U.S. Institute of Peace

03/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2024 11:34

Promoting Peace and Stability in the Americas through Religious Freedom

The Western Hemisphere is generally known for protecting freedom of religion or belief. With a few notable exceptions, the countries of the region all enshrine religious freedom at the constitutional level and protect it through laws and policies. But in recent years, authoritarian governments in South America have increasingly viewed religious actors as threats to their regime's survival and tried to control or crush independent religious activity.