Who We are

//

What's happening

//

Our Cases

Featured Page

Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

Active Cases

Save Christians From Murder in Congo

Save Christians From Murder in...

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has once again become the site of unspeakable violence , with Christian communities being targeted by terrorists and militant forces. On February 15, over 70 Christians – primarily women, children, and the elderly – were added to the list of victims when they were abducted...More

Sign Petition

>

Cases

>

News

>

Petitions

>

Who We Are

>

Sign Up For Updates

>

<

UN Human Rights Council Submissions and Oral Interventions

We have long been advocating for the protection of Nigerian Christians who have been facing extreme persecution and violence at the hands of Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen. Now, the United States has officially designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for its violations of religious freedom.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The purpose of this act is, among other things, “to strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of religion; . . . .”  Nigeria now joins Burma, China, Eritrea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries that are “engaging in or tolerating ‘systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.’”

We have told you numerous horrific stories of persecution that Christians in Nigeria face on a daily basis. It was reported that more than 1,200 Nigerian Christians were killed at the hands of Boko Haram in the first half of 2020 alone.  We have delivered numerous written submissions and oral interventions to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) calling for immediate action to be taken to put an end to the senseless violence being carried out against Nigerian Christians. In our most recent report to the UNHRC, we stated:

Clearly, horrific acts of aggression are violating the peaceful lives of Christians in Nigeria. In order to prevent further loss of life, to end increasingly religiously motivated violence, and to address this massive humanitarian crisis, we must act now. Again, the U.N. Charter calls for the removal of threats to peace, and the Genocide Convention calls on the U.N. to prevent acts of genocide, not merely to respond to them. It is of utmost importance that meaningful action be taken immediately to put an end to the daily violence that Christians in Nigeria are facing. Repeatedly they cry out to their government and the international community for help, but no one responds.

Now, the United States has put Nigeria on notice and promises to continue to engage on this issue.  As stated in the State Department press release:

And yet our work is far from complete. The United States will continue to work tirelessly to end religiously motivated abuses and persecution around the world, and to help ensure that each person, everywhere, at all times, has the right to live according to the dictates of conscience.

We are encouraged by this recent development but recognize that the fight is not over.

The ACLJ will continue to fight for Christians being persecuted in Nigeria and all around the world. It is critical that everyone is permitted to live out their Christian faith without fear of violence and persecution.

527,385

Signatures

Jordan Sekulow  //

Jun 18, 2025

“Violence against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached alarming levels in recent months.” Those were the words I just delivered in front of the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) this...

CeCe Heil  //

Sep 26, 2023

The Human Rights Council was established at the United Nations to promote and protect human rights around the world. It holds three sessions a year and discusses the pressing human rights issues that require...

Shaheryar Gill  //

Sep 18, 2023

Christians are facing increasing persecution and violence in the world’s most populous nation – India – and we’re taking direct action to defend them from this rapidly deteriorating human rights situation.