Summary: Many commentators assert that there is no better measure of the human rights climate in any country than the treatment its authorities accord their minority religious communities. These small, sometimes ancient, sometimes immigrant, sometimes newly converted communities are the "canaries in the coal mine" of human rights. Attempting to exercise the freedoms of the individual human conscience guaranteed in universally recognized international covenants, Egyptian Copts, Venezuelan Jews, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Pentecostal Christians, Bahai, humanist non-believers, and numerous others in many lands suffer imprisonment, intimidation, denial of sustenance and employment, and death. Conflicts arise over the treatment of minorities: conflict prevention and conflict resolution often turn upon the credible redress of their grievances. Our panel of experts will discuss these and other issues. Featuring The Honorable Randolph Marshall Bell of the First Freedom Center; Prof. Thomas F. Farr of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University; Mr. Tad Stahnke of Human Rights First; and Mr. William L. Saunders of Americans United for Life as the moderator.
