Students in Notre Dame Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic contributed to UN Special Rapporteur Nazila Ghanea’s thematic report on protecting freedom of religion or belief for people on the move—including refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons, and individuals awaiting resettlement.
Appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief is mandated to identify obstacles to the enjoyment of this right and to recommend measures for overcoming those obstacles. In carrying out this mandate, the Special Rapporteur submits annual reports to both the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly, reinforcing States’ obligations under international human rights law to respect, protect, and fulfill the fundamental freedom of religion or belief.
Under the guidance of Clinic attorneys Kimberlie Orr and Domenic Canonico, and Daniel Cloney, Senior Project Research Fellow at Oxford’s Regent’s Park College, clinical law students Holly Fulbright, Shideya Parrilla, and Rania Khamees conducted research and analysis during the Spring 2025 semester that directly informed the Special Rapporteur’s report.
The interim report highlights how displacement often strips people of their ability to practice their religion or beliefs freely. Denial of citizenship and statelessness can prevent access to legal recognition; unsafe camps and detention facilities may restrict worship, community, and religious expression; and forcible returns expose people to renewed persecution. Many also face discrimination, torture, or even killings because of their faith. Together, these harms show how freedom of religion or belief is routinely denied to displaced populations and underscore the urgent need for stronger protections.
“As the report underscores, the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief belongs to everyone, even—and especially—people who are on the move,” said Canonico. “It was a great privilege for us and our students to contribute to Nazila Ghanea’s work on this important mandate.”
JD/MBA student Holly Fulbright reflected, “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Special Rapporteur’s report and humbled to play even a small part in advancing the rights of people on the move.”
Orr emphasized the urgency of these issues: “Highlighting the barriers to freedom of religion or belief faced by people on the move is essential. As displacement continues to grow globally, the international community must not overlook the way religious rights are diminished or denied in these contexts. Our students’ work helps ensure that these voices and experiences are not forgotten.”
Special Rapporteur Nazila Ghanea praised the collaboration. “The Clinic’s contribution to the thematic report on freedom of religion or belief of people on the move has been invaluable,” said Ghanea. “The students’ research was rigorous, and the analysis deeply insightful. What stands out about the Clinic is not only the quality of its work, but also its willingness to address a critical gap in international law and advocacy—meeting a pressing need that directly supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.”
The interim report, published on July 18, 2025, is available on the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner's website, and will be presented by the Special Rapporteur to the UN General Assembly on October 24.