From July 24-26, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is convening the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. 

As the State Department has described, “This event will focus on concrete outcomes that reaffirm international commitments to promote religious freedom and produce real, positive change. The Ministerial will convene a broad range of stakeholders, including foreign ministers, international organization representatives, religious leaders, and civil society representatives, to discuss challenges, identify concrete ways to combat religious persecution and discrimination, and ensure greater respect for religious freedom for all.”

On the margins of this historic event, the Religious Freedom Institute is hosting four events that explore various aspects of religious freedom and will equip and inform participants in the effort to advance religious freedom. 

Details and registration information for each of those events is below: 

International Religious Freedom Act at 20 and World of Faith and Freedom at 10: What has changed and is changing in International Religious Freedom?

Monday, July 23, 2018
4:00 PM  7:00 PM
Room G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Speakers Include: Rep. Frank Wolf, Thomas Farr, Sharon Payt, Katrina Lantos Swett, Allen Hertzke, Emilie Kao, and Kent Hill.
Hosts: Religious Freedom Institute and 21Wilberforce

More Information and RSVP

The Fight for International Religious Freedom: Perspectives from the Vatican

Tuesday July 24, 2018 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Room 2060 Rayburn House Office Building
Speakers Include: Amb. Callista Gingrich, Rep. Francis Rooney, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Former Amb. Miguel Diaz, William Saunders, and Thomas Farr. 
Hosts: Religious Freedom Institute and The Center for Religious Liberty at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

More Information and RSVP

Enhancing the Diplomat’s Toolkit: Best Practices in Advancing International Religious Freedom

Wednesday July 25, 2018 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Religious Freedom Institute, 1050 30th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Speakers Include: Andrew Bennett, Thomas Farr, and Jeremy Barker.
Host: Religious Freedom Institute

More Information and RSVP

Lessons from Southeast Asia: State and Non-State Threats to Religious Freedom

Thursday July 26, 2018 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Room 212 Senate Visitor’s Center
Speakers Include: Senator Cory Gardner, USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza, Kent Hill, Paul Marshall, Thang Nguyen, Eugene Yapp, Vien Hu and Travis Wussow.  
Host: Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Boat People SOS, and Religious Freedom Institute

More Information and RSVP

To see more about the Ministerial and other side events visit the webpage of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, an informal group of individuals and organizations who collaborate to advance international religious freedom: https://www.irfroundtable.org/