Cooperative Engagement & “The Builders Approach”

Respecting the other’s human dignity and protects the freedom of conscience of every individual.

We are builders who offer a proven Cooperative Engagement approach that effectively builds multi-faith relationships on mutual respect, trust, and reliance—and even love. And when everyone pulls together, they build freedom of thought, conscience, and religion—and so much more—from the ground up.

KEY CONCEPTS

Cooperative:

marked by a willingness and ability to work with others; marked by cooperation, being helpful, common effort; association of persons for common benefit.

Engagement:

the fact of being involved; to interact, deal with especially at length; to come together and interlock; mesh, the fabric of a net, to fit or work together properly.

Builder:

one that builds, to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole; construct, to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base; increase, enlarge.

Two Approaches to Advancing Religious Freedom

  • Advocacy

    Traditional advocacy plays a vital role. At its best, it shines a light on injustice, gives voice to the persecuted, and holds governments accountable. It can open doors for dialogue and push issues to the forefront of public and political consciousness.

    But advocacy alone is not enough.

  • The Builders Approach

    The Builders Approach goes deeper. Rooted in Cooperative Engagement, it’s about building trust-based, multi-faith relationships from the ground up. We work with others—not just for them—uniting diverse faith and belief communities to construct lasting peace, freedom, and flourishing societies.

    Builders don’t just raise voices—they raise foundations.

    At the IRF Secretariat, we believe when everyone pulls together, we don’t just defend freedom—we build it.

The Impact

IRF Secretariat helps all faith/belief communities engage each other cooperatively and constructively across their deepest differences; and engage their governments cooperatively and constructively, in multi-faith fashion.

This work builds and strengthens: