The need for transatlantic coordination on policy around FoRB issues is stronger than ever.
Universities of Sussex and Notre Dame led the project ‘Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and Foreign Policy: A transatlantic dialogue for a multilateral approach to religious freedom’. This was funded by a ‘Bridging Voices’ grant from the British Council/Luce Foundation. Partners in the project include the Department of Law ‘Cesare Beccaria’ of the University of Milan (Silvio Ferrari) and the ReligioWest ERC Project of the European University Institute (Olivier Roy). The project unfolded in two conferences, the first in Europe and the second in the US; the first dialogue “Developing multilateral approach to Freedom of Religion or Belief: a European perspective” was held from February 9th to 11th 2015 in the UK at Wilton Park. The second dialogue “International Religious Freedom: Toward a Model of Transatlantic Cooperation,” and was held on October 8th 2015 at Georgetown University and followed on 9th October by a day of closed-door sessions.
was published and discussed at the House of Lords at a meeting organised by ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom or Belief (APPGIFoRB) on 7 September 2016. A summary report of the policy dialogue was presented at a second House of Lords event held on 27 October.
Key Policy Recommendations & Findings
Transatlantic church-state differences are an asset that can be drawn upon
Awareness about subtle differences in language needed e.g. IRF vs. FoRB
Collaborate between “religious freedom” and “religious engagement” activities
FoRB knowledge needs to be improved through training
Build coalitions & new multilateral strategies working with FoRB violators
FoRB networks across the world need bolstering
Share stories about the struggle with religious diversity
Further articles discussing the intiative
- Daniel Philpott, , Arc of the Universe, 3 October 2015
- Pasquale Ferrara, , Cornerstone, October 14, 2015
- Timothy Shah, , Cornerstone, 6 November 2015