USCIRF Commemorates International Religious Freedom Day

USCIRF Commemorates International Religious Freedom Day

Washington, DC - Today is the 28th anniversary of the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). This landmark, bipartisan legislation established the framework for international religious freedom to be a U.S. foreign policy priority. IRFA created government institutions, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and policy tools, such as Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designations for countries with particularly severe violations of religious freedom. USCIRF makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress with respect to matters involving international religious freedom, as well as elevates cases of those unjustly denied their right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

"The United States government remains committed to highlighting religious freedom violations perpetrated or tolerated by foreign governments. Through the Commission, we can be a voice for the voiceless, stand with the oppressed, and advocate for religious freedom," stated USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood. "These efforts have not been in vain. We have seen prisoners of conscience set free, harmful policies changed, and greater engagement regarding FoRB. Yet there is so much more to be done to ensure religious freedom is truly for all."

In 2016 the Frank R. Wolf Act amended IRFA. It added a Special Watch List (SWL) for countries that had severe violations of FoRB, but that did not meet the CPC definition. It also required USCIRF to maintain a victims list, to the extent practicable, of those who have been denied their freedom because they have advocated for FoRB rights or been denied those rights directly. Persecutors want the world to forget the names and faces of those they lock away, but sharing their stories ensures that we never will. USCIRF's Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List is available on the Commission's website.

"In addition to evaluating U.S. policy in response to religious freedom violations, USCIRF also evaluates countries taking deliberate steps and making significant improvement in respect for the right of religious freedom," USCIRF Vice Chair CeCe Heil said. "Countries can demonstrate such improvements by repealing blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, and restrictive registration laws that are unjustly used to target religious communities, as we have seen in India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, among others."

As IRFA enters another year of implementation, the right to FoRB is under increasing threat in many countries around the world. Religious believers and communities suffer violations of their rights to religious freedom as outlined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. IRFA's enduring legacy is to stand against these violations as it reflects the U.S. government's unwavering commitment to international religious freedom for all.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].