The G20 Process & Challenges for Religious Freedom

Washington DC: Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM EST, Washington DC Hilton Hotel (Tickets Required)

This high-level IRF Summit Affiliated Session — sponsored by the G20 Interfaith Forum — will look ay how religious freedom is an integral factor in successful societies and economies.

Speakers:

• — W. Cole Durham, Jr., President, IF20
• — Katherine Marshall, Vice President, IF20, and President, World Faiths Development Dialogue
• — Brian Grim, President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation
• — Imam Mohamed Jag Magid, Resident Scholar, ASAMS Center
• — Brett Scharffs, Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies
• — Marianna Richardson, Communications Director, IF20
• — Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the Jubilee USA Network
• — David Saperstein, Director Emeritus, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism

The G20 Process & Challenges for Religious Freedom is a high-level IRF Summit Affiliated Session sponsored by the G20 Interfaith Forum, exploring how religious freedom remains an essential pillar of stable, prosperous, and resilient societies.

During 2026, the United States will host the G20 Summit. Coinciding with the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 2026 year will provide numerous opportunities to profile ways that key values such as freedom of religion can contribute to global progress, as envisioned in the G20 process. The G20 Interfaith Forum Association (“IF20”) has organized conferences and related activities in connection with successive G20 events each year for the past twelve years, and we anticipate that 2026 has potential to pursue those objectives. The side event will highlight progress and impact over the past several years, exploring how advances in freedom of religion can contribute to the wider success of G20 objectives.

This event will focus on priority focus areas that will have particular relevance this year. The announced priorities for the 2026 year in the United States are (1) Deregulation and Economic Growth; (2) Energy Security; and (3) Innovation and Technology. Continuing G20 Interfaith Forum priorities link to these topics in several ways. The IF20 side event will include presentations, notably (1) Religious Contributions to Enhancing Economic Growth; (2) Religious engagement on Energy Security; and (3) Religion, Religious Freedom, and AI. It will address several IF20 priorities including food security, human trafficking, and priority issues for children, health (including mental health), and human flourishing.

This event is part of the lead up to further programs during the 2026 year organized by the G20 Interfaith Forum Association. Highlights will include a Forum session on key policy issues to be held in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University, May 26, 2026, and a larger Forum held in Salt Lake City (hosted by the University of Utah and Brigham Young University) October 15-17, 2026.

Related:

— Plans for the 2026 G20 Interfaith Forum Year

— Incentivizing Freedom: Building a Global Accountability Architecture Through Business, Policy, and Collaborative Reform

Incentivizing Freedom: Building a Global Accountability Architecture Through Business, Policy, and Collaborative Reform

Washington DC: Monday, February 2, 2026, 2:00 PM to 2:40 PM EST, Washington DC Hilton Hotel

This high-level IRF Summit panel will dissect the strategies needed to construct a comprehensive and effective global framework for religious freedom accountability. The discussion moves beyond solely punitive measures (such as sanctions) to focus on creating a self-reinforcing cycle of success through collaboration. The core focus is how key sectors—including business, policy, and reform initiatives—can work together to generate concrete solutions. Experts will provide an analysis of how market incentives can be utilized as economic leverage. This includes detailing how businesses and investors can employ tools—such as preferential trade agreements, corporate due diligence standards, investing metrics, and procurement policies—to reward governments and entities that protect religious freedom, and penalize those that violate it. We will also examine mechanisms for international pressure and the amplification of positive policies and successful programs already implemented by national governments. The ultimate goal is to define an accountability architecture driven by market forces and collaborative policy, creating actionable, evidence-based frameworks that align global pressure with local positive change and ensure tangible successes for religious freedom worldwide.

Confirmed Speakers & Moderator

Brian Grim (President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation) Dr. Grim is a leading expert on the socio-economic benefits of religious freedom, specializing in how faith-friendly workplaces and religious diversity drive global economic growth. His research provides a unique data-driven perspective on why protecting religious liberty is a critical interest for the international business community.

Yusuf Khaled (Third Secretary, Embassy of Bahrain) Mr. Khaled offers insight into the Kingdom of Bahrain’s regional leadership in promoting interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence through initiatives like the “King Hamad Global Centre.” His perspective is vital for understanding the role of diplomatic engagement and national frameworks in fostering religious pluralism within the Middle East.

Marcela Szymanski (Head of International Advocacy for the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need) Ms. Szymanski has over 20 years’ experience as a media correspondent and public affairs professional, helping to understand the value of promoting and protecting Human Rights by informing policy-makers, law professionals, media and academics of various disciplines. Between 2015 and 2024 Marcela was the Editor of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report “Religious Freedom in the World”, for which she developed the Methodology and definitions. The report is published every 2 years and covers all major religions within 196 countries. Marcela is a member of the Council of Experts of the UN-based Article 18/International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), a member of the Board of the Jakarta-based G20 Religions Group (R20), and of the Center for Shared Civilizational Values.

Brett Scharffs (Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies) — Moderator Professor Scharffs is a distinguished legal scholar who has dedicated his career to the comparative study of law and religion, with a focus on protecting freedom of conscience in diverse constitutional frameworks. He brings extensive experience in international diplomacy and legal education, making him an expert at navigating the complex intersection of human rights and state policy.

By Allen D. Hertzke

Excerpted from Chapter 1 of Allen D. Hertzke, Why Religious Freedom Matters:  Human Rights and Human Flourishing, University of Notre Dame Press, April 1, 2026. Pre-order today!

Imagine a social force — a potent X Factor* —  that underpins democracy, bolsters civil liberties, builds citizen loyalty, undermines religious fanaticism, reduces societal violence, improves women’s status, fosters economic development, spurs uplift for the poor, and nurtures international peace.

Remarkable as it seems, new global research powerfully links religious freedom to all these social outcomes. Not solely, of course. But compelling evidence points to religious freedom – rightly understood and generously protected – as pivotal to the kind of world we want to inhabit: an X factor for flourishing societies.

Such a claim may seem startling to some modern ears, especially given the religious fanaticism and sectarian strife afflicting the globe today. Why promote such a divisive impulse as religion? Moreover, in our fraught and polarized times religious liberty itself has gotten a bad name in some progressive circles, depicted as a rightwing cause, an excuse for bigotry and discrimination, or a weapon in the culture war. We also see distorted views about religious freedom on the right – from religious nationalists who falsely believe that imposing a dominant religious identity on diverse societies will preserve their spiritual heritage.

Equally troubling, a chorus of intellectual critics attack the very idea of religious freedom as a definable, coherent set of rights. Or they see it as a western construct imposed on indigenous societies, a cover for imperialism, or a pretext for aggressive Christian proselytizing.

For those of us engaged in scholarship and advocacy on global religious freedom, such perceptions are anguishing. They often reflect a misunderstanding of what genuine religious freedom is and why it matters profoundly for the future most of us seek.

Why is religious freedom such a potent human right? Why is it so critical to human flourishing? Why does it have such a huge impact on so many arenas of human life? My central argument is that religious freedom uniquely matters to peaceful, democratic, and flourishing societies because it goes to the heart of human personhood and experience: the right to be who we are, to act on our ultimate commitments, and to be treated with equal worth and dignity. While I will probe specific empirical theories that link religious freedom to democracy, prosperity, women’s empowerment, uplift, and peace, they all converge on this overarching theme.

Let me elaborate. Suppose I ask what is ultimate to you, what makes the greatest claim on your conscience. Then I say, “You cannot live by that commitment, you cannot publicly affirm or act on it.” You would see this as a violation of your identity and dignity, as fundamentally unjust. This freedom to exercise one’s transcendent duties – to seek truth about ultimate questions and act on them – is so central to humanity that government or social repression, along with unequal treatment that privileges religious majorities, will inevitably harm societies, governance, and economics.

If religious freedom is the right to be who we are, it is under siege in the world today, assaulted by theocratic movements, violated by authoritarian regimes, attacked by ethno-nationalists, curbed by aggressive secular policies, and undermined by elite hostility or misunderstanding. All reflect the hegemonic impulse of regime leaders and dominant social groups. For theocrats: You must become us. For ethno-nationalists: You must be expelled from us. For autocrats: You must serve us before God. For aggressive secularists: You must hide your faith under a bushel. And for regimes that privilege majority faiths: You – religious minorities – must endure second class status.

These repressive impulses represent one of the greatest threats to more stable, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful societies in the twenty-first century.

In sum, empirically driven research demonstrates that restrictive laws, repressive societal practices, and state favoritism produce persecution and conflict, undermine democracy and civil liberties, contribute to terrorism and international conflict, and prevent empowerment of women or uplift for the poor. There are, in short, compelling reasons to see religious liberty as a fundamental and universal human right. Justice demands it. Violations disrupt the social order.

* The “X factor” refers to a hard-to-define, intangible quality or exceptional talent that makes a person or thing stand out in a distinctive way. It goes beyond measurable skills, creating a strong impression and often serving as the crucial element that turns something good into something truly remarkable. It’s that extra, unquantifiable spark—whether charisma, originality, or natural ability—that sets someone or something apart from the rest.

– Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET (9 AM PT) Zoom

Join us for a 30-minute information session on the premier national gathering for Fortune 500 Faith@Work ERGs.

Who should attend:
Workplace leaders involved with, exploring, or launching a faith-or-belief ERG; workplace culture pros; line leaders curious about how faith and values strengthen culture and performance. This is valuable for both veterans and those just getting started.

The Faith-Friendly Workplace ‘REDI’ Index is the premier tool for benchmarking faith-and-belief friendly workplace policies and actions. It measures an organisation’s commitment to including religion & belief as part of its overall people and belonging initiatives..

In this session, RFBF president Brian Grim will give an overview of the 2026 survey, with examples of best practices, followed by Q&A.

• — Thursday, February 12
• — 12-12:30pm ET / 9am PT / 5pm UK
• — Registration required (free)

The 2026 survey will have the same 11 questions as in the 2025 survey, each worth 10 points, for a total of 110 points. Scoring for each point will be based on (a) answering in the affirmative with some evidence (5 points), and (b) demonstrating that the efforts are substantial (up to 5 additional points). The “b” part of each question offers the same “tick” lists as in 2024, which were based on company open-ended responses from the 2022 REDI Index survey.

Learn more here, including how to request a survey for your company and a link to download a pdf of the full questionnaire.

As in previous years, there will be a BONUS question. This year, we encourage participating companies to share their most impactful event or initiative in the past 12 months.

Even More in a Digital, Global Business World

We live in an age when we can connect with anyone, anywhere, instantly. Yet as our tools for communication have multiplied, something essential has become easier to overlook: the power of being in the same room.

That truth comes through clearly in the voices captured in this video—and in the lived experience of those who gather at Dare to Overcome, the National Faith@Work ERG Conference.

“There are so many people on the planet who express a belief system,” one participant notes. “And if you want to do business on a global level today, you have to be able to talk to those people.”

Faith, belief, and values are not abstract concepts. They shape how people build trust, make decisions, and define integrity. And while digital platforms help us exchange information, relationships—especially across belief systems—are built most powerfully face-to-face.

At Dare to Overcome, leaders from Fortune 500 companies describe the gathering as an “epicenter”—a place where what’s actually happening inside corporations and communities comes into focus. When people meet in person, conversations go deeper. Listening improves. Learning accelerates.

“I’ve met people from all over the world … with a common interest and a real passion for this,” a participant shares.

That passion is hard to replicate on a screen. In-person, people don’t just compare policies, they share stories, challenges, and practical lessons from what actually works: spiritual care models, empowered ERGs, and values-driven leadership approaches.

In my faith tradition, there’s a phrase: iron sharpens iron. That’s what happens when people gather with shared purpose. Leaders challenge one another, learn from each other’s successes and missteps, and leave better equipped to lead authentically in complex environments.

This matters now more than ever. As companies navigate global markets and increasingly diverse workforces, understanding how faith and belief shape culture, integrity, and performance isn’t optional. It’s strategic.

Dare to Overcome 2026 is designed around that reality. Alongside the unveiling of groundbreaking global research on faith, integrity, and corporate success, the true value will be found in the conversations around it — the unscripted exchanges, the peer learning, and the relationships formed in hallways and over meals.

Digital tools will continue to connect us. But transformation still happens when people show up.

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Ready to be in the room? Join Fortune 500 ERG leaders shaping the future of faith-friendly workplaces.

📍 Dare to Overcome 2026 🗓 May 20–21 | Washington, D.C.

👉 Register now

Show up. Connect. Lead.

Join us February 11, 2026, at noon ET for a 30-minute information session on the premier national gathering for Fortune 500 Faith@Work ERGs.

Register here (free)

Who should attend:
Workplace leaders involved with, exploring, or launching a faith-or-belief ERG; workplace culture pros; line leaders curious about how faith and values strengthen culture and performance. This is valuable for both veterans and those just getting started.

Undecided? See video:

Three Benefits of For Your Organization

By Brian Grim

In today’s global workforce, belonging has become a business imperative — not a “nice to have.” Yet one dimension of inclusion has often been overlooked: faith and belief.

That is changing.

Our Faith-Friendly Workplace REDI Index has emerged as a leading benchmarking tool for organizations that want to understand not just whether they are inclusive, but how effectively faith and belief are embedded into workplace culture, policies, and leadership practices.

Based on growing participation across Fortune 500 companies and beyond, three clear benefits stand out for organizations that benchmark their progress.

1️⃣ Clear Insight Into Faith-Inclusion Maturity

You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

A tool like the REDI Index provides organizations with a structured, data-driven assessment of faith-friendly practices — from religious accommodations and inclusive policies to employee resource groups and leadership engagement.

Benchmarking delivers:

• — A clear picture of strengths and gaps
• — Insight into how your organization compares with peers
• — Practical guidance on where to focus next

This moves faith inclusion from intention to measurable strategy, giving leaders clarity and confidence as they build more inclusive workplaces.

2️⃣ Stronger Talent Engagement, Attraction, and Retention

Employees want to bring their whole selves to work — including their faith or belief identity.

Organizations that benchmark and improve their faith-friendly practices send a powerful signal of respect and trust. The result is higher engagement, stronger loyalty, and a workplace culture where people feel seen and supported.

When employees experience that level of inclusion, they are more likely to:

• — Stay longer
• — Be more engaged and productive
• — Serve as ambassadors for the organization’s values

In a competitive talent market, faith-friendly workplaces gain a meaningful edge.

3️⃣ A More Inclusive Culture That Drives Reputation and Results

Benchmarking faith inclusion is not just about internal culture — it’s also about leadership and reputation.

Companies that explicitly include religion and belief as part of their belonging and inclusion efforts demonstrate credibility, cultural intelligence, and readiness for a global marketplace. This strengthens relationships with customers, communities, and stakeholders alike.

As recent REDI Index findings show, a growing number of leading companies now recognize faith inclusion as foundational to:

• — Innovation and collaboration
• — Brand trust and social responsibility
• — Long-term organizational resilience

Faith inclusion is no longer peripheral — it is part of how high-performing organizations lead.

Final Thought

Benchmarking with the Faith-Friendly Workplace REDI Index signals that an organization is serious about belonging — not just in principle, but in practice.

It provides clarity for leaders, strengthens talent outcomes, and supports a culture that fuels both performance and trust.

As the faiths and beliefs of employees continues to shape the modern workplace, organizations that measure and improve today will be the ones that lead tomorrow.

REQUEST A SURVEY FOR 2026 (FREE)

2026 Dare to Overcome student intern volunteer opportunities

Join Dr. Brian J. Grim, founder of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, at the BYU Sorensen Center this Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2 PM for an information session on student internship opportunities at the 7th annual Fortune 500 Faith@Work “Dare to Overcome” conference in Washington DC.

(Contact Robert Rex for additional details.)

Dare to Overcome student intern volunteers will help with the logistics at the annual Dare to Overcome (DTO) conference, May 20-21, 2026 in Washington DC.

This is the 7th national Faith@Work ERG* and Corporate Chaplain Conference put on by the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation in partnership with the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC, where it is held.

In addition, student intern volunteers will have the unique opportunity to meet and serve as liaisons to Fortune 500 and other corporate representatives at the conference, getting an inside look at how people of diverse backgrounds put their faiths to practice as top professionals. They will also receive recognition and a certificate at the end of the event.

Students of all faiths and beliefs (including those who are religiously unaffiliated) are welcome to apply!

Student intern volunteers who are accepted are responsible to cover all costs getting to/from Washington DC. They also will need to certify that they have medical insurance. Student scholarships are available to cover conference fees as well as room and board during the conference.

Student intern volunteers must arrive at the Busch School of Business by 4:00 PM on Monday, May 19, 2025, for orientation and to help with set up for the conference. They will be fully engaged in both liaison and logistics activities through 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 21, to assist with breakdown of the conference.

You can see the testimonies of two interns from previous years:
– My Research Took on New Meaning at Dare to Overcome
– When you are able to bring your whole self to work, expect greatness: An Intern story

Questions? Email Robert Rex, DTO Conference Director.

*ERG = Employee Resource Group (a company-sponsored, employee-led affinity group that helps employees feel included