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Online Freedom Center

Resource platform and gateway

Using the Freedom Center

This Freedom Center is an online resource platform and gateway to a variety of sites and resources. Developed in collaboration with and hosted by the 21Wilberforce Global Freedom Center (21Wilberforce), this online platform is designed for activists, legislators, faith leaders, and those who want to put their faith into action. It provides changemakers with with a curated library of resources (e.g., reports, data/stats, how-to guidance, relevant U.S. and international law policies, campaign strategies, communication tools, etc.), training and education platforms, and online action tools (e.g., media campaigns, direct advocacy, fundraising). This powerful resource helps users inform stakeholders, makes their voice heard, and allows them to actively make a difference in a seamless experience.

The Need for Collaborative Action

Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), specifies that “no one shall be subject to coercion that would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.”

Today, more people globally are persecuted for their faith and for acting according to their conscience than in any time in history.

We have been witnessing across the globe severe, routine acts of intolerance, discrimination, persecution and even genocide against religious believers on account of the beliefs they hold.

In response to these growing challenges, there is a need for a new era for education, protection and advocacy for international religious freedom.

Despite the magnitude of the problem and growing trends of religious repression worldwide, there has been virtually no coordinated or effective efforts in the West to broadly activate and facilitate collaborative action of grassroots networks for defending and advancing these freedoms—generally referred to in the U.S. as “international religious freedom” (IRF) or “freedom of religion and belief” (FORB) in Europe and many other countries.

There are numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in advocacy, many with single-issue agendas. Campaigns for reforms and prisoners of conscience are often small and poorly funded. Potentially powerful grassroot networks are disconnected, while large faith-based and other groups remain untapped. The historic focus on high-level advocacy for a few visible cases has achieved some success, but ultimately has done little to tangibly help the vast number of “invisible” people suffering for their religious identity, their faith, and or acts of conscience.

Resource platform and gateway

The Freedom Center—An Online Platform For Resources And Action

The Freedom Center’s goal is to spur collaboration on international religious freedom campaigns by providing a centralized place for stakeholder communication, engagement and advocacy. The Center equips global faith-based networks, international religious freedom organizations, and the international religious freedom community with resources, training, and tools to support persecuted communities, challenge repression, and expand freedom of religion and belief. 

This flagship online platform informs and prepares stakeholders to take action with a curated library of resources (reports, data/stats, videos, relevant U.S. and international law policies, a primer on campaign strategy, innovative campaign and communication tools, etc.), and peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities. The Center enables faith-based networks, religious freedom organizations and others to keep stakeholders up-to-date on persecuted people and related campaigns by sending personalized emails and capabilities to embed issue profiles, individual campaigns, and sign-up forms on their own websites. This powerful resource helps users inform stakeholders and make their voice heard in a seamless experience.

21Wilberforce, a 501(c)(3) IRF-dedicated human rights organization, is responsible for the day-to-day development, coordination, and operations of the Freedom Center. Our team include a tech developer, partnership coordinator, communications, advocacy and campaign development coaches and trainers. To learn more about 21Wilberforce, please visit www.21wilberforce.org.

Join the Movement

Contact us directly if you are a roundtable, network, or organization that is interested in collaborating with the Freedom Center or want information on how you can establish your own online functional capabilities for engaging supporters and targeted audiences in action campaigns.