Wednesday, November 12, 2025

 

The entire program and more information about the panels can be found here.

8:00 – 9:00 am	Registration
9:00 – 9:30 am	Opening Remarks
9:30 – 9:35 am	Invocation
9:35 – 10:00 am	Tribute to Dalai Lama
10:00 – 10:20 am	Cultural Performance
10:20 – 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 – 11:10 am	Religion as a Source of Resilience in Ukraine
11:10 – 11:40 am	Celebration of the 5-Year Anniversary of IRFBA
11:40 – 11:55 am	IRFBA Annual Award Ceremony
11:55 – 12:00 pm	Closing Remarks

Thursday, November 13, 2025

 

8:15 – 9:00 am	Registration
9:00 – 9:05 am	Musical Performance
9:05 – 9:10 am	Welcome
9:10 – 9:25 am	Opening Remarks
9:25 – 9:30 am	Invocation

As the opening session of the Ministerial Conference, this panel will ground the day’s discussions in the central theme: the transformative potential of FoRB as both a fundamental right and a source of resilience. In a world marked by conflict, division, and crisis, FoRB offers faith communities and broader society a framework for healing, inclusion, and religious engagement. The panelists will explore how FoRB-based approaches contribute to strengthening democratic culture, empowering religious actors in fragile contexts, and creating space for interfaith cooperation. The session will also examine how emerging technologies, particularly AI, can be leveraged to protect and promote FoRB—namely through monitoring violations, supporting advocacy, and fostering inclusive dialogue—while addressing the ethical challenges AI presents to religious freedom and expression. This session will set the stage for a deeper dialogue about the conference’s key themes—from climate change and digital ethics to atrocity prevention.

 

10:30 – 11:00 am Coffee Break

Rising polarization is threatening democratic resilience across the globe. This panel explores how FoRB and interfaith initiatives can foster social cohesion, reduce inequalities, and serve as a foundation for mutual trust. It will also highlight the role of international development assistance in addressing structural injustice and supporting faith-based and civil society organizations in fragile contexts.

 

10:30 – 11:00 am Coffee Break

This panel brings together representatives from Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to share national perspectives on the state of religious freedom across Eurasia. Each speaker will offer insights into their country's unique historical, cultural, and national security contexts that influence religious policy and practice. Through a moderated discussion, the panelists will explore how different models of engagement and resilience shape religious affairs in their countries. The session will also consider the protection and promotion of religious and cultural heritage sites as vital expressions of identity and belief—they often serve as focal points for both unity and contestation. Highlighting the interplay between religious freedom and cultural preservation, the discussion will examine how safeguarding such sites can contribute to resilience, dialogue, and the broader FoRB agenda. The session will showcase both challenges and innovations, providing a nuanced view of post-communist Eurasia's evolving religious landscape and offering lessons relevant to the audience.

The climate crisis deepens global vulnerabilities, sparking displacement, resource scarcity, and health emergencies. This panel will bring together faith leaders, scientists, and policymakers to explore how FoRB can empower religious communities to advocate for science-based solutions, respond to climate-linked disasters, and strengthen societal preparedness and solidarity.

 

2:30 – 3:00 pm Coffee Break

Despite ongoing challenges, minority communities across the Middle East and North Africa continue to show remarkable resilience, creativity, and commitment to preserving their faith, identity, and traditions. This panel will highlight inspiring stories of strength and renewal among religious and belief minorities, exploring how these communities are fostering coexistence, rebuilding social cohesion, and contributing to a better future. Through local initiatives, interfaith engagement, and the determination of individuals—especially women and youth—these communities are not only surviving but actively shaping a vision of greater freedom of religion or belief in the whole MENA region.

The erosion of religious freedom often serves as an early warning sign of mass atrocities. This panel will examine how monitoring of FoRB violations can be integrated into genocide prevention strategies, showcasing case studies where faith-based actors played a pivotal role in conflict mitigation.

 

4:05 – 4:15 pm Closing Remarks including a new IRFBA statement
Venue: Main Hall

We are pleased to offer conference guests a special rate at Hotel Lindner, Strahovská 128, 118 00 Praha 1-Strahov.

Rooms can be booked by contacting the hotel’s reservations department at reservations.prague@lindnerhotels.com and simply referring to the Institute of International Relations Prague (IIR).

 

Availability is subject to the hotel’s capacity, which will be confirmed by the reservations team.

 

Should you have any difficulty securing a room, you are welcome to contact us at conference@iir.cz. 

As a speaker, your accommodation will be arranged by the organisers. If you have not yet received any confirmation, kindly reach out to us at specialenvoycz@gmail.com or conference@iir.cz.

Select “No” if your travel is being arranged by an embassy, another organisation, or yourself.