We are a group of current and former Jehovah's Witnesses.  We believe that "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security", as article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees.

We can no longer ignore human rights violations experienced and observed within the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.  Therefore, we petition the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and specifically the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, to change the following policies:

1. Child Protection (Mt 18:5,6)

Proposed Change: First, any allegation of child abuse must be reported to the authorities by the elders, instead of claiming clergy-penitent privilege. (Ro 13:1-4) Second, Watchtower's so called "Two Witness Rule" should not apply in cases of child abuse. In fact, Deuteronomy 22:25-27 shows that a single witness suffices. Finally, the names of known pedophiles should be turned over to the police instead of being hidden away in secret databases at Watchtower branch offices around the world.  Failure to report is failure to protect the security of children inside and outside the community of Jehovah's Witnesses, a right protected by article 3 of the UDHR.

Sadly, Jehovah's Witnesses seem more concerned about protecting the reputation of their organization than they care about protecting children.  According to the Australian Royal Commission inquiry, Jehovah's Witnesses failed to report over 1,000 cases of child sexual abuse in that country alone.  Imagine how many terrible crimes and how much suffering could have been prevented if the perpetrators of these heinous acts were reported to the police! 

https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/case-study-29-jehovahs-witnesses

2. Medical Treatment (Mt 12:10-12)

Proposed Change: Individual Jehovah's Witnesses must be allowed to make their own personal healthcare decisions, especially concerning blood transfusions.  To coerce anyone to refuse potentially life-saving medical treatment in an emergency situation is a violation of articles 3 and 25 of the UDHR.

If a member of Jehovah's Witnesses is in a life threatening medical situation, they should have the right to choose if they will accept a transfusion, instead of being pressured to refuse, threatened with disassociation. To resolve this sensitive issue and potentially save thousands of lives, Dr. Muramoto proposes a don't-ask-don't-tell policy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC479294/  

Thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses, including children, have died because of the Watchtower "No Blood" policy.  This doctrine is man made that goes far beyond what is mandated in the Bible.  The dietary prohibition found in scripture is concerning the consumption of animal blood.  There is absolutely no restriction prohibiting the medical use of blood in the Bible.   

3. Disfellowshipping and Disassociation (Mt 9:10,11)

Proposed Change: Jehovah's Witnesses must respect the human dignity of former members as protected by articles 6 and 7 of the UDHR.  Watchtower must end their shunning policy because it is inhumane treatment and a cruel punishment, which violates article 5 of the UDHR.  Individuals should be free to leave the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses without losing their loved ones, as article 18 of the UDHR guarantees.  Finally, article 2 of the UDHR ensures that the above rights apply to all, without distinction of any kind, such as sex, religion, or other status. 

Disfellowshipped and disassociated people are still people. LGBTQ people are still people. Everyone should be treated the way Jesus Christ treated people, even his enemies, with agape love. (Lu 6:35,6) Homophobia, hate speech, and discrimination are violations of human rights. Jehovah's Witnesses should treat former members of their religion the same way they treat non-believers, with kindness and respect. 

"No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family."  Watchtower made this extraordinary affirmation in the July 2009 Awake!, on page 29.    

Freedom of belief, expression and religion are fundamental human rights.  Thousands of people leave their religion each year to become Jehovah's Witnesses and most do not lose their family in the process.  However, if a baptized Jehovah's Witness decides they no longer want to be a member of the religion, they will suffer the loss of all their Witness family and friends, once it is announced that they are no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses. 

In a sworn statement to the Supreme Court of Canada, Watchtower attorney David Gnam claimed that "the disfellowshipped person is not completely shunned" and that "normal family relations continue".  Is this true?  The following JW videos show how Witness parents are really expected to treat their disfellowshipped children:

https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBiblePrinciples/pub-jwbcov_201605_3_VIDEO

https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBiblePrinciples/pub-jwbai_201611_1_VIDEO

Watchtower's shunning policy causes intense emotional harm, both to the former member of the religion and to their believing family and friends.

In conclusion, Watchtower policies in the above three areas negatively impact the life, liberty and security of millions of current and former Jehovah's Witnesses. Fundamental human rights are being violated on an unprecedented scale and millions of people are suffering as a result.   

Only the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has the power to change these abusive policies.  They are the spiritual authority over all of the organization's legal corporations, most noteworthy, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.  We make this global petition with the hope that the Governing Body will make positive changes to their organizational policies and thus end the human rights violations. 

Love is truth (Mt 22:37-39) A policy that is unloving cannot be true.  (Mt 9:13) The motivation behind this petition is based on love and concern for the good people who are being harmed by these bad policies.  Please share this petition so it will come to the attention of honest hearted people everywhere who love life, liberty, justice, truth and security.  Thank you for your interest and support!

P.S. We sincerely appreciate your loving interest and generous support. Please keep in mind that all donations go directly to change.org, who in turn use the funds to run their non-profit.