Knox Thames Highlights Religious Freedom at OAS Special Session

October 23, 2024 – In a landmark address to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), religious freedom advocate Knox Thames discussed pressing issues regarding religious freedom in the Americas. Speaking during a special session focused on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) study, Thames provided practical recommendations to advance protections for religious freedom, addressing both ongoing challenges and emerging threats.

Thames began by commending the OAS and the Commission for prioritizing religious freedom, a foundational value in the Americas, and recognized the Commission’s efforts in examining this issue through diverse perspectives. He emphasized the unique Inter-American standards, which protect both majority and minority faiths, allowing individuals to freely believe and question—a privilege not universally enjoyed.

Drawing from his experience as a former State Department envoy under both the Obama and Trump administrations, Thames outlined the global crisis of religious persecution, contrasting the Americas’ commitment to religious freedom with regions where suppression remains rampant. However, he acknowledged that even in the Americas, challenges persist. Thames pointed to complex issues like shifts in religious demographics, cultural legacies, and emerging social divides, including questions about family, autonomy, and life’s origins.

One focal point in Thames’s speech was Cuba, where he criticized the government’s restrictive policies on religious worship and expression. He detailed examples of limited freedom, with religious communities unable to register legally, pastors facing penalties, and freedom of expression severely restricted. While he noted that Cuba is an outlier, Thames highlighted that other nations in the region also encounter issues impacting religious and indigenous communities, especially around legal recognition and community protection.

Thames also discussed the intersectionality of religious freedom with other human rights, underscoring its “bundled” nature. He noted that limitations in one right, such as freedom of expression, often impact others, like the freedom to worship. However, he urged that religious freedom should not be overshadowed by broader social issues, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue rather than polarization.

In closing, Thames recommended that OAS member states sponsor additional sessions on religious freedom to tackle specific challenges, such as the protection of places of worship. He also advocated for youth education on religious pluralism to encourage mutual respect across belief systems. Quoting philosopher Voltaire, Thames highlighted the power of pluralism in fostering a peaceful and prosperous society, urging the Americas to lead in promoting freedom of conscience and belief.

Thames’s full presentation is available to view through the OAS official website.