About Us
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Dr. Danielle N.
Boaz
President, ICCRR
Associate Professor of Africana Studies,
UNC Charlotte
Dr. Gustavo Melo Cerqueira
Vice President, ICCRR
Babalorixá of Ilê Axé
Omi Ogun siwajú
Commission Goals
01
Raise awareness about discrimination against African and African diaspora religions
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Hold events focused on African and African diaspora religious freedom
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Produce and publish reports about religious racism
02
Promote the right and freedom to practice African and African diaspora religions through international collaboration
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Create transnational working groups to address important barriers to African and African diaspora religious freedom
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Partner with national and international organizations to combat religious intolerance
03
Develop networks of researchers, activists, lawyers, and legislators who are working to advance African and African diaspora religious freedom
Areas of Focus
#1
Legal recognition (continued prohibition of African and African diaspora religions, court decisions declaring that Africana faiths do not meet the legal definition of “religion”)
#4
Employment discrimination (firing, demoting, refusing to hire people because of religious affiliation or religious attire)
#7
Harassment or defamation (including online/social media)
#2
Physical acts of religious intolerance (destruction of places of worship, vandalism, attacks on priests and devotees)
#5
Attempts to restrict or ban the ritual slaughter of animals/ animal sacrifice
#8
Child Custody (interference with the custodial rights of devotees of Africana religions)
#3
Economic discrimination (i.e.- refusal of aid, grants, or other funding to devotees of Africana religions
#6
Police surveillance or police invasion of Africana ceremonies and places of worship
#9
School discrimination (refusal to teach about Africana religions, harassment of student devotees, bans against Africana religious attire in schools, mandatory Christian prayers or religious instruction)