The U.S. Senate has taken a significant step forward by unanimously passing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Act of 2024 (S. 3764), which would extend the commission’s authorities for another two years. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), who championed this bipartisan bill, emphasized its importance in addressing rising instances of religious persecution.
Rubio highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “Now more than ever, we are seeing the increase of religious persecution against civilians who are simply living out their faith.” He pointed to distressing trends, including antisemitism, the genocide of Uyghurs, and the persecution of Catholics in Nicaragua, urging swift action from the House of Representatives to ensure the commission’s continuation.
A Historical Commitment
Senator Cardin, who was instrumental in establishing USCIRF, echoed this sentiment. “For 25 years, the Commission on International Religious Freedom has championed religious freedom and belief,” he remarked. Cardin noted that the commission’s mission is not only to address abuses against various faiths but also to confront human rights violations justified by religion, including anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination. This broader mandate is essential for upholding the rights fundamental to free and democratic societies.
Support Across the Aisle
The bill’s introduction reflects a strong, bipartisan commitment, with support from a diverse group of senators, including Chris Coons (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and James Lankford (R-OK). In the House of Representatives, the companion bill is backed by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), showcasing a unified front in defense of international religious freedoms.
Looking Ahead
As the House considers this important legislation, the implications of the commission’s reauthorization cannot be understated. The ongoing global challenges to religious liberty make USCIRF’s role increasingly vital. By empowering the commission, the U.S. can continue to advocate for those whose freedoms are under threat, shining a light on abuses and holding violators accountable.
The passage of this bill would ensure that USCIRF has the necessary resources to monitor, report, and act against religious persecution, affirming the United States’ commitment to upholding human rights on the international stage.
For those interested in following this legislative process, updates and historical context can be found through the links provided. The fight for religious freedom is far from over, and continued vigilance is essential in safeguarding these fundamental rights.
As you know, Sudan is facing one of the most critical humanitarian crises in the world today. It is the site of the largest internal displacement crisis on Earth. Conflict and genocide have 25 million Sudanese struggling with limited access to food, clean water, and basic medical care. That is half of the population.
Entire communities are uprooted, seeking safety in already overwhelmed areas, and the situation continues to deteriorate as resources become scarcer by the day.
We are reaching out to you because you have taken action for Sudan in the past. Over the past year, you have taken nearly 13,000 actions on behalf of the people of Sudan. Congress and the Biden Administration are listening.
Your donation will allow us to:
Continue to raise awareness about the genocide in Sudan. While it may not be leading newscasts or appearing on the front pages of newspapers, policymakers are talking about Sudan. That is because of your actions. With your help, we can continue to sound the alarm about what is happening.
Make the U.S. government do more to end the genocide in Sudan. Congress can and must act to end the violence, get more humanitarian aid into the country, and force the warring parties to sit down and work out a deal for lasting peace.
Stop the Biden Administration from providing weapons to the UAE. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been the principal sponsor of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The RSF has been committing atrocities across Sudan. That must stop.
Make the NBA step away from the UAE. As the National Basketball League (NBA) touts its support for diversity, inclusion, and civil rights in the United States, it cozies up to dictators around the globe. In 2021, it entered into a contract with the UAE to inlcude hosting games in that repressive nation. By working with the UAE government and whitewashing its repressive policies and support for genocide, the NBA is complicit in the UAE’s crimes against humanity. We can make them stop.
The need is urgent—and every contribution makes a difference. With your support, we can bring hope to those who have lost so much. Please consider making a donation today to help us save lives in Sudan.
Help us end the #UyghurGenocide
As you may have seen, Volkswagen has announced it is leaving Xinjiang, China. This is due to public pressure from you and people like you who took actions to let Volkswagen know that its complicity in the genocide against the Uyghurs is not acceptable. In 2024, you took nearly 7
The Uyghur community faces genocide, persecution, forced labor and organ harvesting, and separation from their families at unprecedented levels. For years, millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim groups in China’s Xinjiang region have been subjected to severe restrictions on their basic freedoms, leaving families and entire communities struggling to survive under immense pressure.
You have taken nearly 70,000 actions on behalf of the Uyghurs. We cannot thank you enough for that. Because of you, Congress is listening. Because of you, companies like Volkswagen are leaving Xinjiang, and Shein is on alert. But we cannot stop now.
By making a donation today, you can help us:
Raise awareness of the issue. Companies like VW and Shein rely on people not knowing where their products and the materials for their products come from. It has been estimated that one in five cotton garments are made with cotton from Xinjiang.
Keep goods made with slave labor off the international market.Earlier this year, thousands of luxury cars made by VW brands were kept out of the United States because they included parts made by Uyghur slave labor. Your actions led to the ban on goods from Xinjiang. Your help will let us keep the pressure on lawmakers to keep goods made by slave labor out of the U.S. and other global markets.
Raise awareness of the use of #ForcedLaborFashion. So-called “fast fashion” companies like Chinese retailed, Shein, rely heavily on Uyghur labor to make the items they sell and for the cotton they produce. You can help us stop this. Take action to get Shein to stop using slave labor by going here.
Make the U.S. government hold China accountable for the Uyghur genocide. China continues to violate international law and the civil rights of its citizens because the international community allows it to. With your help, we can make Congress and whoever is in the White House in January force them to end this genocide.
With each passing day, thousands of Uyghur families risk losing everything. Your support today can give them a lifeline.
Ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Azerbaijan
Over a year ago, Azerbaijan invaded Artsakh (Nagorono-Karabakh), and forced approximately 120,000 Armenians to flee their homes. The Armenians had lived there for more than one thousand years. Now Azerbaijan has started erasing all evidence that Armenians ever lived there.
You have taken over 6,600 actions this year on behalf of the Armenians forced from their ancestral homes by Azerbaijan. This atrocity cannot go unanswered.
Continue to raise awareness about atrocities committed by the Azerbaijan government. While it may not be leading newscasts or appearing on the front pages of newspapers, we need to make people aware of what happened. We cannot let this second genocide of Armenians go unchecked.
Make the U.S. government do more to help the displaced Armenians be allowed to go home. Congress can use its influence to rectify this wrong.
Hold BP accountable for its silence in this matter. BP has been in the region since the early 1990s. Since then, it has been the largest investor in Azerbaijan, spending more than $84 billion on projects in that nation. The United Nations has called on companies like BP to pay closer attention to human rights in these high-risk conflict zones.
The need is urgent—and every contribution makes a difference. With your support, we can bring hope to those who have lost so much. Please consider donating today to help us get justice for the Armenians displaced.
Become a monthly donor: Provide ongoing support that will sustain relief efforts in the coming months.
Share our mission: Spread the word to friends, family, and colleagues about the fight against genocide, ethnic cleansing and other mass atrocities and encourage them to join the cause.
If you pay income taxes in the United States, your donation will lower your tax bill as it is tax deductible.
