During March 11 to 12, 2019, a Regional Religious Freedom Forum was held in Taipei, Taiwan. The forum was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and the U.S. State Department; the aim of the forum was to promote religious freedom in the Asia-Pacific region. Sam Brownback, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, said that Taiwan could serve as an example of religious freedom at Taipei Religious Freedom Conference. In response to the 2019 Regional Religious Freedom Forum, China Aid Association, Heritage Foundation, Taiwan Association for China Human Rights and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) will hold Taiwan International Religious Freedom Forum (TIRFF) at PCT Presbyterian Bible College, Hsinchu, May 30 to June 1, 2019. The theme is “Rising to the Challenge”. Religious leaders, the government representatives and NGO delegates from around the world will participate in TIRFF and promote religious freedom, initiate programs that can advance religious freedom, and take action. Religious freedom is the first freedom. We believe that as long as countries or regions respect people’s free will to choose their religions, countries are taking greater accountability. As the critical situations of religious persecutions from around the world are rampant, the government agencies and NGOs express that international societies must take action. Prominent leaders and personalities from different countries will gather at TIRFF, in an effort to promote religious freedom and human rights, and to build and strengthen religious freedom platforms. TIRFF Opening Ceremony will be held on 30 May 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the venue. Immediately following conclusion of the Forum a Press Conference will be held at the Presbyterian Bible College, Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Saturday, June 1, at 10:00 a.m. when the participants of TIRFF will make a statement – “Taiwan Declaration”. Co-hosts: 1. China Aid Association 2. Heritage Foundation 3. Presbyterian Church in Taiwan 4. Taiwan Association for China Human Rights Co-sponsors: 1. Freedom House 2. International Religious Freedom Roundtable/Secretariat 3. Center for Religious Liberty (Family Research Council) 4. Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Time: May 30 (Thu) – June 1 (Sat), 2019 Location: Presbyterian Bible College, 56, Gaofeng Rd., East Dist., Hsinchu City, Taiwan Taiwan International Religious Freedom Forum, TIRFF The Theme: Taiwan international Religious Freedom Forum: Rising to the Challenge PCT Presbyterian Bible College, Hsinchu, Taiwan May 29-June 1 | May 30 (Thu.) | May 31 (Fri.) | June 1 (Sat) | | 08:00-8:30 Security Check 08:30-8:50 Participants enter the International Conference Hall 08:50-8:56 Prelude 08:56-8:59 Prayer 09:00-09:30 Opening greetings & Welcome by International and National VIP leaders and Co-Hosts | 09:00-10:30 Topic IV: the Global Context and Research on Religious Persecution | 9:00-9:30 Security Check 9:30-9:50 Participants enter the International Conference Hall 9:50-10:00 Moderator: Mr. Yang Sen-Hong, President of Taiwan Association for China Human Rights Interpreter: Rev. Lian Chin-Siong, PCT Program Secretary for Ecumenical Relations 10:00-10:35 international participants and Press Conference 10:35-10:40 Reciting Taiwan Declaration of TIRFF 10:40-10:45 Take pictures with the hosts on stage 10:45-10:50 Q & A | | 09:30-10:30 Rising to the Challenge of Increasing Global Religious Persecution | | 10:30-11:00 Tea break | | 11:00-12:30 Topic I: Religious Freedom from the Legislative perspective. | 10:30-5:30 Topic V: The Role of Civil Society on Advancing Religious Freedom | | 12:30-14:00 Lunch | | 14:00-15:30 Topic II: Persecution against Christian Community | 14:00-15:30 Workshop: Challenges and Specific Solutions for Global Religious Persecution Areas. | | 15:30-16:00 Break | | 16:00-17:30 Topic III: Religious persecution and ethnic oppression of Tibetans & Uighurs | 16:00-17:00 Groups Principal Report | | 17:30-18:30 Q & A | 17:00-17:30 The Ceremony of Taiwan Religious Freedom Roundtable formal Launch | | 17:30-18:20 Rising to the Challenge: TIRFF concrete initiatives | | 18:30-20:30 Welcome Dinner The European Union and Taiwan: Partnership Religious Freedom & Taiwan Meal | 18:30-20:30 Closing Ceremony & Moving Forward & Taiwan Indigenous People Meal | | 20:30 Dismissal for night | Contact: Ms. Lin |02-2362528 #262 |Public Relations of Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) Cellphone number: 0920-408-580 |E-mail: pct@mail.pct.org.tw |