What themes have guided USCIRF’s recent work and advocacy?
USCIRF has identified three themes to guide Commissioners discussions on priority countries with severe violations of religious freedom: state-sponsored hostility to and repression of religion; state-sponsored extremist ideology and education; and state failure to prevent and punish religious freedom violations (impunity). Several of the CPC countries that systematically violate religious freedom fall into all three categories. • State-Sponsored Hostility and Repression of Religion: The framework of state hostility toward and repression of religion captures many of the worst violators of religious freedom including China, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Vietnam. These countries exhibit strong opposition to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, either towards individual members, leaders, or entire communities, and take steps to forcefully curtail and penalize such freedoms, such as the sharing of religious beliefs or the undertaking of basic practices. • State-Sponsored Extr
