Our goal is to promote universal compliance with international religious freedom standards.
We hope that one day all people will have freedom to adopt, change, or reject religious belief, as dictated by their own consciences, and to manifest these beliefs in association with others. These principles are enshrined in the 1976 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, other international treaties, and the constitutions and laws of most nations.
We work in countries in which universal standards are not yet realized to support comprehensive and effective reforms of national laws regulating religious organizations and activities of religious believers. We seek to enhance understanding of the positive contributions that religious belief and religious institutions can make to their societies and of the need for tolerance, mutual respect, and the rule of law in this social sector.
Our approach is to work with teams of academics, politicians, regulators, religious organizations, and NGOs to support legal change from the inside out. In other words, any change must be the result of legislative and policy changes adopted by the governments of target nations, acting in the best interests of their citizens. We always seek to work in cooperation with foreign governments. At the same time, the United States,other governments,international institutions, and NGOs can support and encourage legal reforms using a variety of diplomatic and financial tools in national, international, and multilateral forums.
As experts in international and national laws regulating religious and civil organizations and religious belief, we supply articles, position papers, testimony, lectures, and ideas through political, legal, and educational channels.
Compliance with international religious freedom standards will promote peace within and among nations by enabling all people to follow the dictates of their own consciences and to avoid compulsion, discrimination, and persecution based on their religious beliefs. Religious beliefs and activities must submit to the rule of law and collective interests in national harmony and security. However, as stated in the Universal Declaration, Article 18.3: "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."