By Erin Rodewald || July 22, 2018

The official start of the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom begins Tuesday, but several important side events convene today. Among them is a panel discussion with leading practitioners and former officials who have been at the heart of the U.S. international religious freedom policy for more than two decades.

The International Religious Freedom Act at 20 and World of Faith and Freedom at 10: What has Changed and What is Changing begins at 4:00 p.m. today in Room G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building 50.

Featured speakers include:

• Thomas Farr, President, Religious Freedom Institute and Former Director, State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom (1999-2003)
• Frank Wolf, Distinguished Senior Fellow, 21Wilberforce and Former Congressman (V-10, 1981-2015)
• Moderator: Sharon Payt, Executive Director 21Wilberforce

A separate panel discussion will feature:

• Allen Hertzke, David Ross Boyd Professor of Political Science, University of Oklahoma
• Emilie Kao, Director, Devos Center for Religion and Society at the Heritage Foundation and Fmr. East Asia Team Lead, U.S. State Department Office of International Religious Freedom
• Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation and Former Commissioner and Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (2012-2016)
• Moderator: Kent Hill, Executive Director, Religious Freedom Institute and Fmr. Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development

This session is co-sponsored by the Religious Freedom Institute and 21Wilberforce. The event is open to the public, and details can be found here. For live updates of the Ministerial, follow me on Twitter at @EDRodewald.