Dear President von der Leyen,
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are writing to applaud your commitment to universal human rights and the rule of law, and respectfully request that the EU continue to lead on the promotion of human rights throughout the world by continuing the mandate of the Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU.
Many of us are participants in the U.S.-based International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable. With ten years of continuous operations, the IRF Roundtable is an informal group of individuals from non-governmental organizations who gather regularly to discuss the most pressing issues facing communities and individuals of all faiths and no faith, when they have their right to freedom of religion or belief violated. Further, the IRF Roundtable is a multifaith venue for collaboration to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental human
right for everyone, no matter his or her specific faith. The IRF Roundtable and its participants have been fortunate to be able to work extensively with the Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU (2016-2019), Jan Figel, and have been deeply grateful for the work that the EU has done to promote freedom of religion or belief throughout the world. The EU’s advocacy has borne real fruit for so many victims who have been targeted for their religion or belief.
