About United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF):
- It is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission established under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
- USCIRF monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad; makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations.
- USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders of each political party, supported by a non-partisan professional 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.
- USCIRF recommendations are not binding on the U.S. government.
- 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.”
