It is the third edition of the conference, this year – organised by Poland. The two previous editions, in 2018 and 2019, were convened by the United States. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ministerial has moved to a fully digital format.

127 countries and international organisations were invited to attend the first day of the conference. Their representatives will discuss the condition of observing freedom of religion or belief across the world as well as the most urgent problems related to the implementation of this basic right everyone is entitled to.

The sessions attended by foreign ministers and other high-level representatives of states and multilateral organisations will be opened by Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The second day of the conference will be devoted to presenting opinions of civil society and religious organisations that are engaged in furthering freedom of religion or belief.

One of Poland’s priorities on the international stage is to consistently call for multilateral organisations to enhance their efforts for the religious minorities’ rights to be fully respected and to ensure freedom of religion and belief as well as protection of victims of religious persecution. Polish diplomacy is actively engaged in promoting freedom of religion and belief on such fora as the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Human Rights Council, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The ministerial session is scheduled for 2 pm. Warsaw time, 16 November, whereas the second day’s session is to start at 1 pm: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/schedule.