Freedom of Religion or Belief & Foreign Policy website

A new website which will provide governments, policy officials, experts and various stakeholders with the very latest information on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and Foreign Policy has been launched by a group of Sussex academics and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The website will provide government officials, NGOs and academics from around the world with the most up-to-date policy research and resources from policy dialogues on FoRB and Foreign Policy.

It is organised around three areas of research: Transatlantic Policy, Preventing Violent Extremism (a partnership with the FCO) and Religious Engagement and Intercultural Dialogue.

Those who have contributed to the website include international experts, religious representatives and officials from the United Nations, the European Union and the US Department of State.

The launch of the website is part of a wider interdisciplinary research project, the FoRB and Foreign Policy initiative, which is led by Dr Fabio Petito (International Relations) and includes other Sussex academics Professor Mariz Tadros (Institute of Development Studies), Dr Stephanie E. Berry (Law) and Ozcan Keles (Human Rights).

The initiative, formally launched at a public symposium on campus this week, aims to improve the policy discussion on the challenges and opportunities of advancing FoRB regionally, internationally and through foreign policy.

Dr Petito, who leads on the initiative, said: “As we have seen from recent news headlines, the global environment for Freedom of Religion or Belief continues to deteriorate and more governments are stepping up their commitment to the protection and promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

“It’s hoped that our new website and interdisciplinary research initiative will encourage governments across the world to step up their policy efforts in facing this great challenge by also exploring new ideas and partnerships with civil society and religious organisations.”

The launch of the FoRB and Foreign Policy initiative was co-organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief in the UK. To visit the new website, which is part of the initiative, please go to www.forbforeignpolicy.net