10
December 2018
Past Event
Needed Now More Than Ever: The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

Needed Now More Than Ever: The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
December 10, 2018
(Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Caption
(Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
10
December 2018
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Samuel Brownback

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

Frank R. Wolf
Thomas L. Gallagher

President and CEO, Religion News Foundation

Nina Shea
Nina Shea

Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Religious Freedom

Kristina Arriaga

Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Paul Marshall

Senior Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom

Hillel Fradkin

Senior Fellow and Director, Center on Islam, Democracy, and the Future of the Muslim World

Erin Rodewald

Co-author, 20th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act: A Retrospective

Lou Ann Sabatier

Co-Author, 20th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act: A Retrospective

Katrina Lantos Swett

President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice

On December 10, Hudson Institute's Working Group on Christians and Religious Pluralism in the Middle East hosted a discussion on the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). Two decades after its passage, IRFA and the concerns of the broad, faith-based mobilization behind it are no less salient. Keynote remarks were provided by former U.S. Representative and primary sponsor of the IRFA, Frank Wolf, and U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback. Keynote remarks were followed by two panels of experts, including current and former members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, who discussed IRFA and current religious persecution challenges in the Middle East. Also, at this event, 21 Wilberforce’s new publication, 20th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act: A Retrospective, was released.

In 1998, IRFA formalized religious freedom as a major tenet of American foreign policy for the first time in U.S. history. Two decades later, the persecution of faith in China, Iraq, Syria, and other countries remains a critical issue being addressed by IRFA, government agencies and a broad coalition of faith-based organizations. This statute institutionalized religious freedom as a pillar of U.S. foreign policy. The speakers will address how this is making a difference in addressing challenges today.

Related Events
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
taiwan flag cyber
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a discussion with Congressman Rob Wittman on the role of cyber resilience in the defense of Taiwan.

taiwan flag cyber
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
08
August 2025
Past Event
Assessing the Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement
Featured Speakers:
Damjan Krnjević Mišković
Michael Doran
Zineb Riboua
Getty Images
08
August 2025
Past Event
Assessing the Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement

Research Fellow Zineb Riboua will moderate a conversation on the potential implications of this historic accord with Senior Fellow Michael Doran and Damjan Krnjević Mišković, professor of practice at Azerbaijan’s ADA University and editor of the policy journal Baku Dialogues.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Damjan Krnjević Mišković
Michael Doran
Zineb Riboua
01
August 2025
Past Event
Peru’s Strategic Moment
Featured Speakers:
Diego de la Torre
Francisco Tudela
Marc Wachtenheim
Amb. Hugo de Zela
Moderator:
Daniel Batlle
Getty Images
01
August 2025
Past Event
Peru’s Strategic Moment

Join Hudson Adjunct Fellow Daniel Batlle and a panel of leading analysts as they examine what lies ahead for Peru and whether the country can convert its economic potential into lasting security and sovereignty ahead of its 2026 elections.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Diego de la Torre
Francisco Tudela
Marc Wachtenheim
Amb. Hugo de Zela
Moderator:
Daniel Batlle
31
July 2025
Past Event
How Congress Can Rebuild US Shipbuilding and Boost Maritime Security
Featured Speakers:
Austin Gray
Capt. Christian Lee (Ret.)
Matthew Paxton
Scott Sloan
Mike Smith
Lawrence Ryder
Moderators:
Bryan Clark
Michael Roberts
DVIDS
31
July 2025
Past Event
How Congress Can Rebuild US Shipbuilding and Boost Maritime Security

Join Hudson Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Michael Roberts for a discussion with government and industry leaders about the challenges the US Navy and Coast Guard face amid modernization efforts and how new legislation and regulation can help restore America’s maritime superiority.

DVIDS
Featured Speakers:
Austin Gray
Capt. Christian Lee (Ret.)
Matthew Paxton
Scott Sloan
Mike Smith
Lawrence Ryder
Moderators:
Bryan Clark
Michael Roberts