New directions and opportunities for freedom of religion or belief

Freedom of religion or belief is one of 30 rights enshrined in the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as common standards for all nations. Despite this, almost three-quarters of a century later, an estimated 80% of the world’s population still live in countries where freedom of religion or belief faces governmental or societal restrictions, according to the Pew Research Center. Therefore, innovative methods to build religious freedom for everyone are urgently needed, according to a study by the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat and the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation.

A new direction is needed if freedom of belief, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion are to be advanced for everyone, everywhere, all the time. That’s the conclusion of research presented at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit held in Washington in the United States in July 2021.

Led by Brian Grim of the US-based Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, and Greg Mitchell, founding chair and president of the IRF Secretariat, the study found that opportunities exist for advocating international religious freedom within existing social institutions such as businesses and workplaces. In addition, it suggests there are opportunities to link religious freedom issues with other human rights advocacy work, for example on human trafficking and poverty. A third opportunity identified by the research is civil society action, including forming religious-freedom working groups or roundtables to bring faith, business, and human rights leaders together at national and international level.

The study was informed by ten focus groups which brought together faith leaders from around the world, as well as religious freedom advocates, academics, NGO leaders, and government representatives. Themes that developed in the focus groups were then explored via an online survey which attracted 202 responses from 50 countries, which together are home to three-quarters of the world’s population.

There was broad agreement between respondents for building a broader base and enlisting a new coalition of allies for the advancement of international religious freedom. Most respondents also said that they would be willing to contribute time and resources to build local and national networks of roundtables to continue the discussion and support associated action.

Workplace opportunities

According to Grim and Mitchell’s research, 78% of respondents felt that promoting religious inclusion and/or multi-faith understanding in the workplace would have a significant impact on religious freedom in their country. While a majority also said that they lived in countries where people of different faiths worked side-by-side, not all faiths were treated equitably. This was particularly so in the Global South, where 28% of respondents said that some faiths have certain advantages. The same percentage said that workplaces in their countries neither evidenced religious inclusion nor multi-faith understanding.

The study was informed by ten focus groups which brought together faith leaders from around the world, as well as religious freedom advocates, academics, NGO leaders, and government representatives. Themes that developed in the focus groups were then explored via an online survey which attracted 202 responses from 50 countries, which together are home to three-quarters of the world’s population.

There was broad agreement between respondents for building a broader base and enlisting a new coalition of allies for the advancement of international religious freedom. Most respondents also said that they would be willing to contribute time and resources to build local and national networks of roundtables to continue the discussion and support associated action.

Workplace opportunities

According to Grim and Mitchell’s research, 78% of respondents felt that promoting religious inclusion and/or multi-faith understanding in the workplace would have a significant impact on religious freedom in their country. While a majority also said that they lived in countries where people of different faiths worked side-by-side, not all faiths were treated equitably. This was particularly so in the Global South, where 28% of respondents said that some faiths have certain advantages. The same percentage said that workplaces in their countries neither evidenced religious inclusion nor multi-faith understanding.

Human rights links

Six out of ten respondents of the survey reported that there are links between religious freedom and other human rights issues. These include poverty, human trafficking, migrant rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and press freedom.

“Together, we hope to gain political support for the global religious freedom movement and embolden religious groups, civil society, and governments to take stands for religious freedom.”

For example, 79% of those who took part in the survey felt that it is acceptable to raise awareness of violations of religious freedom and persecution, such as experienced by Yezidis and Christians in Northern Iraq under ISIS, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and Uyghur Muslims in China. There were some surprising findings including that 89% of respondents in the United States said that it would be somewhat or very acceptable to find common ground with the LGBTQ+ community to advance freedom of religion or belief for all.

The study suggests that the way forward lies in creating a sustainable global infrastructure to pull people together and create a multi-faith coalition which will produce lasting legacies. The multi-track approach would bring together bridge-building, humanitarian approaches, and educational plans. The report finds that: ‘Religious freedom advocates and builders have a compelling opportunity to pair human rights issues with religious freedom advancement’.

Civil society actions

Other opportunities identified by the research for advancing religious freedom include more direct civil society plans. For example, 81% of respondents in various roles, including business leaders, NGO representatives, and academics, as well as faith leaders and religious freedom advocates, said they would be interested in participating in religious freedom roundtables in their countries. In addition, 79% of those who responded to the survey said they would contribute time and resources to such initiatives, and 87% said that a global network of such roundtables would increase impact. The study describes religious freedom roundtables as an opportunity ‘to bring faith, business, and human rights leaders together in regular discussions and joint actions to better advance religious freedom’. Other initiatives supported by the study findings include a global social media campaign promoting the benefits of faith and belief.

Current state of religious freedom

This study provides supporting evidence of the current state of governmental restrictions and social hostilities on religion worldwide. The evidence helps to explain why new directions are needed to expand and coordinate initiatives to promote international religious freedom.

The five countries reported by interviewees as scoring highly for government restrictions on religion include Russia, Iran, Myanmar, Jordan, and Egypt. The five countries reported as having the least government restrictions on religion include New Zealand, Bahrain, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Japan.

The five countries reported by interviewees as scoring highly for social hostilities involving religion include Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and India. The five countries reported by interviewees as having the least social hostilities involving religion include Costa Rica, Bahrain, Portugal, Venezuela, and Uruguay.

Conclusion

The IRF Secretariat hopes that this report and the 2021 IRF Summit will help to draw attention to the plight of people who are persecuted on account of their religion. In addition, they hope their work will become a catalyst to bring together a coalition of organisations from religious groups, civil society and governments to work together at grassroots and global levels to support religious freedom.

Greg Mitchell explains: “The current state of international religious freedom remains one of deepening crisis, despite all the remarkable work of advocates and the increasing focus of a growing number of governments and parliamentarians on the problems associated with religious persecution.” Brian Grim observes: “Because businesses are at the crossroads of culture, creativity, and commerce, and because they bring together people of all different faiths and beliefs, they are perfectly positioned to advance a world where mutual respect is the order of the day.”

References

• Grim, B, Mitchell, G, (2021) New directions: global opportunities for expanding and coordinating religious freedom initiatives. International Religious Freedom Secretariat.

Research Objectives

The aim of the study was to survey experts on, and advocates for, religious freedom around the world, about potential new partners and new ideas to overcome the rising tide of global government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion.

Funding

Templeton Religious Trust (templetonreligiontrust.org)

Collaborators

• Simran Singh
• Dr Paul Murray
• Jan Figel
• David Anderson

Bio

Brian Grim, PhD, is founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, and the leading expert on the positive socio-economic impact of religious freedom.

Greg Mitchell is the founding chair and president of IRF Secretariat, the managing co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and a public affairs consultant.

Contact

E: [email protected]
W: https://irfsecretariat.org
W: https://religiousfreedomandbusiness.org
W: www.irfroundtable.org

New directions and opportunities for freedom of religion or belief