bellwether (noun): (a) one that takes the lead or initiative: leader: (b) an indicator of trends: (c) the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck
Our Founder
Founder and CEO, Rachel Miner
In 2019, after working with the Yazidis in Iraq, Rachel observed the humanitarian gap for religious minority groups that have experienced genocide, particularly in communities where freedom of religion or belief is violated, ignored, or deemed unimportant. Rachel founded Bellwether International in London, UK to respond to pre- and post- genocide communities who have experienced severe violations of freedom of religion or belief.
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Our model is to recruit locally and implement sustainably. As such, we rely on local partners and community project leaders to collaborate on holistic solutions that ensure peace and stability for years to come. Protecting freedom of religion or belief for one is protecting human rights for all.
AT A GLANCE
Protecting fundamental human rights and what makes us uniquely human
The mission of Bellwether International is to ensure freedom of religion or belief by securing to individuals the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
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Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." It is critical that we understand freedom of religion or belief in this context; that is to say that freedom of religion protects the typical church or institutions associated with the main religious bodies of our world. Freedom of belief protects the belief systems of our world that are not inherently religious such as atheism and agnosticism. Together, freedom of religion or belief, protect freedom of conscience, the right to act on the truths that we hold dear, the right to live in a world of unity and tolerance, the right to be human.
