Twenty years ago, the international religious freedom act of 1998, as amended irfa was enacted to elevate religious freedom as a higher priority in u. What is the frank wolf international religious freedom act. Wolf international religious freedom act of 2016 wolf act, the department of state is tasked with training foreign service officers and others in. Congress passed the act in 1998 to promote international religious freedom, among other purposes. The full text of the international religious freedom act of 1998 as amended to date can be viewed. The act aims to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the u. I am pleased that the administration is able to support the international religious freedom act of 1998, which passed the senate a short time ago by a 980 vote.
Obama approves expansion of international religious freedom act. The act also established an office to oversee diplomatic missions to promote the first amendment right of religion around the world. Wolf international religious freedom act of 2016 wolf act, the department of state is tasked with training foreign service officers and others in human rights broadly and religious freedom specifically. The secretary of state, with the assistance of other relevant officials, such as the ambassador at large for international religious freedom appointed under section 101b of the international religious freedom act of 1998 and the director of the national foreign affairs training center, shall establish as part of the standard training. Generally, the main purpose of irfa is to condemn violations of religious freedom, and to promote, and to assist other governments in the promotion of, the fundamental freedom of religion. The full text of the international religious freedom act of 1998 as amended to date can be viewed here. Secretary of states determination under the international. The us state department presents it to the us congress under the international religious freedom act of 1998. Annual report on international religious freedom 2001. Commission on international religious freedom uscirf issued a study, pursuant to section 605 of the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, on expedited removal proceedings for aliens seeking asylum. The department of state state is implementing the primary responsibilities outlined in the international religious freedom act of 1998 the act by undertaking numerous actions to promote religious freedom, engaging with foreign officials, and annually publishing its international religious freedom report. International religious freedom act us department of state. Feb 27, 2019 in enacting the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, congress modified the nexus test that determines eligibility for asylum on account of religious persecution.
United states commission on international religious freedom. The commission on international religious freedom is an independent organization created by the international religious freedom act of 1998. International religious freedom act 1998 and the issues of. International religious freedom act of 1998 tags lawfare. This publication is a compilation of the text of public law 105292. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. Annual report on international religious freedom 2001, report submitted to the committee on international relations, u. I have just modified one external link on international religious freedom act of 1998. The congress made some findings in order to propagating this act. The international religious freedom act differed from the wolfspecter bill, which had been the preceding bill, in a number of ways, one of which is that while wolfspecter had proposed there be mandatory sanctions, the international religious freedom act makes them discretionary sanctions. A gao report issued in march on the implementation of the bill found that the act was largely implemented faithfully and. The international religious freedom act 1998 and the role of. Designations under the international religious freedom act.
The introduction of the international religious freedom act irfa in october 1998 creates a new landscape of international law where religion became a central issue. Section 208c2 of irfa directed uscirf to provide the funds for the section 605 study, subject to the availability of appropriations. Irfa sought to make religious freedom a priority in u. Designations under the international religious freedom act of. In accordance with the international religious freedom act of 1998, the secretary of state annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom as countries of particular concern. To amend the international religious freedom act of 1998. Oct 27, 2019 the international religious freedom act of 1998 was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the united states, to promote greater religious freedom in countries which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom, and to advocate on the behalf of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs and activities in foreign countries. The international religious freedom act is a federal statute passed in 1998.
Christian news and views about international religious freedom act irfa. International religious freedom act of 1998 public law 105292, approved on october 27, 1998 as amended through p. An act to amend the international religious freedom act of 1998 to improve the ability of the united states to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts, and through stronger and more flexible political responses to religious freedom violations and. The international religious freedom act of 1998 was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the united states, to promote greater religious freedom in countries which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom, and to advocate on the behalf of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs and activities in foreign countries. Uscirf us commission on international religious freedom. The international and religious freedom act of 1998 tom lynch american university washington college of law. Part of this modernization was to reduce the number of pages on the current state. International religious freedom act of 1998 voices from russia. The act was signed into law by president bill clinton on october 27, 1998.
Jan 04, 2018 in accordance with the international religious freedom act of 1998, the secretary of state annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom as countries of particular concern. In enacting the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, congress modified the nexus test that determines eligibility for asylum on account of religious persecution. Under the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, the department of state is tasked with training foreign service officers in both human rights broadly and religious freedom specifically. The international religious freedom act of 1998, referred to in subsecs. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. Summary under the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, the department of state is tasked with training foreign service officers in both human rights broadly and religious freedom specifically.
In addition, the act establishes a new dimension in the u. The annual religious freedom report purports to detail the status of religious freedom in 195 countries throughout the world. The international religious freedom act of 1998 was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the united states, to promote greater religious. For complete classification of this act to the code, see short title note set out under section 6401 of this title and tables. The international religious freedom act was passed in october 1998. The secretary of states designation of countries of particular concern and special watch list countries for religious freedom violations pursuant to section 408a of the international religious freedom act of 1998 pub. The bill passed with widespread bipartisan support. The international religious freedom act of 1998 public law 105292, as amended by public law 10655, public law 1061, public law 107228, public law 108332, and public law 108458 was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the united states, to promote greater religious freedom in countries which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom, and. Federal register secretary of states determination under.
Federal register secretary of states determination. Pursuant to section 408a of the international religious freedom act of 1998 pub. Subchapter i department of state activities 6411 to 6417 subchapter ii commission on international religious freedom 6431 to 6436. As a matter of fact, the introduction of the international religious freedom act irfa has become a new. Secretary of states determination under the international religious freedom act of 1998 and frank r. International religious freedom act of 1998 the first. An identi fication of foreign countries in which the united states is actively promoting religious freedom.
Ap photodamian dovarganes, used with permission from the associated. The international religious freedom act 1998 and the role. The secretary of states designation of countries of particular concern for religious freedom violations. I want to thank senators nickles, lieberman, biden, baucus, hagel, feinstein, lugar and. Wolf international religious freedom act is located shall be included in this section of the report. To amend the international religious freedom act of 1998 to improve the ability of the united states to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts, and through. The main purpose of the act is to prevent religious persecution throughout the world.
The irfa mandated the promotion of religious liberty around the world as a central element of american foreign policy. For any member serving on the commission on such date who has completed at least 2 full terms on the commission, such members term shall expire 90 days after such date. Commissioners are appointed by the president and the leaders of both political parties in the senate and the house. There has been a variety of descriptive forms of media offered, but very little analysis. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress.
The objective of this article is to study the role of. Human rights brief volume 6issue 2 article 10 1999 legislative focus. I want to thank senators nickles, lieberman, biden, baucus, hagel, feinstein, lugar and grams for all their help in working so closely with the administration on this legislation. International religious freedom act of 1998 wikipedia.
Senate by the department of state in accordance with section 102 of the international religious freedom act of 1998 open pdf 2 mb this report is submitted to the congress by the department of state. Legislative background the international religious freedom act irfa of 1998 p. The irf act is a story of triumph, both of our legislative process and of the human longing to protect and defend the most fundamental human right religious freedom, said randel everett. Wolf international religious freedom act of 2015 h. Code chapter 73 international religious freedom act irfa current through pub. The international religious freedom irf report is submitted to congress annually by the department of state in compliance with section 102b of the international religious freedom act irfa of 1998. International religious freedom act of 1998 loeb institute. House of representatives and the committee on foreign relations, u. It was last amended by the public law listed in the as amended through note above. The united states commission on international religious freedom uscirf as a bipartisan. Uscirf is an independent, bipartisan federal body that monitors violations of religious freedom abroad and makes recommendations to the president, the secretary of state and congress. In october 1998 congress passed, and president clinton signed, the international religious freedom act irfa. International religious freedom act of 1998 voices from.
International religious freedom act of 1998 us law. This designation is the product of the international religious freedom act of 1998 irfa, as amended by the frank r. In recognizing the global scourge of religious persecution, congress sought to reduce the unfairness and bias in asylum adjudications that had occurred under pre. Recognizing religious freedom as a universal human right, irfa created various government mechanisms aimed at. Under the foreign service act of 1980, as amended by the international religious freedom act of 1998 and the frank r. Congress passed the international religious freedom act in 1998 to establish international freedom as a key objective of u. Secretary of states determination under the international religious. Three cooperative entities have been maintained by this act to. As a matter of fact, the introduction of the international religious freedom act irfa has become a new landmark in foreign policy making and diplomatic. The new year has not, so far, seemed to have brought with it a new zenith for u.
Twenty years ago, the international religious freedom act of 1998. The passage of irfa might be argued with some justifications and criticisms, however it is unfair to evaluate the success or failure of us religious freedom policy from worldwide reported statistics farr, 2012. International religious freedom act of 1998 congress. International religious freedom act of 1998 house office of the. To amend the international religious freedom act of 1998, h. The international religious freedom act irfa of 1998.
While the swl designation does not automatically come with serious penalties, the irfa does empower the president to punish countries through a range of political and financial. The international religious freedom act law and legal. International religious freedom act of 1998 declares it to be u. International religious freedom act of 1998, which passed the senate a short time ago by a 980 vote. Wolf international religious freedom act is located shall be included in this section. The best articles from christianity today on international religious freedom act irfa. If one wishes to look at this phenomenon not only within a legal perspective, but also from a social, political, and cultural context, the reading field is almost empty. International religious freedom act of 1998 under secretary eizenstat. This report supplements the most recent human rights reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom.