UN Human Rights Council Urged to Address Global Discrimination Against Shincheonji Church Members

The international human rights organization CAP LC has formally submitted a joint written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council, highlighting growing concerns regarding the systemic discrimination and social stigma faced by members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The NGO asserts that unverified narratives originating in South Korea are influencing administrative and judicial decisions abroad, potentially violating the fundamental rights of religious minorities.

CAP LC, which maintains special consultative status with the UN, argues that official bodies in nations like the United Kingdom and Germany are increasingly utilizing biased terminology and anecdotal evidence to disadvantage religious practitioners. This trend, they warn, sets a dangerous precedent where subjective public sentiment overrides established legal standards, impacting everything from workplace rights to administrative registrations.

The organization further criticized the conflation of political participation with religious collusion in South Korea, urging the government to uphold the principle of religious neutrality. By advocating for due process and evidence-based legal scrutiny, the statement emphasizes that the treatment of Shincheonji serves as a critical test for how states protect the rights of minority groups within the global community.