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30th Annual International Law and Religion Symposium

Protecting the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion: 75 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Protecting the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion: 75 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

October 1-3, 2023

International Center for Law and Religion Studies
J. Reuben Clark Law School – Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah, USA

Watch Sessions in English

Event Photo Gallery

This year, the Annual International Law and Religion Symposium celebrates not only its own 30th anniversary, but also commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its protections of thought, conscience, and religion. The Universal Declaration serves as the cornerstone of contemporary international protections of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. Its protections have been repeated numerous times in international and regional treaties and in national constitutions.

Despite its enormous impact, the Universal Declaration and the rights of thought, conscience, and religion it protects continue to face challenges. Some question the claim to universal rights, while populist movements seek to entrench protections only for majority religions. Others wonder if diverse religions can truly create a cohesive society or fight against robust understandings of freedom of religion or belief.

The Annual Law and Religion Symposium brings together a wide-ranging group of over 100 scholars, diplomats, judges, and government, civic and religious leaders from over 65 countries. Together we will look at questions such as:

  • the role of religion and diplomacy in implementing the values of the Universal Declaration;
  • how current religious leaders and movements understand the concept of human dignity and religious freedom;
  • the role of the rule of law in ensuring that the rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration are meaningful;
  • how diverse religions can create a unified society; and
  • how the Universal Declaration has had an impact on religious freedom in international tribunals and nations around the globe.

Conference Schedule

Sunday, Oct 1

7 – 8:15 PM

  • OPENING SESSION

     
    JRCB Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University and Program Chair, International Law and Religion Symposium

    Welcomes:
    C. Shane Reese, President, Brigham Young University

    David H. Moore, Dean, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Keynote Speakers:
    Nasaruddin Umar, Grand Imam Istiqlal State Mosque of Indonesia, Indonesia

    Frans van Daele, Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the EU, Belgium

8:30 – 9:30 PM

  • RECEPTION

     

    Fritz B. Burns Memorial Lounge,
    J. Reuben Clark Law Building Second Floor

Monday, Oct 2

9 – 10:30 AM

10:30 – 10:45 AM

  • Break

10:45 – 11:45 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • UN Human Dignity Day Initiative

    Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Ján Figeľ, Former European Union Special Envoy, Slovakia

    Ewelina Ochab, Program Lawyer, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, United Kingdom

    Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice; former Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, United States

  • Latin America Academics

    Room 306

    Moderator:
    Gary B. Doxey, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Panelists:
    Erick Cavalcanti Linhares Lima, Justice, Roraima Supreme Court, Brazil

    Gustavo A. Grancharoff, Director of Legal Matters, Argentine Baptist Association, Argentina

    Francielli Mores Gusso, Lawyer and Professor, Brazilian Bar Association, Brazil

    Susana Leslie Inch Sainz, Legal Advisor, Bolivian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bolivia

  • Vietnam and Cambodia

    Room 314

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Hannah Clayson Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and
    Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Vu Hoai Bac, Chairman, Committee of Religious Affairs, Vietnam

    Kongkea Tep, Chief Phnom Penh of Cult and Religion, Phnom Penh Municipality Office of Cult and Religion, Cambodia

  • NGOs

    Room 205

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    Moderator:
    Cory Leonard, Assistant Director, David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, Brigham Young University

    Panelists:
    Óscar A. Mersán Galli , CEO, Solidarity Foundation, Paraguay

    Mussie Hailu, Ambassador, Regional Director and Representative to the Africa Union, United Religions Initiative for Africa, Ethiopia

    Eric Patterson, President, Religious Freedom Institute, United States

    Scott Stearman, Reverend, United States

  • Legal Advocates

    Room 206

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    Moderator:
    Gene Schaerr, Senior Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Benjamin Tachie Antiedu , Lawyer, Parliament of Ghana, Ghana

    Salman Aslam Butt , Partner, Cornelius, Lane and Mufti, Pakistan

  • Pacific Government Leaders – Elected Leaders

    Room 208

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    Moderator:
    Paul Rytting, International Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Fatafehi Fakafanua , Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Tonga

    Sasaki L. George , Senator, Kosrae State Legislature, Federated States of Micronesia

12 Noon – 1:45 PM

  • LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS
    Wilkinson Student Center, Room 3220/22/24

1:45 – 2:15 PM

  • GROUP PHOTO FOR DELEGATES

2:15 – 3:45 PM

  • SECOND PLENARY SESSION

     

    – The Role of Religion and Diplomacy in
    Implementing the Values of the UDHR
    Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Paul Kerry, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    W. Cole Durham, Jr., Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University; President, IF20

    Brendan O’Hara, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Secretary, UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief

    Maricarmen Plata, Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity, Organization of
    American States

    Alwi Shihab, Senior Fellow, Leimena Institute, Indonesia; Special Envoy of the Indonesian President to the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

3:45 – 4:00 PM

  • Break

4:00 – 5:00 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • The Role of Courts and the Rule of Law in
    Protecting Human Rights, Judicial Session 1

    Room 303

    Moderator:
    David G. Campbell, Senior United States District Judge, District of Arizona, United States

    Speakers:
    Roman Podoprigora, Judge, Constitutional Court, Kazakhstan

    Ján Šikuta, President, Supreme Court of Slovakia

    Airton Vieira, Supreme Court of Justice, São Paulo State, Brazil

  • Latin America Government Leaders

    Room 306

    Watch in English
    Watch in Portuguese

    Moderator:
    Ana Cabral Bonham, Professor of Law, Universidade de Fortaleza, Brazil; Faculty Research Fellow, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Rosângela Moro, Congresswoman, Federal Chamber of Deputies, Brazil

    Sergio Fernando Moro, Senator of the Republic, Federal Senate, Brazil

    Jorge Eduardo Basaldúa Silva, General Director of Religious Affairs, Ministry of the Interior of Mexico, Mexico

  • Indonesia

    Room 314

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Abdul Mu’ti, Secretary General Muhammadiyah, Central Board of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia

    Anggia Erma Rini, Member of Parliament, Nahdatul Ulama, Indonesia

  • Central and Eastern Europe Academics

    Room 205

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University and Program Chair, International Law and Religion Symposium

    Speakers:
    Indira Aslanova, Director, Center for Religious Studies, Assistant Professor, Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University, Kyrgyzstan

    Rashad Ibadov, Dean, School of Law, ADA University, Azerbaijan

    Vanja-Ivan Savić, Associate Professor of Law, Catholic University of Croatia

    Sahib Naghiyev, Deputy Chairman, State Committee on Religious Associations, Azerbaijan

  • Francophone Africa Government Leaders – CANCELLED

    Room 206

    This session is cancelled. Speaker moved to Africa-Goverment Leaders session at 3:00 on Tuesday

    Moderator:
    Chantal Thompson, Professor Emerita, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Roger Sesani Makuntima, Deputy Chief of Staff, Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Pacific Government Leaders – Ministers of Justice

    Room 208

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Amy Andrus, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Vaine Mac Mokoroa, Minister of Justice, Government of the Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana, Honorable Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Samoa

Tuesday, Oct 3

9 – 10:00 AM

  • THIRD PLENARY SESSION

     

    – Religious Perspectives: Preserving Human
    Dignity and Religious Freedom Today
    Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Amy Andrus, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders; Executive Director, Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, Kenya

    Alastair Redfern, Chair of the Clewer Initiative, Church of England, United Kingdom

    Yoshiharu Tomatsu, President, World Conference of Religions for Peace Japan; Executive Council, World Fellowship of Buddhists

10:00 – 10:15 AM

  • Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:15 – 11:30 AM

  • Break

11:30 – 12:15 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12:30 – 1:45 PM

  • LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS
    Wilkinson Student Center, Room 3220/22/24

1:45 – 2:45 PM

  • FOURTH PLENARY SESSION

     

    – How Can Diverse Religions Build a
    United Community?
    Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Hannah Clayson Smith, Associate Director, International Center for Law and
    Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Panelists:
    Andrew P. W. Bennett, Program Director, Faith Communities, Cardus, Canada

    Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, General Secretary, The Council for Religious and Lifestance Communities, Norway

    Jim Shannon, Member of Parliament, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief, United Kingdom

2:45 – 3:00 PM

  • Break

3:00 – 4:00 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Using Mediation to Improve Court Efficiency,
    Judicial Session 3

    Room 303

    Moderator:
    Ben Hadfield, Senior Judge, First District Court, Utah, United States

    Speakers:
    Nate Alder, Attorney, Christensen & Jensen, P.C., United States

    Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, Judge, Supreme Court of Appeals, South Africa

    Stephen D. Kelson, Attorney, Christensen & Jensen, P.C.; Adjunct Professor, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Velvet Rodriguez Poston, Attorney, Velvet Rodriguez Poston Mediation and Law, United States

  • Latin American Religious Affairs Leaders

    Room 306

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Fábio Nascimento, Graduate Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Ignacio Cuevas, Advisor, National Council to Prevent Discrimination, Mexico

    Elsa Fernández Aguilar, General Director, National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information, Panama

    Amador Sepúlveda García, Ministerial Advisor, National Office of Religious
    Affairs, Chile

  • Asia Religious and Interreligious NGOs

    Room 314

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Joshua Gubler, Associate Professor, Political Science, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali, Chairman, Muslim Institute, Pakistan

    Mishigish Bataa, Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Institute of Philosophy, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Mongolia

    Dambajav Choijiljav, Abbot, Zuun Khuree Dashichoiling Monastery, Mongolia

    Matius Ho, Executive Director, Leimena Institute, Indonesia

    Sunggon Kim, Honorary President, Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, Republic of Korea

  • Middle East and Afghanistan

    Room 205

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    David Kirkham, Senior Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Razan AlShafi’e, Judge, Jerash Court, Jordan

    Mariwan Naqishbandi, Journalist, Hand of Help, Iraq

    Jack Saba, Program Director, Telos Group, Israel

    Lutforhman Saeed, Visiting Scholar, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

  • Africa Government Leaders

    Room 206

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Patrícia Baialuna de Andrade, Associate Professor, Portuguese Department, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:
    Adilson Leitão Silvestre de Almeida, Government Official, Angolan Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Angola

    Gabriel da Barca Junior, Member of Parliament, Mozambique

    Roger Sesani Makuntima, Deputy Chief of Staff, Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • National Human Rights and Nondiscrimination Bodies

    Room 208

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Scott Isaacson, Shareholder, Kirton McConkie

    Speakers:
    Ana Cabral Bonham, Professor of Law, Universidade de Fortaleza, Brazil; Faculty Research Fellow, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, Brigham Young University

    Walter Sachún, Lawyer, Peru

4:00 – 4:15 PM

  • Break

4:15 – 5:45 PM

  • FIFTH PLENARY SESSION

     

    – Conference Summation and Concluding
    Reflections on Conference Theme
    Room 303

    Watch in English

    Moderator:
    Gary B. Doxey, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Speakers:

    Reflections from Selected Delegates

    Brett G. Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

    Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University and Program Chair, International Law and Religion Symposium