U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

About United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF):

• It is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency.
• It was created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), as amended. 
• Functions: USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
• Composition:
  • USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders of each political party.
  • Their work is supported by a professional, nonpartisan staff.
• USCIRF issues an annual report that assesses the US government’s implementation of IRFA, highlights “Countries of Particular Concern” engaging in severe religious freedom violations, documents the conditions of religious freedom in many countries, and provides policy recommendations.
• It uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally.
• Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that: 
  • “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”

Q1: What is the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998?

It is a US Act enacted to elevate religious freedom as a higher priority in U.S. foreign policy. IRFA provides that U.S. policy includes condemning violations of religious freedom and assisting other governments in the promotion of this right. IRFA created a range of government tools to implement this policy.

Source: India rejects ‘malicious report’ by USCIRF on religious freedom abuses: ‘Desist from agenda driven efforts’