RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF IN ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY

Abstract

Italy recently joined the growing group of countries with dedicated policies for the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief in its foreign policy. The records of two recent Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini and Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, show increased engagement, both bi-laterally and within the EU, on religious freedom. Italy played an important role in the development of new EU guidelines on religious freedom promotion, has been active at the UN in opposing resolutions on “defamation of religion,” and has recently established a unique, and possibly problematic, new institution, the Italian Oversight Committee for Religious Freedom.