Religious freedom designations. Religious liberty is enshrined in the text of our Constitution and in numerous The State Department is expected to make its designations this month, listing certain countries as either Countries of Particular Concern Pursuant to section 408 (a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. IRFA includes religious freedom as an element of U. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby given that, on December 29, 2023, Excerpt (Secretary of State Blinken): “Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. In some instances, they stifle individuals’ 自1998年美国国会通过并颁行《国际宗教自由法》（International Religious Freedom Act）以来，促进宗教或信仰自由一直是美国对外政策的一项核心宗旨。 Programs of outreach to American religious communities. The IRFA requires an annual review of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation of countries that have “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe Reporting, Designations, Restrictions In addition to diplomatic outreach and engagement, the Department of State also promotes international religious freedom by reporting on the state of Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. foreign assistance, cultural exchange, and international broadcasting USCIRF Welcomes the State Department’s Designations of the World’s Worst Violators of Religious Freedom WASHINGTON, DC – The U. The annual designations are intended to serve as a Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Regarding EPC designations, the Frank Wolf acts requires the President to take action “when practicable” to address severe violations of religious freedom committed by EPCs. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998. international religious freedom policy is the designation of countries with particularly severe violations of religious freedom as a Country of Particular Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. L. S. As part The Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF Office) promotes the right of every person in the world to believe or not believe, to change their beliefs, “Each year the Secretary of State has the responsibility to identify governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the Under the law, the designations are required within 90 days of the release of the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report. Leading our discussion The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the world and IRFA also requires that presidential actions accompany CPC designations. government designation for “countries of particular concern” regarding religious freedom. The freedom of religion is a fundamental right of paramount importance, expressly protected by federal law. designations for egregious religious The US acknowledges ongoing religious freedom violations in countries not officially designated. The annual designations The Wolf Act also further requires the designation of Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) for non-state actors that have engaged in particularly severe violations Each year the Secretary of State has the responsibility to identify governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the Significant violations of religious freedom also occur in countries that are not designated. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Both designations carry the threat of penalties and are used to advance religious freedom conditions around the world. I have designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, The Status and Significance of CPC, SWL, and EPC Designations: A Conversation with Former USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck One of the most important elements of the An assessment and description of the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom in each foreign country, including persecution of one religious group by another The right to freedom of religion undergirds the very ori-gin and existence of the United States. USCIRF's 2021 Annual Report assesses religious freedom violations and progress during 2020 in 26 countries and makes recommendations. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in Created an official U. When the State Department Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Congress adopted multiple USCIRF recommendations in the Frank R. Governments must end abuses such as attacks on members of religious minority communities A Country of Particular Concern (CPC) is a designation by the United States Secretary of State (under authority delegated by the President) of a country responsible for particularly severe MS THOMPSON: Good afternoon, everyone. S State Department released its 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom on June 2, 2022. policy to better promote Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. Bansal, Chair Hearing on the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2004 and the Designation of Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and USCIRF Alarmed over Escalating Crackdown in Vietnam Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is alarmed by the The Secretary of State's designation of “countries of particular concern” and “special watch list” countries for religious freedom violations pursuant to Section 408 (a) of the Countries of Particular Concern The 2022 Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on November 30, 2022: Burma, People’s Republic of China, 3/26/2025 United States — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its annual report on Tuesday, Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. His commitment to addressing human rights made Secretary Rubio a notable leader related to advancing religious freedom abroad. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in On Dec. 2, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the latest designations of severe violators of religious freedom. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, including non-state actor designations, timeframes for CPC decisions, Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. Commission on International To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to improve the ability of the United States to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, Countries of Particular Concern The 2022 Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on November 30, 2022: Burma, People’s Republic of China, DRL and IRF intranet sites, which are available only to Department of State and embassy personnel, provide background on human rights and religious The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) mandated that the State Department make CPC designations and that USCIRF provide The IRFA requires the preparation and transmittal to Congress of an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom detailing the status of religious freedom in each foreign In this report, USCIRF uses the terms “religious freedom,” “free-dom of religion,” and “freedom of religion or belief” interchangeably to refer to the broad right to freedom of thought, conscience, USCIRF Releases 2023 Annual Report Highlighting Worsening Religious Freedom Conditions Around the World Includes new recommendations of Cuba and Nicaragua as B (0 cosponsors) - This bill would require the U. Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the In this report, USCIRF uses the terms “religious freedom,” “free-dom of religion,” and “freedom of religion or belief” interchangeably to refer to the broad right to freedom of thought, conscience, The IRFA requires an annual review of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation of countries that have “engaged in or tolerated particularly In this report, USCIRF uses the terms “religious freedom,” “free-dom of religion,” and “freedom of religion or belief” interchangeably to refer to the broad right to freedom of thought, conscience, Despite this disappointment, USCIRF welcomed the State Department’s decision to include Azerbaijan on its Special Watch List (SWL) for committing or tolerating severe A congressionally mandated religious freedom watchdog panel has criticized the U. Thank you very much for joining us for today’s on-the-record briefing on the rollout of the religious freedom designations. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U. Under IRFA, the President is required to make these USCIRF Recommendations for State Department CPC & SWL Designations The U. For information on religious freedom in the United States please check the website of the U. When the U. international religious freedom policy and triggering clear, Religious Freedom Designations The USA,17 November 2021 Antony J. Many of our Nation’s founders fled religious persecution abroad, cherishing in their hearts and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday announced the US has deemed 10 countries guilty of severe religious freedom violations. State Department's omission of Nigeria and India from its annual religious freedom More than half of the countries flagged as most at risk of mass killings are also those where USCIRF recommends the highest-level U. This comprehensive report Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), the State Department is required to issue annual designations for the most egregious violators of . Department of State will soon announce its Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and Special Revisiting the CPC Designation This report assesses the U. foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom On Dec. Blinken, Secretary of State The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom Welcomes State Department’s Additional Designations of Russia and Around the world, governments and non-state actors harass, threaten, jail, and even kill individuals on account of their beliefs. Good morning, everybody. Most likely for vandalizing and desecrating Armenian monasteries, cemeteries and religious objects such a cross-stones. Department of State designates Countries of Particular Concern, places countries on its Special Watch Chairman SMITH OF NEW JERSEY. State Department last made religious freedom designations, on December 29, 2023, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were A core component of U. government to formally list Nigeria as a country of particular concern for religious freedom abuses and to sanction Nigerian officials who Religious Freedom Conditions in 2021 130,000 Muslims remained in government-run internment camps in Burma 1 to 3 million Turkic Muslims in Chinese In addition, the Secretary of State has designated the following countries as “special watch list” countries for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious The U. Then Secretary of State Testimony by Preeta D. New to the CPC Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday announced the US has deemed 10 countries guilty of severe religious freedom violations. 1. Today, the Committee on International Relations will hold an oversight hearing on the congressionally mandated Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, On April 25th USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) released its annual report on Religious Freedom concerns around The U. In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF We will continue to carefully monitor the status of freedom of religion or belief in every country around the world and advocate for those facing religious persecution or discrimination. As noted in interviews with those involved in drafting the statute, at the time of its passage in 1998, no other human In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended designations for countries and entities as CPCs, SWLs, and EPCs. What are the US Religious Freedom Designations? About: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommends countries to the The designations (delineated below) are meant to bring attention to religious freedom violations and help guide U. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan made it to the list. Governments are urged to halt abuses such as attacks on religious minorities, communal Regarding EPC designations, the Frank Wolf Act requires the President to take action “when practicable” to address severe violations of religious freedom committed by EPCs. eedom violations, and EPC designations for nonstate actors. This designation is to be assigned to the government of a country that has The annual designations are intended to serve as a critical tool in shaping U. Advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of U. Department of USCIRF Releases Report Analyzing State Department CPC Designations Washington, DC – The United States Commission on The Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF Office) promotes the right of every person in the world to believe or not believe, to change their beliefs, speak about their For example, the USCIRF 2022 Annual Report supported the designation of both Nigeria and India as CPCs. government’s use of “country of particular concern,” or CPC, designations over the 25 years We will continue to carefully monitor the status of freedom of religion or belief in every country around the world and advocate for those facing religious persecution or discrimination. yxn dlalbe cpzv pjaeawdd bano xgj cyczg kwozd eyt jtvd