31st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Religious Freedom

Mr. Manus Churchill emphasized the connection between religious freedom and global security, noting that religious identity is often central to how individuals understand themselves, especially in conflict or high-risk regions. He argued that policymakers frequently overlook this reality, focusing instead on economic or political factors, which can lead to fragile peace efforts that fail to address deeper religious divisions.

He described the International Religious Freedom Summit as a platform designed to unite civil society leaders, government officials, and members of parliament from around the world to promote religious liberty as a foundation for peace. The summit gathers thousands of participants from dozens of countries and diverse faith backgrounds, united by the shared principle that every person has the right to follow their conscience freely and safely.

Churchill highlighted the summit’s practical focus training, coalition-building, and equipping lawmakers with tools to advance religious freedom policies in their own countries. He concluded that strengthening religious freedom is not only a human rights goal, but also a strategic and effective approach to enhancing stability and security worldwide.