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Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Brownback, USCIRF Chair Manchin announce 2021 International Religious Freedom Summit

Apr. 6, 2021
First annual Summit to convene advocates from diverse faith, political, civic backgrounds to call for ‘religious freedom for everyone, everywhere, all the time’
Press Release: The KAIROS Company for the International Religious Freedom Summit 2021 and former Amb. Sam Brownback

April 6, 2021

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback and United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Gayle Manchin will co-chair the International Religious Freedom Summit 2021, a grassroots gathering of civil society and religious groups from all over the world.

The Summit will take place Tuesday, July 13 through Thursday, July 15 in Washington, D.C.The Summit is supported by over 40 diverse partners, including the Religious Freedom Institute, Uyghur Human Rights Project, American Hindu Foundation, the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops and Alliance Defending Freedom, among others. It aims to bring greater attention to religious freedom violations and to create a powerful coalition of groups to advance the cause of religious freedom around the world.

“The issue of international religious freedom touches every culture, nation, religion and political system. Religious adherents are persecuted individually and collectively every day,” said Brownback. “Our goal is simple — bring together a broad, non-partisan coalition to passionately advocate for religious freedom for everyone, everywhere, all the time.”

“This Summit will give us the opportunity to highlight the personal testimonies of victims of religious persecution and those who live with restrictions on religious freedom,” said Manchin. “We will also provide an opportunity for partners to host additional events covering a wide range of important international religious freedom issues.”

The U.S. Department of State held back-to-back Ministerials to Advance Religious Freedom in 2018 and 2019, which brought together international leaders to discuss the problems of religious persecution and discrimination throughout the world and to determine solutions. The 2021 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom will be hosted by Brazil in the fall.

This year’s civil society-led International Religious Freedom Summit will build on the movement started by the government-led ministerials.Registration and accommodations are available here.

More information on the International Religious Freedom Summit 2021 is available here.

International Religious Freedom Summit 2021 is convening a powerful, diverse and non-partisan coalition of religious and civil society groups to advocate for religious freedom for all people, everywhere at all times. The 2021 Summit will be held July 13-15 in Washington, D.C.

Samuel Brownback served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom from 2018 to 2021.

Gayle Manchin is Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.