News from 2023
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cambodia
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution states Buddhism is the state religion. The law provides for freedom of belief and religious worship, provided such freedom neither interferes with others’ beliefs and religions nor violates public order and security. The law does not allow non-Buddhist denominations to proselytize publicly. A government directive restricts monks from participating in political protests and requires them to be politically neutral.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kenya
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution stipulates there shall be no state religion and prohibits religious discrimination. The constitution provides for freedom of religion and belief individually or in communities, including the freedom to manifest any religion through worship, practice, teaching, or observance and to debate religious questions. The constitution further provides for special qadi courts to adjudicate certain types of civil cases based on Islamic law.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Democratic Republic of the Congo
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution states that the country is secular, prohibits religious discrimination, provides for freedom of religion or belief, bans the use of religion for political ends, and stipulates that impositions on freedom of conscience stemming from “religious fanaticism" shall be punishable by law.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Seychelles
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution prohibits discrimination on any grounds and forbids any laws establishing any religion or imposing any religious observance. It provides for freedom of religion, including the right of individuals to change, manifest, and propagate their religion.
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.
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: 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...
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: 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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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...
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...
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.
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...
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-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.