News From The DFW Alliance

A co-sponsored event in Dallas featuring Ambassador Sam Brownback, Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein, and President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice Katrina Lantos Swett

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Register HERE

In 1787, while drafting the U.S. Constitution, the founding fathers deliberately positioned the right to freedom of religion at the outset of the document, a decision driven by a distinct purpose: to build a society of choice. Directly cited, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” The idea of religious freedom has spread globally; however, in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria, religious minorities including Christians and Muslims have faced targeted attacks from extremist groups. Most notably, the Chinese government‘s human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur community have drawn widespread condemnation. In July of this year, the UN Security Council adopted UN Resolution 2686, which recognizes the significance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right and acknowledges the indispensable role that it plays in fostering inclusive and peaceful societies. Although this resolution may lack potency, it parallels the UNSCR 1325 resolution, which had a lasting impact over time for women in conflict. The 2023 Benac Human Dignity and Fairness Lecture this year will feature former Ambassadors-at-Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback and Rabbi David Saperstein, and President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice Katrina Lantos Swett at the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum.

This event is FREE and open to the public REGISTER NOW!

Everyone Everywhere: The Rights that Unite Us

Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture with photographer JaLynn Prince & editor Brett Scharffs of "Points of Light" book

Wednesday, December 8 | 6:00 PM (IN PERSON)

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations gathered in Paris to establish The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This milestone document set out for the first time to define fundamental human rights for all people in all nations. To commemorate its 70th anniversary, an international group of scholars and human rights experts assembled in Punta del Este, Uruguay, to prepare the Punta Del Este Declaration on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere to remember, reaffirm, and recommit the world to human dignity as the foundational principle of human rights. Author Jane H. Wise compiled Points of Light, a collection of reflections on human dignity illustrated with portraits of people from across the world, in celebration of the renewed declaration. Join us in conversation with Points of Lighteditor, Brett Scharffs, and photographer, JaLynn Prince, as they discuss this important book and the declarations that inspired it.

The Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture is an annual series, designed to promote human dignity, equality, and civil discourse. In Partnership with the Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum.

It was 50 years ago this July that Neil Armstrong uttered the words "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".  Another giant leap for mankind was 30 years ago this November 9th when East Germany announced an easing of travel restrictions to the west leading to the demolition of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the former Soviet Republic and the rapid increase of human rights and religious freedoms for almost 200,000,000 oppressed people.  Many of these people are once more persecuted for religion's sake.  Right here in the United States and even in Texas, we struggle to define the extent of human rights and religious freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and Bill of Rights and once take for granted by Americans.  This is not an easy task and people of faith and good will must rise to the call of duty to defend our constitution's noble heritage.   We invite you all to join the conversation on October 24th and learn how to take local action to ensure our human dignity and freedoms are defended and preserved.  Each of us can truly make a difference in our congregations and communities. Plans for the Second Annual DFW Summit on Religious Freedom at SMU are nearing completion for this great celebratory year.  PLEASE REGISTER TODAY BY CLICKING ON THE "REGISTER" BUTTON ON OUR HOME PAGE. Warmest regards and prayers for peace and God's great blessings for all...Bill Benac, President

The Human Dignity Initiative has published the Declaration on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere.
A 3-page PDF file of the declaration can be downloaded here

Join members of The DFW Alliance for Religious Freedom in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the landmark US International Religious Freedom Act - signed into law in October 1998!

Download

As practical help for you within your faith group and in your local communities, The DFW Alliance for Religious Freedom will distribute  five brochures to all Summit attendees including:

1) Religious Freedom in the Workplace: An Employee's Guide,

2) Religious Freedom in the Workplace: An Employer's Guide,

3) A Teacher's Guide to Religious Freedom in Public Schools, 

4) A Parent's Guide to Religious Freedom in Public Schools, and

5) A Practical Guide to Religious Freedom in The Public Square.

Most of this material has been developed by The Religious Freedom Center at The Newseum in Washington DC and The Religious Freedom and Business Foundation in Annapolis MD (one of our presenters at the October Summit).