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Survivors of Religious Persecution to Share Stories in Washington

Nike Ching

   STATE DEPARTMENT - The U.S. State Department is making the advancement
   of religious freedom a foreign policy priority, with survivors of
   religious persecution representing North Koreans, Rohingyas, Uighursand
   Yazidis invited to highlight the urgency of the problem at a conference
   next week in Washington.

   "This is a major foreign policy initiative of the United States," said
   Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador at large for international religious
   freedom. During a telephone briefing, he said it was anissue that
   hasnot received enough attention around the world as religious
   persecution has grown in recent years.

   More than 1,000 representatives from religious groups and civil
   society, as well as foreign ministers, are expected to gather at the
   State Department July 16-18 to discuss the status of religious freedom
   around the world.

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