Overview
The High-Level International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance Conference—also known as the Fifth Ministerial to Advance International Religious Freedom—was held on November 12–13, 2025, in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference marked the fifth anniversary of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), often referred to as the Article 18 Alliance, a growing coalition of countries committed to advancing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) globally.
Hosted under the auspices of Czech President Petr Pavel, the Ministerial was convened by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with leading civil-society and academic organizations, including the IRF Secretariat, Templeton Religion Trust, Brigham Young University Law School, and Love Your Neighbor Community as a key supporting organization.
Day one took place at Prague Castle, setting a symbolic tone, while day two was hosted at Czernin Palace, the seat of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Theme and Global Focus
The conference theme—“FoRB as a Source of Resilience and Religious Engagement”—framed religious freedom not only as a human right, but as a strategic asset for societies facing polarization, conflict, technological disruption, and environmental and humanitarian crises.
Across plenary sessions and regional panels, participants explored how religious freedom contributes to:
- Social cohesion
- Post-conflict recovery
- Prevention of mass atrocities
- Protection of minorities
- Resilience in the face of authoritarian pressure
Discussions also addressed emerging challenges, including:
- The ethical implications of artificial intelligence
- Climate-related instability
- Gender-based violence targeting religious minorities
- Early warning systems for genocide
Key moments included President Pavel’s opening address, in which he described faith as a source of moral courage rather than social control, emphasizing that “true religion uplifts all people.”
The conference also featured a tribute to the Dalai Lama for his lifelong commitment to nonviolence, and the presentation of the IRFBA awards. This special awards ceremony recognized Greg Mitchell, who received the IRF Peace Builders Award in recognition of his steady leadership at the IRF Secretariat—building coalitions, convening roundtables, and sustaining collaboration across the Alliance with consistency and humility. His recognition reflected the very ethos emphasized throughout the Ministerial: quiet, relational work that produces lasting impact without spectacle.
LYNC Senior Fellows Dr. Chris Seiple and Dr. Dennis Hoover also received the IRF Peace Builders Award, recognized for their long-term contributions to the field—strengthening the ideas, networks, and practical tools that help diverse leaders collaborate across difference and build durable religious freedom partnerships.
The Eurasia Panel: Religious Freedom and Resilience in a Transforming Region
One of the most strategically significant sessions of the Ministerial was the Eurasia panel, titled “FoRB in Eurasia: Religious Freedom and Resilience in a Transforming Region.” The panel was held at Czernin Palace, as part of the official parallel program following the midday plenary.
The panel brought together speakers from across the former Soviet space, including representatives from Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Moldova, with participation from senior government officials and regional experts.
Speakers included:
- Zaza Vashakmadze, head of Georgia’s State Agency for Religious Issues
- Kanat Iskakov, Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Valeriu Ghiletchi, President of the European Christian Political Party in the European Parliament
The Eurasia panel was notable for its framing. Rather than centering on crisis narratives or external pressure, the discussion focused on resilience—how freedom of religion or belief strengthens societies navigating political transition, security pressures, and deep historical legacies.
Eurasia’s Shared History—and Diverging Paths
A central insight of the panel was the shared historical experience of Soviet rule. Despite significant differences in religious landscapes, political systems, and stages of FoRB development, the countries represented all carry the imprint of Soviet ideology and governance. This common legacy continues to shape how states manage religious affairs, engage faith communities, and balance security concerns with freedom of conscience.
Panelists highlighted that while these countries now occupy different geopolitical positions—some oriented toward the European Union, others navigating complex regional pressures—their shared past creates a unique opportunity for peer learning.
The dialogue emphasized how former Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries have developed distinct models for:
- Protecting freedom of worship
- Engaging religious communities
- Addressing extremism without suppressing belief
The exchange between Eastern and Western parts of the former Soviet sphere was particularly valuable. Participants compared challenges, advantages, and institutional innovations, offering practical lessons rooted in lived experience rather than theory. This East–West dialogue within Eurasia underscored that progress in religious freedom is most sustainable when it is locally grounded and regionally informed.
Strategic Value and Future Potential
The Eurasia panel demonstrated why regional dialogue is essential to advancing religious freedom globally. Bringing together neighboring countries with different stages of FoRB development allowed participants to learn from both successes and setbacks—accelerating progress through mutual understanding rather than isolation.
Participants emphasized that this format—focused, comparative, and peer-driven—should not remain a one-off. There was strong consensus that the Eurasia dialogue should be expanded in future Ministerials, engaging more countries from the former Soviet bloc and deepening collaboration between governments, civil society, and religious actors.
Funding Opportunity Overview
The Eurasia Panel at the 2025 High-Level Conference to Advance Religious Freedom in Prague demonstrated the strategic power of regionally grounded, peer-driven dialogue among countries shaped by a shared Soviet legacy but pursuing different paths toward freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
This funding opportunity seeks support to institutionalize and expand the Eurasia track at future International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) Ministerials and related regional convenings—transforming a successful session into a sustained platform for cooperation, learning, and reform.
Why Eurasia, Why Now
Across the former Soviet space, governments and societies continue to navigate:
- Strong state traditions in managing religion
- Ongoing security concerns and extremism risks
- Religious diversity shaped by historical suppression
- Pressure from competing geopolitical models
At the same time, Eurasia has become a testing ground for innovative approaches that balance security, pluralism, and freedom of conscience. Countries in the region are no longer passive recipients of external norms—they are generating homegrown models that others can learn from.
The Strategic Gap
Most international FoRB engagement remains:
- Crisis-driven
- Externally framed
- Focused on naming violations rather than building systems
The Eurasia Panel model fills a critical gap by:
- Enabling peer-to-peer exchange among governments and civil society
- Grounding dialogue in shared historical experience
- Focusing on resilience, governance, and institutional capacity
- Creating trust-based space for honest learning—not public shaming