San José, Costa Rica—As societal values and norms continue to shift at a rapid pace, the issue of religious freedom is becoming increasingly pressing worldwide. This was the core message delivered by Dr. Paul Murray, International Vice President of Religious Freedom Initiatives at the Global Peace Foundation, at the recently concluded Impact on Religious Liberty Forum. The three-day event, hosted by Fabricio Alvarado Muñoz, Deputy of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, brought together government representatives, faith leaders, and civil society from across Latin America to discuss the growing challenges to religious freedom in a rapidly evolving world.

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) has long advocated for religious liberty through its values-based peacebuilding model, which promotes universal principles of human dignity, empathy, and shared humanity. This model has laid the groundwork for initiatives worldwide that advance freedom of conscience, belief, and religion. By fostering cooperation across faith lines, GPF has enabled multilateral engagement on these issues, enhancing both domestic and international efforts to address religious liberty challenges.

Dr. Paul Murray speaks at the Impact on Religious Liberty Forum in Costa Rica.

The forum, held in San José, attracted representatives from Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, and the United States. The dialogue centered around the rising tensions between shifting societal norms and their encroachment, and at times forceful acceptance, contrary to deeply rooted faith or individual beliefs—particularly in regions where religious freedom is threatened or outright banned.

Dr. Murray’s address emphasized that freedom of conscience and religion is the most essential human right, noting that this freedom is the “deepest expression of human dignity and freedom.” During his interview with CBN Costa Rica, he explained that when this primary freedom is not respected, other human rights often follow suit and are neglected. Dr. Murray underscored the Global Peace Foundation’s historical efforts in championing this cause, including education, advocacy, and peacebuilding initiatives focusing on the core values of respect for individual rights, community collaboration, and multi-faith engagement.

The Global Peace Foundation’s religious freedom initiatives have had a global impact. Its peacebuilding model has united diverse faith leaders, government representatives, and civil society to protect religious freedoms. By emphasizing the importance of universal values, GPF has enabled communities to address tensions related to religious freedom, showing that religious liberty is not just a personal belief issue but a universal human right.

“Today, tragically, a stunning 83 percent of the world’s population lives in nations where religious freedom is either threatened or banned,” said Dr. Murray in his opening remarks to the forum. “The victims of religious persecution face economic sanctions, imprisonment, mob violence, and state-sanctioned terror. Tragically, for far too many, the ultimate price is death.”

Dr. Murray articulated how safeguarding religious freedom is not merely a matter of personal belief but a universal human right crucial to the survival of all other rights. This guiding principle fuels the Global Peace Foundation’s active leadership as a co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable and partnerships with the International Religious Freedom Secretariat (IRFSec), the First Amendment Voice Alliance, and the National Committee for Religious Freedom.

Dr. Paul Murray speaks at the Impact on Religious Liberty Forum in Costa Rica.

Civil Discourse: A Cornerstone of Democracy

At the heart of Dr. Murray’s speech was the idea that civil discourse must remain central to any functioning democracy. He argued that, as societies change, the ability to engage in respectful, empathetic communication between individuals with differing viewpoints becomes paramount.

“Civil discourse is not merely the exchange of ideas; it is the respectful, thoughtful, and empathetic communication between individuals with differing viewpoints,” Murray said. “It requires us to listen as much as we speak, to understand as much as we wish to be understood.”

Murray warned that the erosion of civil discourse—due to political polarization, social media-fueled echo chambers, and the imposition of ideological orthodoxy—has made it increasingly difficult for societies to address complex issues such as religious freedom. In this context, he emphasized that civil discourse serves as the cornerstone of democracy, allowing nations to balance evolving collective norms with preserving individual freedoms.

Global Challenges, Local Solutions

The challenges associated with changing norms are not limited to national borders. In today’s interconnected world, the imposition of external ideologies has become a growing concern for many nations, especially when these ideologies threaten constitutional guarantees such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

Murray pointed to the importance of international platforms, such as the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, which bring together diverse voices to engage in meaningful dialogue on these critical issues.

“The International Religious Freedom Roundtable serves as a vital platform where civil society—from various faith beliefs and none—can come together to discuss regional and global issues,” Murray explained. “It is a space where representatives from different cultures, religions, and ideologies can engage in meaningful dialogue, share their perspectives, and seek common ground.”

Murray co-chaired a Religious Freedom Roundtable alongside IRF Secretariat President and former USCIRF Commissioner Chair Nadine Maenza during the forum. The roundtable featured more than 120 participants representing governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and faith communities. The discussions emphasized the need for multi-faith networks to come together to protect religious liberty for everyone, everywhere, and at all times.

Costa Rica: A Beacon of Democracy and Human Rights

Costa Rica’s role as the forum’s host was particularly fitting, given the country’s long-standing commitment to peace, democracy, and human rights. Murray praised Costa Rica for its leadership on the international stage and for its commitment to upholding religious freedom within its borders.

“Costa Rica, with its rich history of peace, democracy, and respect for human rights, has a significant role to play in this dialogue,” Murray said. “By participating in the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, Costa Rica places itself at the table alongside other nations committed to protecting these fundamental rights.”

He added that Costa Rica’s participation sends a powerful message to the world: that even small nations can significantly impact the global effort to uphold human rights and religious freedom. By reaffirming its constitutional guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, Costa Rica strengthens its democracy and the broader international community’s resolve to protect these rights for all.

A Call for Collaboration

As the forum drew to a close, the participants agreed that the path forward would require domestic and international efforts to protect religious freedom in a rapidly changing world. While societal values will inevitably continue to shift and compete against freedom of conscience, belief, and religion, Murray emphasized that such shifts should not become weapons to attack the inalienable rights that every individual has—a right that no government, group, or individual can prohibit.

“The question we must ask ourselves is not whether societal values will continue to change—they will—but how can we navigate these changes while preserving the core freedoms that define us as individuals and as nations,” Murray said.

The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing religious freedom in Latin America and beyond. Participants expressed hope that, through cooperation and establishing a religious freedom roundtable, they could build a world where all faiths and non-faiths can be protected.

“Let us embrace this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, to listen to one another, and to work together in upholding the principles that form the foundation of our shared humanity,” Murray said in his closing remarks. “In doing so, we will not only protect the rights of our citizens but also help to build a more just, equitable, and free world for all.”

The Impact on Religious Liberty Forum underscored the growing need for dialogue and cooperation as global leaders seek to address the challenges posed by changing societal mores. With the continued support of platforms such as the International Religious Freedom Roundtable and values-based peacebuilding models like those pioneered by GPF, there is hope that the international community can work together to safeguard religious freedom for generations to come.