WeAreN 2016 New York

Christians account for 80% of persecuted minorities. They are victims of the deliberate infliction of conditions of life that are calculated to bring about their physical destruction in whole or in part. They are being murdered, beheaded, crucified, beaten, extorted, abducted, and tortured. They have been victims of summary executions. They have been enslaved and forcibly converted to Islam.
Women and girls in particular have been subjected to forms of sexual violence such as rape, and have been victims of forced marriages and human trafficking. Children have been transferred to other groups and forcibly recruited. Christian churches and religious and cultural sites have been vandalized. Christian towns, villages, and districts have been devastated. Christians have suffered the interruption of humanitarian aid supplies and the bombardment of their homes by the so-called “ISIS/Da’esh”.
The European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the United States Congress (by unanimous vote of 393 members in favor and 0 against), Pope Francis, and Christian leaders from a broad array of faith traditions have called ISIS/ Da’esh’s actions against Christians and other religious minorities acts of genocide.
The WeAreN2016 Congress took place in New York from April 28th to April 30th. The event brought together experts and witnesses of the atrocities and exodus suffered by Christians and other religious minorities in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, and other countries.
These witnesses was invited to speak at the United Nations headquarters in order to address world leaders and call them to take action on this important issue.
The conference #WeAreN2016 took place in New York City (USA) from the 28th to the 30th of April. The event brought together experts and witnesses of the atrocities and the exodus suffered by Christians and other religious minorities in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and other countries. They were invited to share their experiences at the United Nations’ headquarters in order to call the main world leaders to action.
Opening, Ignacio Arsuaga (President of CitizenGO and HazteOir.org)
F. Douglas Al‐Bazi (Chaldean Priest kidnapped by the Islamic State. Erbil, Iraq)
Mons Joseph Danlami Bagobiri -Nigeria (Bishop of Kafanchan, Nigeria)
Jean-Clément Jeanbart, Catholic Archbishop Greek-Melkite
from Alepo
F. Rodrigo Miranda, missionary in Siria
Sister María de Guadalupe, missionary in Siria
Drew Bowling, political advisor
Kirsten Evans (Chief Executive Director of In Defense of Christians)
Samia Sleman. Yazidí kidnapped by the Islamic State
Carl y Marsha Mueller. Parents of Kayla Mueller, aid worker kidnapped and killed by the Islamic State
Nina Shea. Director of the Religious Freedom Center
Eisham y Asiq Masih. Husband and daughter of Asia Bibi
Joseph Fadelle. Iraqi writer converted to Christianism
Closing by Lola Velarde. Director of the conference