10 Highlights From First-Ever State Dept. Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom Worldwide

By Samuel Smith, Deputy Managing Editor Saturday, July 28, 2018

4. Initiatives

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the first-ever State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom at the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C. on July 27, 2018. He is joined on stage by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | (Photo: State Department)

Along with the documents, Vice President Mike Pence announced new U.S. government initiatives that aim to help protect religious freedom and help persecuted religious communities around the world.

During his keynote speech Thursday, Pence told the world about the creation of the new Genocide Recovery and Persecution Response Program. The program will better facilitate partnerships with community organizations, faith leaders, philanthropists and others looking to help persecuted believers around the world with the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development.

Additionally, Pence announced the formation of the International Religious Freedom Fund. The U.S. is encouraging other nations to help support the fund and will be used to help persecuted and threatened religious minority communities.

"America is proud to launch and support this program and we're earnest in our appeal to all the nations gathered here and around the world that you might join us in this fund," Pence said during his speech. "Together, we will champion the cause of liberty as never before."