News from May 2023
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for freedom of religious belief, with the stipulation that “religion must not be used as a pretext for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the State or social order.”
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Micronesia
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution states no law may be passed to establish a state religion or impair the free exercise of religion.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Laos
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides citizens with “the right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religion.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Tonga
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution grants freedom to practice, worship, and assemble for religious services.
Joint Statement on Joint Action to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
Release: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and of Brazil on the occasion of a meeting of the Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER).
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nauru
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution and other laws provide for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, and for freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Thailand
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution “prohibits discrimination based on religious belief” and protects religious liberty as long as the exercise of religious freedom is not “harmful to the security of the State.
The United States Announces $245 Million in Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Neighboring Countries
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
Release: Last week the United States announced $245 million in additional support to the people of Sudan and neighboring countries experiencing the impacts of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. These funds include nearly $143 million from the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugee and Migration and $103 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Samoa
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for the right to choose, practice, and change one’s religion, and it defines the country as a Christian nation.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Singapore
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution, laws, and policies provide for religious freedom, subject to restrictions relating to public order, public health, and morality.
Statement by IRFBA Chair Fiona Bruce MP on Iranian Religious Prisoners of Conscience Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
Release: As Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, I express grave concern over the continuing imprisonment in Iran of two prominent Iranian Baha’is, Mahvash Sabet, an internationally acclaimed poet who is a recipient of Pen International’s Pinter Prize and Fariba Kamalabadi, accused of “meeting with Baha’is in different cities of Iran, participating in Baha’i religious ceremonies and communicating with Baha’is abroad via WhatsApp."
ICYMI: Taiwan Deserves a Place at the Annual World Health Assembly
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
News Release: ICYMI: Taiwan Deserves a Place at the Annual World Health Assembly.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Solomon Islands
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The constitution provides for religious freedom, including the freedom to change religions, proselytize, and establish religious schools.
Statement by IRFBA Chair Fiona Bruce MP on Iranian Religious Prisoners of Conscience Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
Release: As Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, I express grave concern over the continuing imprisonment in Iran of two prominent Iranian Baha’is, Mahvash Sabet, an internationally acclaimed poet who is a recipient of Pen International’s Pinter Prize and Fariba Kamalabadi, accused of “meeting with Baha’is in different cities of Iran, participating in Baha’i religious ceremonies and communicating with Baha’is abroad via WhatsApp."
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
Reports on Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang are appended at the end of this report.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Hong Kong
By State Newswire Report | May 24, 2023
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), as well as other laws and policies, states that residents have freedom of conscience, freedom of religious belief, and freedom to preach, conduct, and participate in religious activities in public.
DOS-PA offers new grant application process starting May 24
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
EUR Taiwan Journalist Exchange grant opened on May 24.
Joint Statement on Joint Action to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
News Release: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and of Brazil on the occasion of a meeting of the Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER).
Risch on China’s Ban of Micron
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
News Release: BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned certain Chinese companies from using microchips made by Micron Technology:
Signing of the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association-Related Agreements
By State Newswire | May 24, 2023
Release: On May 23, Charge d’Affaires Alissa Bibb of the U.S. Embassy in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Chief Negotiator Leo Falcam, Jr., of the FSM Joint Committee on Compact Review and Planning signed three agreements related to the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association: (1) an Agreement...