Yury H. organizes George Washington University chapter of Amnesty International's Report on Japan’s Abduction Issue

Students at the George Washington University chapter of Amnesty International will host an event focused on the Japan deprogramming issue of Unificationists in Marvin Center, Room 311, 800 21st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 on Tuesday, March 19th at 8:00 p.m. This event is the first in which a U.S- based human rights group has held an event specifically focusing on the abduction of Unificationists, according to the International Coalition for Religious Freedom (ICRF).

Speakers will include Mrs. Ichiko Sudo, host of the “My Moment of Courage” Radio Show in New York, Mr. Luke H., president of Survivors Against Forced Exit (SAFE), Mrs.Yumi Hoshino, a survivor (along with Mr. H.) of forced abduction and coercion, and Mr. Dan Fefferman, president of ICRF. Amnesty International at George Washington University is a student-led chapter of Amnesty International working “to educate the GW community about human rights violations around the world and to take action.”

Yury H., student at George Washington University. One of the organizers of the event is Yury H., 20-year old daughter of Luke H.. Ms. H. is a freshman at George Washington University majoring in International Affairs and double majoring in

Chinese. “Since I am a member of the George Washington University’s chapter of Amnesty International, I just gave the idea to a member of the executive board of the chapter,” Ms. H. tells us.

“While listening to all the human-rights stories from around the world, I thought to myself: ‘Why couldn’t my dad’s story be heard?’ When I hear the horror stories about victims of coercive conversion in Japan, I worry about them,” she added.

“I feel like it’s my responsibility to share what is going on in the world, to show our loyalty to the idea of ‘One Family Under God’,” Ms. H. said.

“I hope many young Unificationists will stand up to raise awareness about the Japan abductions,” Mr. H. tells Familyfed.org. He adds: “Just one Unificationist taking a stand makes a huge difference. I am available for Unificationist students seeking a speaker for their events on campus.”

According to the Brussels-based Human Rights Without Frontiers, “It has been reported that in the Unification Church alone, more than 4,300 members have been victimized by coercive conversion. During the past four decades, over 1,300 adherents have managed to escape their captors, sometimes at great personal risk, and return to their religious communities. They report human rights violations such as long-term confinement, mental and physical abuse, and psychological manipulation designed to force them to recant their faith.”

Mr. Fefferman is the president of the International Coalition for Religious Freedom a non-profit educational organization in Washington D.C. A veteran human-rights activist, editor and publisher, he received his B.A. in political science from the University California at Berkeley and a Divinity diploma from the Unification Theological Seminary. He previously served as secretary general of the Freedom Leadership Foundation and publications director for the American Freedom Coalition in Washington D.C.

Ms. Ichiko Sudo is the host of the “My Moment of Courage” with Ichiko Sudo Radio Show on WHVW Hyde Park on channel 950AM. On her show she gives survivors of human-rights abuse, domestic violence, pedophilia, human trafficking and faith-breaking a voice. She believes that you must shine light on social ills in order to heal. She is the executive advisor of Survivors Against Forced Exit (SAFE), the Advisory Board Representative on Human Rights and Women’s Dignity for the Women’s Federation For World Peace, and the director of the Religious Liberty Committee.

Mr. Luke H. has said that after he heard about a Unificationist who was confined for 12 years against his will, he decided to tell the world about his personal trauma. He started SAFE, an organization that champions the cause of human rights and religious freedom in Japan through working to raise awareness in the United States, support activism, and care for survivors. Mr. H. has been outspoken in demanding that Japan uphold its commitment to human rights domestically.