The 2023 Ministerial Conference of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) was held in Prague, Czech Republic, from 28 to 30 November 2023.

The Sovereign Order of Malta holds the status of observer at the IRFBA and was represented by Mr. Jean-François Kammer, Deputy Permanent Observer of the Mission.

The Ministerial Conference of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) addressed the topic of Freedom of Religion or Belief under Authoritarian Regimes. The conference explored the misuse of religion for political purposes, building resilience and the role of new technologies in the suppression of religious or belief minorities. The main panel sessions also analyzed past experiences in Central Europe under communist rule, and considered how this may help understand the means by which repressive regimes currently restrict freedom of religion or belief. The objective of the conference was also to highlight how sports and youth engagement can build interreligious and cross-cultural communities that encourage a shared culture of respect. The final part of the conference was dedicated to women’s rights, and how they can be articulated with freedom of religion.

More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic: https://mzv.gov.cz/forb