A Paradox of Independence: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Tad Stahnke Sunday, 1 June 2008
In passing the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), Congress sought to make the promotion of religious freedom a more integral feature of U.S. foreign policy to advance universal human rights. To accomplish this, Congress created mechanisms that were both diplomatic and programmatic in nature within the Executive Branch: (1) an Office of International Religious Freedom in the State Department, headed by an Ambassador at Large; (2) an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom; (3) a requirement to name the most egregious religious freedom violators as "countries of particular concern" (CPCs) and to take policy actions in response to all violations of religious freedom; and (4) insertion of religious freedom as a specific element of U.S. foreign policy programs, such as U.S. foreign assistance programs, cultural exchanges, and international broadcasting.
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