Recent Developments Concerning the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Italian Foreign Policy

Abstract

The right to freedom of religion or belief has visibly made an entry into the international arena through specialized institutions aimed at its protection and promotion in multilateral fora, in international organizations, and in relationships with third countries (countries that are not part of the European Union) and civil society at large. This is also true in the case of Italy, which recently joined the growing number of countries with dedicated policies for the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief in their foreign policy. In this article I provide a brief update and analysis of the recent attempts undertaken by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the field. An English translation of the protocol between the City of Rome and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs establishing the Italian Oversight Committee for Religious Freedom is provided in the Annex.

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article submitted for consideration in The Review of Faith & International Affairs (copyright Institute for Global Engagement).

Keywords: Religious Freedom, Freedom of Religion, Foreign Policy