International Engagement Working Group 

A meeting of the IARF International Engagement Working Group was held via Zoom on December 20, 2025. The meeting was attended by members Peter LePoole, Lukasz Liniewicz, Esther Suter, Ruzbeh Hodiwala, US Chapter Treasurer John Gubbings, and US Chapter President George Garland.

Among the many topics they explored was the restoration of IARF consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This restoration was necessary in order to have voting membership in the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (CoNGO), in association with the United Nations.

USCIRF Welcomes Senator Schumer’s Appointment of Rachel Laser

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced the appointment of Rachel Laser to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom* (USCIRF) on December 11, 2025. Laser currently serves as President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. A lawyer and advocate, she has worked extensively on issues related to civil rights, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. She previously served as deputy director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and held senior roles at Third Way and the National Women’s Law Center. 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress, intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. 

CoNGO* General Assembly

The CoNGO General Assembly met at New York City’s Church Center on October 27–29, 2025 to elect a new President and a new Board. Twenty-six representatives from its 500 organizations each gave a three-minute talk, which was followed by a vote for 20 Board positions. Peter Preziosi was elected President. In his acceptance remarks, Preziosi expressed interest in broadening CoNGO’s outreach through collaborations.

*CoNGO is an independent, international, non-profit membership association of non-governmental organizations. It facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decision-making.

The Freedom of Religious Belief Committee

The civil society organization Freedom of Religious Belief Committee (FoRB) held a meeting at the Bahai Center in New York City on October 24, 2025. Speakers from Iran and India spoke about a growing concern about discussions being held at the US State Department on religious freedom. They apprised the audience about India’s growing fundamentalist Hindu groups and their influence that resulted in recent government verbal attacks, advancing threats to kill non-Hindus. They urged the audience to contact the US Senate and the State Department’s Office of Religious Freedom with concerns.