1. Overview

Asia Centre’s 11th Annual International Conference will examine the current state and future trajectory of religious freedom in Asia, focusing on representation, restrictions and rights. The right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is fundamental to human dignity. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948) enshrines the inalienable right to adopt, change, or renounce a religion without coercion or discrimination – a principle further reinforced by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966).

In this context, the conference will examine religious freedom in Asia as a human rights issue, based on legal standards, state responsibility, and institutional accountability. By convening stakeholders from a range of organisations, the event seeks to identify threats to religious freedom, foster dialogue and develop actionable frameworks. This is to ensure that religious freedom is a justiciable right that states are obligated to protect and individuals are empowered to claim. It is hoped that insights gained from the conference will inform effective practices and support policy development that recognises religious freedom as integral to broader democratic and human rights commitments, while fostering a community of practice.

2. Conference Themes 

The conference will examine the following sub-themes: 

  • FoRB as a Human Right: International Norms and Domestic Obligations
  • Legal and Structural Restrictions on Religious Freedom
  • Division Between Secular and Religious Courts 
  • The Bureaucratic Control of Religion
  • Religious Freedom in Conflict Zones and Authoritarian Regimes
  • Transnational Repression of Religious Activists and Asylum-Seekers
  • Religious Fundamentalism, State-Sanctioned Religion and the Erosion of Pluralism 
  • Uncivil Society and Social Hostilities against FoRB
  • Representation and Marginalisation of Ethno-Religious Minorities
  • Online Harassment and Surveillance of Religious Communities
  • Gender, Religion, and Intersectional Discrimination
  • Indigenous People, Atheists, and Non-Believers
  • From Tolerance to Accountability: Responses from Civil Society and Media 

Note: The above sub-themes are a preliminary guide. Flexibility is encouraged, and partners may propose additional topics aligned with their expertise under the overarching theme of Religious Freedom in Asia to ensure contextual relevance and innovation. 

3. Objectives 

The conference aims to achieve the following objectives: 

  1. Examine the state of religious freedom in Asia.
  2. Identify threats to religious freedom and current responses.
  3. Build strategies and actions for advancing religious freedom in the region.

4. Conference Structure 

The conference will consist of short opening remarks, keynote speeches, plenary sessions, and breakout sessions arranged according to themes and/or region and country-specific discussions. 

5. Conference Participants 

Registration is open to participants from national, regional, and global organisations, including civil society organisations, faith-based NGOs, human rights organisations, media and journalism associations, legal and policy entities, parliaments and political parties, technology firms, government agencies, and intergovernmental organisations.

6. Programme Outline

Day 1, Thursday, 20 August 2026

9:00 – 17:00     Morning & Afternoon Panels

Day 2, Friday, 21 August 2026

9:00 – 17:00     Morning & Afternoon Panels

17:00 – 20:00     Networking Hour

7. Inquiries

Please contact us at contact@asiacentre.org

For the full concept note, please click here.