The NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief was formed in 1991 to promote and defend international agreements protecting freedom of religion or belief from within the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
The Committee, which consists of civil society leaders and organizations with UN consultative status, advances freedom of religion or belief by coordinating NGO activities in New York City. The aim to reinforce UN efficacy in protecting the rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief; communicating with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, other relevant UN Offices, and UN member states. The committee works with concerned NGOs both in New York and in Geneva.
Our current Bureau consists of:
Jonathan Ammons (President) is the Associate Director of Public & International Affairs at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He currently serves as President of NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief and is a Term Member at Council on Foreign Relations.Kelsey Zorzi (Vice President) is an international human rights lawyer. She is the Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International and Vice President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.John Wagner (Secretary) serves as the American Humanist Association’s representative to the United Nations through the DPI/NGO program. Wagner serves as the Vice President of the board of the Center for Freethought Equality. He serves on the board of the Secular Humanist Society of New York and also represents the International Humanist and Ethical Union at the United Nations. John is a Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Cell Biology & Genetics at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and serves as the secretary for the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.Scott Stearman (Treasurer) is the lead representative of the Baptist World Alliance to the United Nations and directs the International Advocacy Baptist Collaborative that seeks to amplify and coordinate the advocacy work of the global Baptist family. He is vice chair of the board of trustees for the Parliament of World Religions and writes regularly on the intersection of religion and international/cultural affairs. For over three decades, he served as a pastor in the Christian (Baptist) tradition. His educational background includes theological degrees from Southwestern and Princeton Seminaries and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma. He serves as the Treasurer for the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.Christen Broecker (member at large) was an IILJ Scholar from 2005-2009. After receiving her J.D. and L.L.M in International Legal Studies from NYU Law in 2009, she joined Human Rights Watch, where she investigated the state of human rights in Indonesia and produced advocacy materials to combat violations there. She is currently the Deputy Director at the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights and a member at large for the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.Alan Gold (member at large) has a biology and naturalist background. He is a writer, columnist in local papers and Afghan Times, photo journalist, and participant in numerous non-profits and charities where he often serves on their boards. He spent two years in Afghanistan with the Peace Corps from 1971 to 1973 and then spent time traveling the world until 1975. He has worked with the Smithsonian to collect reptiles in Central Asia and worked in life insurance CLU and brokerage (MS in Financial Services) until 2016. He is now retired and married with three children and six grandkids. He serves as a member at large for the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or belief.Daniel Hoffman (member at large) is a former senior executive Clandestine Services officer in the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served three times as Station Chief, and as Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division. His combined 30 years of distinguished government service included high-level positions not only within the CIA, but also with the U.S. military, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Commerce.
Hoffman is a member at large for the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. He graduated from Bates College with a B.A. in History as well as a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (2006).
Bani Dugal (member ex officio) is the Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the UN. As part of the community of international NGOs at the UN since 1994, she is currently serving on the Steering Committee of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council.
She has served as President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief (and is currently a member ex officio), as co-facilitator of the NGO Working Group on UN Access, co-facilitator of the GEAR campaign (Gender Equality Architecture Reform), Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, and Chair of the Global Forum of the NGO Committee on UNICEF and member of the Steering Committee of the NGO Committee on UNICEF’s Working Group on Girls, Convener of the NGO Committee on UNIFEM and Convener of the Advocates for African Food Security.
Bani holds a Master’s degree (LL.M) in Environmental Law from Pace University School of Law, New York, and a law degree (LL.B) from the University of Delhi, India. She has authored published articles, statements, and papers. Prior to relocating to the U.S. in 1988, she practiced law before the Supreme Court of India.
NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief 