Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. USCIRF uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

USCIRF is comprised of nine private sector commissioners who volunteer their time to support USCIRF’s mandate. IRFA mandates that three Commissioners are selected by the President, two by the leaders of the President’s party in Congress, and four by the congressional leaders of the party not in the White House. Commissioners are appointed for two-year terms and are eligible for one additional term. According to IRFA, Commissioners are “selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law.”

Learn more about the current Commissioners.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency. It makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress through its Annual Report. USCIRF provides rigorous analysis of country issues and developing trends to inform decision makers through various activities, including convening hearings. It also tracks the implementation of policy recommendations.  

The State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom is part of the Executive Branch and uses diplomacy to empower like-minded governments, train U.S. diplomats, engage religious actors, and implement consequences for abusers to advance religious freedom for all. The State Department also issues an annual report that documents religious freedom conditions and incidents in every country in the world.

USCIRF and the Office of International Religious Freedom were both established by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. 

USCIRF analyzes religious freedom through the lens of international human rights standards, such as those found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest this religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” As specified in IRFA, USCIRF examines the actions of foreign governments against these universal standards and by their freely undertaken international commitments.

The International Religious Freedom Act requires the President, who has delegated this function to the Secretary of State, to designate countries as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) where the government has "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom," which is defined as "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom." Pursuant to IRFA, USCIRF recommends countries for CPC designation to the Secretary of State based on its analysis.

For countries designated by the Secretary of State as CPCs, IRFA provides a range of policy options (referred to as Presidential actions) to address serious violations of religious freedom, which can be waived by the President of the United States.

For USCIRF's latest CPC recommendations, review the current annual report. 

USCIRF also recommends certain countries to be added to the State Department's Special Watch List (SWL). The International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) defines the SWL as consisting of those governments that engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom, but do not rise to the CPC standard of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious.” Violations in countries must meet two of those three criteria for recommendation to the State Department for designation as SWL countries.

For the latest SWL recommendations, review the current annual report. 

USCIRF continually monitors facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom, in consultation with independent human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations, including religious communities. Additionally, USCIRF holds hearings, conducts fact-finding delegations, and engages with U.S. government entities.