As part of ‘Red Wednesday,’ an initiative by Aid to the Church in Need, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the ongoing persecution, pressure, and threats faced by millions of Christians globally. The Ministry remains dedicated to protecting religious freedom and supporting persecuted religious minorities.
In recent years, Austria has established intercultural and interreligious dialogues with Indonesia, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. These initiatives bring together representatives from academia, religious communities, civil society, and the state. Such international partnerships and dialogues contribute positively to the promotion and protection of freedom of religion and belief.
This commitment is also evident in cultural initiatives like the Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA), which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented annually since 2014. This year, in cooperation with the Federal Chancellery, the new “International Religious Freedom” award category was introduced, recognising the remarkable dedication of the Austrian organisation Initiative Christlicher Orient.
Austria is also an active member of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, founded in Washington in 2020. In autumn 2023, Austria assumed the chairmanship of the Working Group on Interreligious Dialogue. This group aims to identify governmental and civil society practices that foster peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and religions.
On the global stage, Austria actively promotes the protection of religious freedom within the UN system, including the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. The country supports the mandate of UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Professor Nazila Ghanea. Within the European Union, Austria works to ensure the full implementation of EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief and actively supports the work of EU Special Envoy Frans van Daele.