Convening a Coalition for International Religious Freedom

The issue of international religious freedom touches every culture, nation, religion, and political system. At present, almost 80 percent of the world’s inhabitants live in countries where there are high levels of governmental or societal restrictions on religion, and restrictions have been steadily increasing for several years. The implications of this reality touches every area of life.

The IRF Summit brings together a broad coalition of partners that passionately supports religious freedom around the globe for an annual two-day in-person event in Washington, D.C. These 90+ organizations represent over 30 distinct faith traditions and are the core of the civil society movement to advance international religious freedom around the globe.

Over the past five years, our Summit partners have built a diverse coalition that is working to advance freedom of religion, conscience, and belief around the world. But even as the movement for international religious freedom grows, we are witnessing increased levels of religious restriction and persecution around the world. Raising our voices in solidarity with those who suffer due to their beliefs is more important than ever.

Together we will gain political support for the global religious freedom movement and embolden civil society, people of faith, and governments to take a stand for religious freedom.

The IRF Summit is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States.

Institute for Religious Freedom Summit \ Tax ID: 92-3825690

Summit Co-Chairs

Sam Brownback 

Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, 2018-2021

Co-Chair of the IRF Summit

Katrina Lantos Swett

President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights

Co-Chair of the IRF Summit

Staff

Manus Churchill

Executive Director, IRF Summit

Carlie Nantz

Operations Manager, IRF Summit

Past Honorary Congressional Co-Chairs

2021: Senator James Lankford; Senator Chris Coons; Representative Henry Cuellar; Representative Chris Smith

2022: Senator Marco Rubio; Senator Ben Cardin; Representative Jamie Raskin; Representative French Hill

2023: Senator Roger Wicker; Senator Jacky Rosen; Representative Michael McCaul; Representative Greg Meeks

2024: Senator James Lankford; Senator Jeanne Shaheen; Representative Young Kim; Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz

2025: Representative Derek Tran; Representative John Moolenaar

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