Religious Freedom

The ability to freely practice one's faith - or lack thereof - is the most fundamental of all human rights. It was included in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948: 

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

I was proud to help author the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 in the United States Senate and to later serve as United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom during the Trump Administration. 

Nearly 80 percent of the world's population is denied full religious freedom. The United States is the global leader in the expansion and protection of human rights and we must always defend religious liberty, at home and abroad.