IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT Key Findings international organizations. Eight statements of concern were issued. Brazil, another member of the Alliance, will host the next ministerial During 2020, the administration of then President Donald J. Trump event in 2021. continued its prioritization of international religious freedom (IRF). In In December, the State Department designated 10 “countries June, then President Trump signed an executive order on “Advancing of particular concern” (CPCs), the category under the International International Religious Freedom,” which increased related foreign Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) for governments that engage in or tolerassistance funding to $50 million annually, expanded mandatory ate particularly severe religious freedom violations. Nigeria was named IRF training to more federal officials, and more explicitly integrated a CPC for the first time, a step that USCIRF had recommended every the issue into U.S. bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. USCIRF year since 2009. For the 10 designated countries, the State Department has long called on the U.S. government to develop an overall reimposed existing sanctions on five and issued waivers on taking any strategy for promoting religious freedom abroad, as well as countryaction for the other five. USCIRF has long called on administrations specific action plans, and welcomed that this executive order required to discontinue the practice of relying on waivers or existing sancthe U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International tions in response to CPC designations. The State Department also Development (USAID) to do so. placed four countries on its “Special Watch List” (SWL) for severe February 2020 marked the official launch of the International religious freedom violations, while it removed Uzbekistan and Sudan Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (the Alliance), a network of likefrom this list, reflecting progress minded countries committed to in these countries. In addition, the opposing religious persecution State Department designated 10 and advancing freedom of reli“entities of particular concern” gion or belief for all. As of March Nigeria was named a CPC for the first time 2021, 32 countries have signed on [by the State Department], a step that USCIRF (EPCs) pursuant to IRFA, which are nonstate actors that engage to the Alliance’s Declaration of had recommended every year since 2009. in particularly severe violations of Principles, which is grounded in religious freedom, including for international human rights stanthe first time Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham dards. The State Department’s (HTS). USCIRF recommended the IRF Office served as the Alliance’s designation of HTS in its 2020 Annual Report. Secretariat. In November, the Alliance issued a statement outlining Since taking office in January 2021, after the reporting period, its shared vision for advancing the freedom of religion or belief. To the administration of President Joseph R. Biden indicated that its forcomplement existing work on the freedom of religion or belief within eign policy priorities will include championing human rights. During his the United Nations (UN) system, in September the Alliance made a confirmation process, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed statement at the Human Rights Council (HRC) inviting members to join the administration’s commitment to human rights and IRF. In February its efforts to protect religious freedom. Following two Ministerials to 2021, the Biden administration announced that it would reengage with Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the State Department in 2018 the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) as an observer. As of the end and 2019, Poland, a founding member of the Alliance, hosted the of March 2021, President Biden had not yet nominated an ambassathird ministerial on the issue in November. The event, held virtually dor-at-large for IRF or filled other key IRF-related positions. due to the coronavirus pandemic, convened more than 50 nations and STATE DEPARTMENT 2020 DESIGNATIONS CPC Designations Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan SWL Countries Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Russia EPC Designations Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Houthis, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban USCIRF | ANNUAL REPORT 2021 7