In partnership with
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
February 3, 2025 – University Partnership Sessions
February 4-5, 2025 – IRF Summit
Join other highly-motivated students from around the world as they take part in the annual International Religious Freedom Summit, the premier gathering of the international religious freedom movement.
Led by the Religious Freedom Institute, the University Partnership Program is a tailor-made opportunity for advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in understanding religious freedom as a core human right around the world.
Participants in the University Partnership Program will take part in a full-day seminar on February 3 to include high-impact training sessions, guided simulations, and stimulating conversations with government officials and leading scholars on the topic.
At the conclusion of the one-day seminar on February 3, students will join the 2025 International Religious Freedom Summit on February 4 & 5 as full participants, with the opportunity to learn from and network with government officials and civil society leaders from around the world.
Registration includes meals, lodging, and Premium ticket access to the full IRF Summit gathering as applicable. See below for the various registration options.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
| Monday | FEBRUARY 3 | |||
| 10:00am – 10:30am | Registration at Washington Hilton Washington Hilton 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009 | |||
| 10:30am – 11:00am | Welcome and Opening Remarks VIP Speaker | |||
| 11:00am – 12:30pm | Session #1 Topic: Exploring, Embracing, and Expressing: Why Religious Freedom is Vital to Preserving Human Dignity This session explores the evidence that suggests that the exercise of religion is a uniquely human trait that must be defended if concepts like human dignity and justice are to have any meaning. Additional consideration will be given to ways this right is under threat in today’s global society and how to develop informed, meaningful responses. | |||
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Lunch VIP Speaker | |||
| 1:30pm – 2:15pm | Session #2 Topic: With Liberty and Justice for all: Why Religious Freedom is Vital to Human Flourishing This session considers the fundamental relationship between religious freedom and the common good. We will examine the practical benefits of that relationship and discuss why religious freedom functions as the linchpin for a host of other civil liberties that are necessary for stable, democratic societies and flourishing communities. | |||
| 2:15pm – 2:30pm | Break | |||
| 2:30pm – 3:15pm | Session #3 VIP Speaker Topic: Defending an Embattled Right: Understanding the Global Apparatus for supporting Human Rights This session introduces the network of government and civil society mechanisms used to advance religious freedom and other human rights and explains the complexities of mitigating and preventing human rights abuses. | |||
| 3:30pm – 5:00pm | Session #4 Topic: Defending an Embattled Right: Practical and Legal Solutions for Contemporary Threats In this session, students will work in groups under the guidance of professors and practitioners to develop real-world, practical solutions to global challenges, past and present. | |||
| 6:00pm | Participants meet in lobby | |||
| 6:30pm – 9:00pm | Dinner and Conversation VIP Speakers | |||
| Tuesday | February 4 – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 | |||
CONFIRM YOUR PARTICIPATION
Interested in participating, individually, on behalf of your department, or institutionally? Register participants here, or reach out to crfe@rfi.org with any questions or to learn more.
