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2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sierra Leone
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for the protection of fundamental human rights and individual freedoms, including freedom of thought and religion, subject to the interests of defense, public safety, order, morality, and health, and to the protection of other persons’ rights and freedoms. The constitution also...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eswatini
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to worship, alone or in community with others, and to change religion or belief. These rights may be limited by laws “reasonably required" in the interest of defense, public safety, order, morality, health, or protecting the rights of others. The law requires religious groups to register with the government.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Solomon Islands
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for religious freedom, including the freedom to change religions, proselytize, and establish religious schools. Laws “reasonably required" to achieve certain listed public goals may restrict these rights.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Republic of Korea
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for religious freedom and prohibits discrimination based on religion. The constitution mandates separation of religion and state. The law requires 18-21 months of active military service for virtually all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 40, followed by reserve duty training. The law allows conscientious objectors to fulfill their service requirement by working as government employees for 36 months at correctional facilities.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lesotho
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, including the freedom to change religion or belief and to manifest and propagate one’s religion. These rights may be limited by laws in the interests of defense, public safety, order, morality, or protecting the rights of other persons, provided the limitations are the minimum necessary.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: The Bahamas
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution states freedom of religion is a fundamental right. Individuals may practice freely the religion of their choice or practice no religion at all. The law prohibits discrimination based on religion. The constitution refers to “an abiding respect for Christian values" in its preamble; however, there is no state-established religious body or official religion.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nauru
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution and other laws provide for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, and for freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs. While the law requires registration for religious groups to conduct a full range of activities, religious groups stated they could conduct most normal functions without registration.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Suriname
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion. Both the constitution and the penal code prohibit discrimination based on religion. Any violation may be brought before a court of justice. Religious groups seeking financial support from the government must register with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Kitts and Nevis
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religion. The government continued to ban public marijuana usage except for registered places of worship of the Rastafarian religious community or any place authorized by the Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Azerbaijan
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution stipulates the separation of religion and state and the equality of all religions before the law. It also protects the right of individuals to express their religious beliefs and to practice religious rituals, provided these do not violate public order or public morality. The law prohibits...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Australia
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: 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: Saint Lucia
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of religion and individuals’ right to change, manifest, and propagate the religion of their choosing. It grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain schools and provide religious instruction. The law requires religious groups with more than 250 members to register with the government.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Peru
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution bars discrimination based on religious affiliation or belief and provides for freedom of conscience and religion, either individually or in association with others. It provides for the separation of religion and state but also recognizes the historic importance of the Roman Catholic Church.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Burundi
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution defines the state as secular, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides for freedom of conscience and religion. The law requires religious groups to register with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) before operating.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mongolia
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion, prohibits discrimination based on religion, and mandates the separation of the activities of state and religious institutions. The law requires religious institutions to register with authorities but provides little detail on registration procedures, leaving local authorities to decide most of the specifics of implementation. The law prohibits hindering the free exercise of faith but limits proselytization.
The Election of Amy E. Pope as Director General of the International Organization for Migration
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
News Release: Congratulations to Amy E. Pope on her historic win to serve as the next Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). We thank Director General Vitorino for his service and leadership of IOM over the past five years. Ms. Pope’s election reflects a broad endorsement by member ...
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: The Bahamas
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution states freedom of religion is a fundamental right. Individuals may practice freely the religion of their choice or practice no religion at all. The law prohibits discrimination based on religion. The constitution refers to “an abiding respect for Christian values" in its preamble; however, there is no state-established religious body or official religion.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Gabon
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The constitution prohibits religious discrimination and provides for freedom of religion and worship and equality for all, irrespective of religious belief. It grants religious groups autonomy and the right to provide religious instruction.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: New Zealand
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The unwritten constitution, which comprises several basic laws, provides the right to manifest religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, or teaching, either individually or in community with others, and either in public or in private. The law prohibits discrimination based on religious belief.
2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Sudan
By State Newswire | May 16, 2023
Release: The transitional constitution provides for separation of religion and state, prohibits religious discrimination, and provides religious groups freedom to worship and assemble, organize themselves, teach, own property, receive financial contributions, communicate and issue publications on religious matters, and establish charitable institutions.