Washington DC: Discussing Religious Freedom Challenges and Commitment

IL News 014/2018

Government and non-government representatives from around 80 countries discussed the challenge and commitment for the world religious freedom on 24-26 July 2018 at Washington, DC, the United States of America. The conference “Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom” hosted by US Secretary of the State, Mike Pompeo was also attended by US Vice President, Mike Pence. Matius Ho, Executive Director of Leimena Institute, also attended this conference. Indonesia government was represented by Mr. Cecep Herawan, Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indonesia has ratified Civil and Political Rights Covenant which agreed that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” (Article 18(1)). Religious Freedom is also confirmed in Article 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Picture: Matius Ho (Leimena Institute) with Prof. Dr. KH Nasaruddin Umar, Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, in “Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom” at Washington, DC on July 24th, 2018.