IRF Secretariat Reflects on 2025: A Movement Built on Cooperative Engagement
As 2025 draws to a close, IRF Secretariat looks back on a year defined by unprecedented growth and the tangible expansion of our global movement.
Our mission has always been to enhance advocacy efforts by growing toward cooperative engagement and a “builders approach.” This year, that mission was visible across the globe, from high-level diplomatic briefings to grassroots forums.
The Power of Your Partnership
The milestones featured below are not just events; they are the building blocks of a modern, scalable infrastructure for religious freedom. IRF Secretariat functions as a nonpartisan central service provider that makes strategic coordination possible.
Since its founding in 2010, the IRF Roundtable has facilitated over 450 multi-faith actions to advance religious freedom somewhere around the world. Each action represents a moment where deep differences were set aside in favor of a shared commitment to human dignity and liberty of conscience.
2025 Highlights: A Global Reach
Our work this year spanned multiple continents and sectors, proving that when diverse leaders pull together, they build the foundations for peace and prosperity:
The Regular Central European Roundtable (Czech Republic): In March, we supported the Roundtable meeting on “Fostering Freedom: Enhancing FoRB Education and Diplomatic Training in Central Europe.” We delivered an outlook on Regional Roundtables and Strategies.
The West Africa Regional Secretariat (Ghana): In May, we catalyzed a regional movement in Accra. In partnership with The Sanneh Institute, we held a Religious Freedom & Business Roundtable, equipping local "builders" to establish their own Roundtable, and launched the West Africa Regional Secretariat.
The IRF Builders Forum (Washington, D.C.): The inauguration of our annual centerpiece event served as a powerful testament to our "all-of-society" approach, bringing our network of over 1,200 partners together for a multi-faith civil society congress and multi-sector collaboration with government, advocacy, philanthropy, academic, and corporate partners. In connection, we co-hosted a Salon Dinner at the Embassy of Kazakhstan to strengthen relationships among leaders from across sectors.
The “Dialogue of Declarations” International Forum (Uzbekistan): In September, we participated in the second DoD Forum that discussed pressing issues in the field of promoting freedom of religion and ensuring multifaith harmony. We delivered a presentation on the IRF Roundtable model, informing why it is vital for religious actors to engage their neighbors of different beliefs, as well as their government officials.
Trip to Assess Religious Freedom and Social Cohesion (Kazakhstan): In September, we were also part of an American delegation that traveled to Kazakhstan to conduct an independent assessment of religious freedom and social cohesion within their geopolitical and socio-economic context. In December, we co-hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill with Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC) to report our assessment.
The Prague Conference & IRF Peace Builders Award (Czech Republic): In November, we served as the principal civil society sponsor for the High-Level International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) Conference in the Czech Republic, held under the auspices of the Czech President. At the National Museum, we honored leaders across the academic, corporate, and government sectors, signaling a new era of cross-sector cooperation.
The IRF Roundtable: As the convener of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, we convened the IRF Roundtable 36 times in 2025, including five in-person gatherings on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and one special edition hosted at Fortna, a 17th century monastery complex in Prague.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Innovation & Productivity
Your year-end gift ensures that we enter 2026—the year we honor the 250th anniversary of the American experiment in religious freedom—with the resources to innovate. We are leading the movement from a reactive posture to a proactive, productive global movement.
More on that 2026 vision to come.
Thank you for being a vital part of the IRF Roundtable community. Together, we are building a world where everyone, everywhere, is free to believe.
