Participants of the “International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable” are joining together to call attention to a 28 March 2012 IRF event on Capitol Hill. This is a participant-led initiative of the “IRF Roundtable,” a nonpartisan consortium of Washington-area international religious freedom NGOs that meet six times a year to discuss how best to promote religious freedom in Washington policy circles and worldwide. The IRF Roundtable was co-founded and is co-chaired by IGE President Dr. Chris Seiple.

Co-sponsors of the event include: American Islamic Congress, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, United Kingdom, Church of Scientology, Freedom House, Human Rights Law Foundation, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Institute for Global Engagement, Law and Liberty Trust, The Mitchell Firm the Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and World Relief

This nonpartisan event will feature Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA). The nonpartisan event is designed to increase the engagement of faith-based communities, religious freedom advocates, and NGOs with government, and to better equip them to effectively address religious freedom issues worldwide. After an informative, non-advocacy presentation of data from a recent Pew Research Center study on “Rising Restrictions on Religion,” participants will have the opportunity to discuss and respond to the study’s findings.

Please join us for this informative discussion with a reception to follow. RSVP Here: robert@themitchellfirm.com

Date: Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Time: 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Cannon Caucus Room, The Cannon House Office Building (Reception to follow)

Schedule of Events:

4:00 p.m. Welcome

    Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, Freedom House
  • Chris Seiple, Institute for Global Engagement=

4:05 p.m. Opening Remarks

    Congressman Jim Moran

4:10 p.m. Informative, Non-Advocacy Presentation of Data

    Brian Grim, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

4:30 p.m. Response to the Study’s Findings

    Thomas F. Farr, Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs

4:45 p.m. Moderated Discussion

With leaders of government and civil society, featuring:

    Victoria Alvarado, Mark L. Asquino, and Elizabeth Huse, Department of State
  • Knox Thames and Judy Golub, USCIRF
  • Chris Seiple, Institute for Global Engagement
  • Greg Mitchell, The Mitchell Firm
  • T. Kumar, Amnesty International
  • John Pinna, American Islamic Congress
  • And others

5:45 p.m. Closing Remarks

    Congressman Trent Franks, Co-Chair of the IRF Caucus in the House

6:00 p.m. Reception – Food, Drinks, and Music

Remarks from Members of Congress, featuring:

    Congressman Ted Poe
  • And others