Taiwan Gathers Champions of Religious Freedom in China

Left to right: Pastor Bob Fu (China Aid), Dr. Yang Sen-hong (Taiwan Association for China Human Rights), Greg Mitchell (International Religious Freedom Roundtable), Chiu Ling-yao (Taiwan Association for China Human Rights), Kristina Olney (VOC), Olivia Enos (The Heritage Foundation), Doug Robinson (China Aid), Travis Weber (Family Research Council), Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong (Presbyterian Church in Taiwan).

From May 29 to June 1, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) Director of Government Relations Kristina Olney represented VOC in Taiwan as co-host of the Taiwan International Freedom Forum, an annual gathering of more than 80 parliamentarians, religious leaders, and human rights advocates from 27 countries to promote religious freedom around the world — and in particular, China. Other co-hosts included China Aid, Freedom House, The Heritage Foundation, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, and the Taiwan Association for China Human Rights.

Olney spoke on a panel about religious persecution and oppression of Tibetans and Uyghur Muslims. Other speakers included Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwanese Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom Pusin Tali, US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, and prominent human rights lawyer Kenneth Starr.

Attendees discussed ways to promote religious freedom and human rights across the globe, issued a joint declaration condemning the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, and called on all governments and the international human rights community to respond.