Berlin, Germany | Civil Society Program
Berlin, Germany – On October 8-9, 2024, leaders from civil society, international organizations, governments, and faith communities came together both in-person and virtually for the civil society program, How FoRB Can Prevent the Misuse of Religion, and Build Social Cohesion and Resilience. The event, held in conjunction with the 2024 International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), an event with a particular focus on Eurasia, explored how protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is crucial for building resilient, peaceful, and cohesive societies.
The program was co-convened by IRF Secretariat, Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC), and the Templeton Religion Trust, with support from Mercury One, Bellwether International, Global Christian Relief, the Global Peace Foundation, and the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs & Human Rights. It featured both in-person and virtual attendance, expanding its reach to advocates around the world.
The day before, two key events kicked off the week:
The inaugural meeting of the IRF Secretariat Global Academic Council (GAC), co-chaired by Prof. Jocelyne Cesari and Dr. Rev. Mae Cannon, identified key research priorities for the growing field of religious freedom studies, including topics such as the role of AI and surveillance technologies, cultural heritage preservation, systemic inequalities between religious groups, inclusive security, and more. The GAC also announced a partnership with The Review of Faith & International Affairs, a scholarly journal edited by GAC member Dennis R. Hoover, to produce a special "state of the field" issue next year.
The International Religious Freedom Roundtable, which followed, convened over 100 advocates both on-site and online, including special guests from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, U.S. government agencies, and international organizations. The roundtable focused on best practices and discussed strategic actions to advance FoRB globally.
The October 9 daylong program launched with opening remarks from the conveners including the program Chair, Greg Mitchell alongside Nadine Maenza, Chris Stewart (TRT), and Wade Kusack (LYNC). The morning session also featured seven keynote presentations, spanning representatives from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. The following panel discussions featured delegations from Central Asia and Eurasian countries, highlighting the voices of government, national religious leaders, and local faith leaders. The afternoon panel spotlighted special guests from the MENA region, sharing another perspective of majority voices and discussing the terrorism the region has faced even up to this day.
The program concluded by highlighting the three new IRF Secretariat Global Councils focused on academics, corporations, and media. With the conclusion of the media council session, an award-winning documentary, Amen, Amen, Amen: A Story for Our Times, was screened as a touching reminder of the power of mutual respect, inclusion, and religious pluralism.
CONGRATULATIONS
2024 FoRB Impact Awardees
The conveners announced the winners of the prestigious FoRB Impact Awards at the closing dinner. The five awardees were recognized for their tireless efforts to advance religious freedom, foster multi-faith dialogue, and build social cohesion in challenging environments.
FERNANDA SAN MARTIN CARRASCO
Builder of Social Cohesion & Resilience Award
Fernanda San Martin Carrasco (Director, International Panel of Parliamentarians for FoRB) was celebrated for ground-breaking work at the parliamentary level in Latin America and globally.
JOHN AZUMAH, PH.D.
Builder of Social Cohesion & Resilience Award
Prof. John Azumah (Executive Director, The Sanneh Institute in Ghana) was recognized for innovative approaches in building multi-faith cooperation in West Africa.
EVA WITESMAN
FoRB Corporate Leadership Award
Eva Witesman (Director, Ballard Center for Social Impact at BYU Marriott School of Business) wa honored for outstanding leadership in advocating for FoRB in corporations and educating the next generation of business leaders.
FAITH INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Spiritual Administration Muslims of Kazakhstan
Muslim Board, Uzbekistan
On October 10, partners and global councils reconvened for an "After Action" brainstorming session to map out next steps. They collaborated on developing practical strategies and recommendations to sustain the momentum generated during the event. The session resulted in prospective action plans to further promote religious freedom and counter religious persecution.
We sincerely thank program conveners and supporters for making this event possible! For more information about the event and upcoming initiatives, visit IRF Secretariat’s official website.
