State Newswire News
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sri Lanka
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change religion. The law recognizes four religions: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. The constitution and other laws accord Buddhism the “foremost place" among the country’s religious faiths and commit the government to protecting it while respecting the rights of religious minorities.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Maldives
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution designates Islam as the state religion, requires citizens to be Muslim, and requires public office holders, including the President, to be followers of Sunni Islam. The constitution provides for limitations on rights and freedoms “to protect and maintain the tenets of Islam" and does...
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Nigerian President-elect Tinubu
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: India
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and the right of all individuals to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion; mandates a secular state; requires the state to treat all religions impartially; and prohibits discrimination based on religion. It also states citizens must practice...
DOS-MOZ grant application closes on June 19
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Vocational School Training for Industrial and Commercial Institute of Pemba grant opened on May 17.
Subcommittee Hearing Announcement: “Examining the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe”
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
News Release: Washington, D.C. - The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced the Subcommittee on Europe will convene a hearing entitled, “Examining the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe" on Tuesday, May 23rd.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nepal
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution establishes the country as a “secular state" but defines secular as the “protection of religion and culture handed down from the time immemorial." It provides for the right of citizens to profess and practice their own religion. The constitution prohibits converting persons from one...
DRL Enabling Workers’ Rights through a Just Transition
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: United States Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): DRL Enabling Workers’ Rights through a Just Transition. This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0009691. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.345.
Joint Statement on Spain Joining the Global Equality Fund
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The text of the following joint statement was issued by the Governments of the United States and Spain on the occasion of Spain joining the Global Equality Fund...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Turkmenistan
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution establishes the republic as a secular country and provides for the freedom of religion and for the right of individuals to choose their religion, express and disseminate their religious beliefs, and participate in religious observances and ceremonies. The constitution separates the roles...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Afghanistan
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: **The United States has not yet decided whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the Government of Afghanistan or as part of such a government. All references to “the pre-August 2021 government" refer to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. References to the Taliban in this report do not...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bhutan
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution recognizes Buddhism as the state’s “spiritual heritage," provides for freedom of religion, and bans discrimination based on religious belief. The constitution states religious institutions and personalities shall remain “above politics." The law restricts religious speech and written communication promoting enmity among religious groups and requires religious groups to obtain licenses to hold public religious gatherings.
Assistant Secretary Phee’s Visit to Addis Ababa
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee conducted meetings in Addis Ababa from May 14-16 with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations (UN) and the Government of Ethiopia to consult on regional and international efforts to help end the conflict in Sudan.
Subcommittee Hearing Announcement: “Examining the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe”
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
News Release: Washington, D.C. - The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced the Subcommittee on Europe will convene a hearing entitled, “Examining the Fiscal Year 24 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request for Europe" on Tuesday, May 23rd.
DOS-DRL offers new grant application process starting May 17
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Justice for Underserved Disabled Youth Initiative (JUDY Initiative) grant opened on May 17.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bangladesh
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
Release: The constitution designates Islam as the state religion but upholds the principle of secularism. It prohibits religious discrimination and provides for equality for all religions. Family law, enforced in secular courts, contains separate provisions for different religious groups. On the one-year anniversary...
Chairman McCaul Statement at Today’s Committee Markup of H.R. 3205
By State Newswire | May 17, 2023
News Release: Washington, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul gave the following remarks at a full committee markup of H.R. 3205.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sudan
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: In October 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military takeover that ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his government. Hamdok was briefly reinstated in November 2021 but resigned in January 2022. Burhan served as de facto head of state and government since October 2021 while a cabinet...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vietnam
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution states that all individuals have the right to freedom of belief and religion. The law provides for significant government control over religious practices and includes vague provisions that permit restrictions on religious freedom in the stated interest of national security and social unity. For example, the Law on Belief and Religion (LBR) maintains a multistage registration and recognition process for religious groups.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Barbados
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution and other laws provide for freedom of religion, including the freedom to change one’s religion, and it prohibits discrimination based on religious belief. By law, the government does not require religious groups to register and grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain private schools and provide religious instruction.