22 USC 6411 - Office on International Religious Freedom; Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 28, 2024

§ 6411.

Office on International Religious Freedom; Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

(a)

Establishment of Office

(b)

Appointment

(c)

Duties

The Ambassador at Large shall have the following responsibilities:

(1)

In general

The primary responsibilities of the Ambassador at Large shall be to—

(A)

advance the right to freedom of religion abroad, to denounce the violation of that right, and to recommend appropriate responses by the United States Government when this right is violated; and

(B)

integrate United States international religious freedom policies and strategies into the foreign policy efforts of the United States.

(2)

Advisory role

The Ambassador at Large shall be a principal adviser to the President and the principal adviser to the Secretary of State regarding matters affecting religious freedom abroad and, with advice from the Commission on International Religious Freedom, shall make recommendations regarding—

(A)

the policies of the United States Government toward governments that violate freedom of religion or that fail to ensure the individual’s right to religious belief and practice; and

(B)

policies to advance the right to religious freedom abroad.

(3)

Diplomatic representation

Subject to the direction of the President and the Secretary of State, the Ambassador at Large is authorized to represent the United States in matters and cases relevant to religious freedom abroad in—

(A)

contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations, the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations of which the United States is a member;

(B)

multilateral conferences and meetings relevant to religious freedom abroad; and

(C)

contacts with nongovernmental organizations that have an impact on the state of religious freedom in their respective societies or regions, or internationally.

(4)

Coordination responsibilities

In order to promote religious freedom as an interest of United States foreign policy, the Ambassador at Large—

(A)

shall coordinate international religious freedom policies across all programs, projects, and activities of the United States; and

(B)

should participate in any interagency processes on issues in which the promotion of international religious freedom policy can advance United States national security interests, including in democracy promotion, stability, security, and development globally.

(5)

Reporting responsibilities

(d)

Funding

(Pub. L. 105–292, title I, § 101, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2791; Pub. L. 114–281, title I, § 101(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1428.)

cite as: 22 USC 6411