IMFC points to Toledo conference as key moment for global religious freedom

TOLEDO, Spain — The International Multi-Faith Coalition, citing reporting originally published by WorldReligionNews.org, said a major international conference on religious freedom held in Toledo this week underscored growing concern over global threats to freedom of religion or belief.

The gathering, organized by the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty, or AIDLR, brought together about 70 invited participants from around the world from March 24 to 26 for discussions on human rights, freedom of conscience, religious nationalism, artificial intelligence and the future of multilateral protections for faith communities.

For IMFC, the conference reflected the urgent importance of defending religious liberty across traditions and national boundaries at a time of mounting polarization, conflict and discrimination.

Held in Toledo, a city long associated with Christian, Jewish and Muslim coexistence, the conference carried added symbolism as AIDLR marked its 80th anniversary. Organizers framed the meeting around the theme, “A New Era in Human Rights? Impacts on Freedom of Religion and Belief.”

The opening ceremony took place at Toledo City Hall and included a message from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, read by Nazila Ghanea, the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. In the message, Guterres described freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief as central to human dignity and warned of rising pressures on that freedom, including hostility fueled by identity politics, misuse of security narratives, digital surveillance and artificial intelligence lacking human rights safeguards.

IMFC said those concerns align closely with its own mission of advancing mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and protection for people of all faiths and beliefs.

Conference speakers included legal scholars, diplomats, human rights advocates and religious liberty specialists from Europe, the United States and international institutions. Sessions addressed the current state of freedom of religion or belief, the role of international actors, new challenges to human rights, religious nationalism, and the effects of information technologies and AI on religious freedom.

A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Declaration of Toledo 2026, a statement outlining major threats to freedom of conscience, religion and belief and calling on governments, international organizations and civil society to respond. The declaration urged support for human dignity, multilateralism, interreligious dialogue, protection against discrimination and persecution, separation of religion and state, and safeguards to ensure AI development respects freedom of religion or belief.

For IMFC, the declaration’s emphasis on dialogue, human dignity and principled defense of liberty resonates strongly with the coalition’s interfaith work.

The conference also honored several longtime religious liberty advocates, including Alberto de la Hera, Ganoune Diop and John Graz, for their contributions to the field.

The closing session included remarks from Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chávez of Toledo and Carolina Bueno of the Evangelical Federation of Spain. AIDLR President Barna Magyarosi closed the conference by thanking participants and expressing hope for a future gathering in 2029.

IMFC said the Toledo conference stands as an important reminder that religious freedom is not only a legal principle but also a practical foundation for peace among communities. In a period marked by social fragmentation and rising intolerance, the coalition said, international cooperation and interfaith engagement remain essential.

This report is based on coverage originally published by WorldReligionNews.org .