On this day in 1786, the Commonwealth of Virginia enacted the Statute for Religious Freedom, enshrining in law individuals' rights to "profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities." Our nation's first Secretary of State and third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, drafted the Statute intending that it would not only protect religious freedom in Virginia but also inspire other states and nations to follow its example. Today, we see this vision of religious freedom realized in the First Amendment to our Constitution, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the laws of many other nations, and numerous international networks, agreements, and organizations dedicated to protecting the freedom of religion or belief for all.
The United States's dedication to the freedom of religion or belief continues uninterrupted. Over the past four years, the United States has worked tirelessly to secure this right for everyone around the world. These efforts include: documenting religious freedom conditions in every country and designating countries of particular concern; declaring the actions of members of the Burmese military against Rohingya to be genocide and crimes against humanity; expanding to over 40 countries the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Alliance; taking life-saving action to protect thousands of human rights defenders and individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs or affiliations; releasing the first-ever National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism and the first-ever National Strategy to Combat Islamophobia and anti-Arab Hate; prosecuting hate crimes targeting religious minorities; and protecting places of worship globally.
The United States has also expanded diplomatic efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief through the UN, the Article 18 Alliance, the International Contact Group, and in close coordination with partner countries. These efforts helped secure the release of religious prisoners of conscience in Nicaragua, the People's Republic of China, Nigeria, Iran, Somalia, Vietnam, and elsewhere around the world. We have consistently taken action to pursue justice for victims and survivors and to promote accountability for those responsible for committing particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
On National Religious Freedom Day, as on every day, the United States remains steadfast in its centuries-long commitment to protect the freedom of religion or belief for all, both at home and around the globe.
