11
                                            October
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Belarus - Seven fined for talking about Easter in street
                                        
                                                                                                           Belarus is following the Russian government as it moves to further restrict religious freedom within the country.  Here’s a good article discussing the new initiative and some backstory.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            30
                                            August
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           RUSSIA: Freedom of religion and belief monitoring group to be liquidated
                                        
                                                                                                           It becomes very difficult to hold governments to account when they have removed those who monitor their behavior. Vladimir Putin continues to pressure religious groups by now shutting down the leading religious freedom monitor in Russia.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            25
                                            August
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Annual USCIRF Report on International Religious Freedom
                                        
                                                                                                           One of the most important and comprehensive reports on RF is the Annual USCIRF Report on International Religious Freedom
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            27
                                            March
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           A Talk on International Religious Freedom
                                        
                                                                                                           A discussion on International Religious Freedom between the present and a past United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            12
                                            November
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Violence and Religious Freedom in Nigeria
                                        
                                                                                                           Nigeria in the past, has experienced religious tolerance and harmony. But in the last decade non-state actors have stirred up violence and the failure of political leadership has resulted in ongoing and increasing violence for religious communities.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            14
                                            August
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           An American Univeristy crosses the line on religious freedom of students
                                        
                                                                                                           University of Iowa found guilty of religious discrimination. The crime: forcing student groups to accept University appointed leaders for their group.  Groups argued that UI targeted them for requiring student leaders to sign a statement of faith.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            24
                                            July
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           International Religious Freedom Summit 2021
                                        
                                                                  The Summit this month in Washington D.C. is Bipartisan, Multifaith conference bringing together an array of faith and political leaders with the  goal of tackling discrimination around the globe.  This is a significant event!
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            27
                                            June
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           International Religious Freedom Summit July 2021
                                        
                                                                                                           The International Religious Freedom Summit is July 13-15 in  Washington D.C. and it will also be available online.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            09
                                            June
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           United States Commission on Religious Freedom Annual Report on International Freedom 2021
                                        
                                                                                                           Each year the United States Commission on Religious Freedom releases an Annual Report on International Freedom. 
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            27
                                            April
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Governments Don't Get a Pass on Violating Religious Freedom in a Pandemic
                                        
                                                                                                           While the pandemic prevented our team from meeting in-person with victims of religious persecution, abusive governments around the world do not get a free pass to deny the fundamental right of freedom of religion or belief.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            30
                                            December
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Legal Restrictions to Religious Freedom in Brunei
                                        
                                                                                                           The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has done a series of excellent reports on specific nations and their activities on religious freedom. Here is a  recent Spotlight episode on Brunei
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            23
                                            October
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Answering the Call to Protect Religious Freedom: A Year in Review
                                        
                                                                                                           A report from the U.S. Department of State on work to protect religious freedom over the past year.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            03
                                            September
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           USCIRF Encourages Religious Freedom Progress on Vietnam National Day
                                        
                                                                                                           The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) congratulated the government of Vietnam on its National Day, and encouraged the government to take steps to improve religious freedom conditions in the country.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
			 
			A monitor displays the words "Commission on Unalienable Rights" behind Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
           
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            17
                                            July
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Pompeo says US should limit which human rights it defends
                                        
                                                                                                           Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has argued for a more limited U.S. view of global human rights advocacy based on the principles laid out by America's Founding Fathers, a suggestion critics assumed meant stepping away from more modern concepts.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            15
                                            July
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           Can Human Rights Advocacy Resolve the North Korea Nuclear Impasse? 
                                        
                                                                                                           North Korea’s weapons programs and human rights violations derive from the same root causes: the government’s perception of its insecurity and lack of transparency.
                                         
                                     
                             
                                
                                
                                                     
  
			 
			President and Mrs. Trump visit the John Paul II Shrine prior to the President signing the Executive Order. (Photo credit: LifeSite News)
           
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            05
                                            June
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                        
                           A Huge Step for Advancing International Religious Freedom
                                        
                                                                                                           President Trump has issued an executive order “Advancing International Religious Freedom.† The Institute on Religion and Democracy  commends the President for his ongoing commitment to defend persecuted Christians and other religious believers.