USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan, U.S. federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.  USCIRF uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally, and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

USCIRF is composed of private sector commissioners who volunteer their time in support of USCIRF’s mandate, and the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who is a non-voting member. Commissioners are appointed by the President and Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate. USCIRF is a congressionally created entity, not a non-governmental organization, interest group, or advocacy organization.

The current Commissioners are: Mohamed Elsanousi, Maureen Ferguson, Susie Gelman, Vicky Hartzler, Asif Mahmood, Stephen Schneck, Meir Soloveichik, and Eric Ueland.

IRFA mandates that three Commissioners are selected by the President, two by the leaders of the President’s party in Congress, and four by the congressional leaders of the party not in the White House. Commissioners are appointed for two year terms, and are eligible for reappointment. According to IRFA, Commissioners are “selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law.”

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity, while the Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) — also established under IRFA—is part of the U.S. State Department. Both USCIRF and the State Department release annual reports on international religious freedom, but each has different purposes. The State Department's report documents religious freedom violations in every country in the world. USCIRF’s Annual Report, by statute, recommends countries to be designated as “countries of particular concern” which the Executive Branch must consider. The report also examines select countries, and while also documenting abuses, makes policy recommendations to the executive and legislative branches of government. USCIRF’s report also comments on the effectiveness of the State Department’s efforts to promote international religious freedom.

USCIRF monitors religious freedom through the lens of international human rights standards, such as those found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides 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 this religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” By relying on international human rights standards as specified in IRFA, USCIRF is not attempting to impose American values on other nations, but rather examines the actions of foreign governments against these universal standards and by their freely undertaken international commitments.

The International Religious Freedom Act requires the President, who has delegated this function to the Secretary of State, to designate as “countries of particular concern,” or CPCs, those countries that commit systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Pursuant to IRFA, USCIRF recommends the countries that, in its view, meet the CPC threshold and should be so designated. For countries designated as CPCs, IRFA provides the Secretary of State with a range of flexible and specific policy options (referred to as Presidential actions) to address serious violations of religious freedom. These options, which can include sanctions or a waiver of actions, are not automatically imposed.

USCIRF has recommended that the following 17 countries be designated as CPCs for 2024: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

In addition to recommending countries for CPC designation, USCIRF also recommends countries to be added to the State Department's Special Watch List (SWL). The SWL is for countries whose governments engage or tolerate in severe religious freedom violations, but do not rise to the CPC standard of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious.” Violations in SWL countries must meet two of those three criteria. In previous annual reports, USCIRF used the lesser Tier 2 standard, which only required one of those three criteria. 

USCIRF recommends 11 countries for the SWL in 2024: Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

In recent years, USCIRF’s activities have included visits to 24 countries; testifying at Congressional hearings; and supporting and addressing the concerns of a broad range of religious communities around the world. Some of USCIRF’s activities include:

  • Issuing an Annual Report: Pursuant to its congressional mandate, USCIRF releases an Annual Report, available in hard copy and on this website, which reports on religious freedom conditions in selected countries and formulates policy recommendations for the Administration and Congress. 
  • Recommending “Countries of Particular Concern:” USCIRF recommends countries the Secretary of State should designate as “Countries of Particular Concern” under IRFA for engaging in or tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” When a country is designated a “Country of Particular Concern,” the President is required by law to take one of several actions, including economic sanctions, or a waiver of action.
  • Designating "Special Watch List" Countries: USCIRF maintains a list of countries to recommend for the State Department's "Special Watch List" (SWL). The SWL is for countries whose governments engage or tolerate in severe religious freedom violations, but do not rise to the CPC standard of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious.” Violations in SWL countries must meet two of those three criteria. In previous annual reports, USCIRF used the lesser Tier 2 standard, which only required one of those three criteria.
  • Monitoring other Countries: USCIRF monitors religious freedom conditions in countries other than those recommended for CPC or SWL designation, or who have been recommended in the past. For example, USCIRF monitors antisemitism globally.
  • Traveling Abroad: USCIRF has visited countries throughout the world to examine religious freedom conditions firsthand and develop more specific policy recommendations for U.S. action. Commissioners have met with heads of state, ministers, other senior government officials, representatives of human rights and other nongovernmental organizations, religious leaders, victims of religious intolerance, and others in: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
  • Testifying before Congress and Working with Congressional Offices: USCIRF has testified at Congressional hearings on numerous subjects including protecting international religious freedom; Iran’s human rights record under President Rouhani; prisoners of conscience; the persecution of Uighurs in China; and the “defamation of religions” resolutions in the United Nations. USCIRF Commissioners and staff also regularly meet with Members of Congress and their staffs, and the Commission serves as a resource for many Congressional offices.
  • Engaging Internationally and Multilaterally: USCIRF participates in multilateral meetings related to religious freedom including at the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe. USCIRF’s work in this area has focused particularly on the problematic “defamation of religions” resolutions at the UN and multilateral efforts to combat xenophobia and related intolerance in the OSCE region. In addition, USCIRF has participated in the Third Istanbul Process meeting on Resolution 16/18, and has met with officials from the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union.
  • Highlighting Religious Freedom Issues through the Media: USCIRF issues statements and press releases on a wide range of issues including, for example, on FGM in Sudan, disappearance of the Panchen Lama, prisoners of conscience, and COVID-19. 
  • Issuing Reports: Other than the Annual Report, USCIRF publishes special reports on religious freedom topics. Some recent USCIRF reports include: Antisemitism in Europe, the Impact of Shari'a on LGBTI Persons, and Santeria in Cuba. Find all USCIRF reports at the Publications section of our website.

USCIRF works to uphold the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief for all. USCIRF focuses on a diverse array of religious and nonbeliever communities around the world, including: Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong, and Christians in China; Rohingya Muslims in Burma; Baha'is, Jews and Sunni Muslims in Iran; Muslims and Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia; Sufis, Atheists, and Christians in Nigeria; Shi’a Muslims, Christians, Ahmadis, and Hindus in Pakistan; Muslims and Christians in India; Shi’a Muslims, Atheists, and Hindus in Indonesia and Malaysia;  Christians, Mandaeans, and Yazidis in Iraq; Sikhs and Shi’a Muslims in Afghanistan, and many more.

USCIRF obtains information about violations of religious freedom abroad in multiple ways, including visiting selected countries in order to observe facts on the ground, meeting regularly with foreign officials, religious leaders and groups, victims of religious intolerance, and representatives of civil society, nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and national and international organizations, and keeping abreast of credible news reports.

For more information, contact USCIRF at 202-523-3240 or [email protected].

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

732 North Capitol Street, N.W.

Suite A714

Washington, D.C. 20401