation in the Annual Consultation of RLP 2017


Transfer do Hotel para Embaixada/Embaixada para o Hotel

Recepção na Embaixada com Embaixadores do MENA e outras partes do mundo, autoridades do MRE e das Nações Unidas

Registration