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The constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which cites the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), states that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief” but limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities,” without defining “normal.”

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Indonesia

The constitution provides a guarantee of freedom of religion and the right to worship according to one’s own beliefs, but it states that citizens must accept restrictions established by law to protect the rights of others and to satisfy “just demands based upon considerations of morality, religious values, security, and public order in a democratic society.”

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burma

In 2021, the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government, declaring a state of emergency and creating a State Administration Council, a military-run administrative organization led by armed forces Commander in Chief (CINC) Min Aung Hlaing that assumed executive, legislative, and judicial functions.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kiribati

The constitution provides for freedom of religion. Religious groups with memberships equal to or greater than 2 percent of the population are required to register with the government.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Fiji

The constitution establishes a secular state and protects freedom of religion, conscience, and belief. It also mandates the separation of religion and state.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Papua New Guinea

The constitution provides for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion and the right to practice religion freely, except where that practice infringes on another person’s rights or where it violates public laws, safety, and the welfare of marginalized groups.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Australia

The constitution bars the federal government from making any law that imposes a state religion or religious observance, prohibits the free exercise of religion, or establishes a religious test for a federal public office.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Timor-Leste

The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and worship and freedom of religious instruction.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Tibet

The constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which cites the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), states that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious belief,” but it limits protections for religious practice to “normal religious activities” without defining “normal.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vietnam

The constitution states that all individuals have the right to freedom of belief and religion.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Macau

The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) grants residents freedom of religious belief, freedom to preach and participate in religious activities in public, and freedom to pursue religious education.

Taking Joint Action with the Republic of Korea to Combat the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Illicit Revenue Generation

Release: The United States is steadfast in our commitment to combat the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) illicit activities to generate revenue by stealing funds from global financial institutions and other entities.

Launch of Education and Skills Development Working Group Furthers U.S.-India Cooperation

Release: Officials from the United States and India held the first meeting of the U.S.-India Education and Skills Development Working Group in hybrid format on May 22. The event was hosted by the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, and the Indian Ministry of Education’s Joint Secretary of International Cooperation, Neeta Prasad.

Joint U.S.-ROK Symposium on Countering DPRK Sanctions Evasion Involving DPRK IT Workers

Release: The U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) will co-host a U.S.- ROK Joint Symposium: Stopping DPRK Sanctions Evasion in the Remote IT Work Industry in San Francisco, CA, on May 24, 2023, as part of our ongoing efforts to both curb the Democratic People’s...

Signing of the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association-Related Agreements

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...

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China—Hong Kong

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.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)

Reports on Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang are appended at the end of this report.

2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Solomon Islands

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