U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington
November 30, 2012
Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom, will head the U.S. delegation to a conference on implementing UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, an initiative to combat intolerance and to promote freedom of religion or belief for all. The conference, hosted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Canadian High Commission, will be held at the Canada House from December 3 – 5 in London.
Ambassador at Large Johnson Cook will speak on engaging with civil society, developing partnerships, and building networks in order to promote religious freedom internationally. The conference aims to uphold freedom of expression while increasing awareness on the restrictions to freedom of religion worldwide and the discrimination or persecution from which some suffer on account of their religion or belief.
Conference participants will also discuss best practices in religious freedom and pluralism and measures and policies to promote the full respect for, and protection of, places of worship and religious sites, cemeteries and shrines.
Senior Advisor Ambassador Michael Kozak will join Ambassador at Large Johnson Cook in engaging conference experts in discussion.