WAS THIS THE GREATEST WORLD CONGRESS?
The greatest World Congress?
Was the 7th World Congress for Religious Freedom in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the greatest-ever IRLA World Congress?
It may seem pretentious using superlative like “greatest”—but it's true.
The 7th IRLA World Congress was the greatest in terms of number of participants, with attendees and guests approaching 900 in all—one hundred more than our attendance goal. These men and women traveled from six continents and represented almost 70 nationalities. The World Congress was also one of the best in term of the program and presenters and, more often than not, the main auditorium was filled to capacity.
The various breakout sessions each afternoon were also well attended. But the surprise came with the evening Special Topic Sessions. I included these in the program as optional for those who had a deep interest in these issues and who would be prepared to leave the restaurants and entertainment of the resort to come back to the Convention Center. I’d estimated that perhaps 20 to 25 people would attend. Yet, I was surprised to see that one meeting room was packed and the other room was almost as full, every evening.
It’s not easy for a small team to face all the practical issues involved with an international event of this size—we had to deal with everything from registration of attendees, to transportation, to translation equipment. Our team did tremendous work, with our Congress manager Daisy Orion, caring for details large and small. And if you followed the World Congress via the IRLA website you would have probably been impressed by the outstanding coverage. Bettina Krause, IRLA communication director, led a team that was able to provide daily pictures, articles, and video as never before in the past.
Such an event would have been impossible without the exceptional support of the IRLA Inter America Region and the Dominican Republic Religious Liberty Association. When we decided to come to Punta Cana for the World Congress, Roberto Herrera, IRLA Secretary General for Inter America, said his organization would bring 300 participants, and the president of the Dominican Association talked about the possibility of 200 people attending from his region.
In fact, more than 550 participants came from these two regions.
This was my fourth World Congress as IRLA Secretary General and I will remember it as one of the best. My dream is that the next World Congress will carry on the high standard set by this one, and that it will attract the attention of media and governments. The World Congress for Religious Freedom could, I believe, eventually become the equivalent of the various world forums on human rights—an event which will send a strong message of hope to those who are persecuted, and a message of awareness to those governments that violate religious freedom.
At the end of the World Congress so many participants told me that it had completely transformed their view of religious freedom. They understood it better and realized its tremendous importance for society. Many people came to me with ideas for projects and these have filled my calendar for the next two years—the All African Congress, the Second World Festival for Religious Freedom, and more. This long list of projects, which is still growing, will change the way we promote religious freedom for all people, everywhere, no matter what their faith tradition.
The World Congress has inspired people, it has empowered them, and it has equipped them with the contacts and resources so they need to make a significant contribution to the cause of religious freedom in their part of the world.
And it is this that will be the most significant and most durable results of this great 7th World Congress.
--John Graz, Secretary General, International Religious Liberty Association