top of page
Writer's pictureThe I.M.F.C.

The 2024 International Religious Freedom Summit: A Call for Global Religious Liberty

In the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, the historic Relief Society Building played host to a unique gathering of individuals. Nearly 50 community members, educators, activists, business leaders, and faith leaders convened for a luncheon that was anything but ordinary. Their focus? Global religious liberty.

Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, left, Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and Sam Brownback, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, speak at the International Religious Freedoms Summit at the Relief Society building located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, left, Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and Sam Brownback, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, speak at the International Religious Freedoms Summit at the Relief Society building located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News

This event was a nonsectarian, civic convening organized by The International Religious Freedom Summit. The summit, led by former U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Katrina Lantos Swett, has a mission that transcends political, religious, and geographical boundaries. Its aim is to bring together a diverse group of individuals to discuss pressing human rights issues, particularly those concerning religious freedom.


The announcement of the group’s 2024 gathering in Washington, D.C., which opened for registration on Wednesday, further underscores the importance and urgency of these discussions.


Brownback's Vision for Religious Freedom


Sam Brownback, a former U.S. senator from Kansas, is no stranger to the political and social intricacies of religious freedom. His remarks during the luncheon were not just informative but also a clarion call to action. "This is going to be the biggest human rights movement in the history of mankind if we're successful in establishing religious freedom for everybody, everywhere, all the time," he passionately declared.


Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, speaks with attendees of the International Religious Freedoms Summit Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, speaks with attendees of the International Religious Freedoms Summit Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Brownback's vision for religious freedom is not just about the freedom to worship. It's about the freedom to live out one's faith in every aspect of life. He emphasized the need for religious freedom to transition from being a "boutique" subject to a major foreign policy issue. The reasons? The profound impact it has on global safety, human rights, and even the economy.


He painted a stark picture of a world where religious freedom is curtailed: "If we're unsuccessful, you're going to see greater restrictions on religious freedom and you're going to see it not be a freedom of religion anymore, but a freedom of worship." In such a world, one might be free to express their beliefs within the confines of a place of worship, but outside, those values would be silenced.


However, Brownback remains optimistic. He believes in the power of grassroots movements and the collective strength of diverse religious groups. "If we will, and if all the religions and various groups will stand together, there's no way they can whip us," he affirmed.

The Global Implications of Religious Freedom


The discussions in Salt Lake City were not just about religious freedom in the U.S. but its implications worldwide. As nations become more interconnected, the ripple effects of religious freedom, or the lack thereof, can be felt globally.


For instance, when religious minorities are persecuted in one country, it can lead to refugee crises that affect neighboring nations. Economic sanctions imposed due to religious freedom violations can impact global trade. Moreover, the suppression of religious freedom can breed extremism, leading to global security threats.

The Path Forward


The 2024 International Religious Freedom Summit is not just another event on the calendar. It's a movement. It's a gathering of individuals who believe in the fundamental right of every human being to practice their faith without fear.


The luncheon in Salt Lake City is a testament to the growing momentum of this movement. With leaders like Brownback and Lantos Swett at the helm, and the collective strength of community members, educators, activists, and leaders from various sectors, there is hope.


Hope that religious freedom will not remain a "boutique" subject but will be recognized for the major foreign policy issue it truly is. Hope that the world will see religious freedom not just as a right but as a cornerstone of global safety, human rights, and economic prosperity.


As preparations for the 2024 gathering in Washington, D.C., begin, one thing is clear: the call for global religious liberty is growing louder, and it's a call the world cannot afford to ignore.

bottom of page