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Cover photo for Changing the conversation about religious freedom: An integral human development approach

Report

Mar 17, 2025

Changing the conversation about religious freedom: An integral human development approach

By Fabio Petito, Scott Appleby, Silvio Ferrari, and Michael Driessen

Religious freedom is essential for human dignity and development. Persecution restricts minorities' access to healthcare, education, and jobs. Integral Human Development offers a holistic, inclusive approach, fostering dialogue and collaboration. To combat discrimination effectively, policymakers must move beyond protection and empower all individuals to contribute to society’s common good.

Freedom and Prosperity Politics & Diplomacy

Fabio Petito is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center.

Petito is a professor of religion and international affairs in the Department of International Relations at the University of Sussex, where he also leads the Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative. He is also head of the Italian Institute for International Studies’ Religions and International Relations Programme, which is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He has also been a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Petito teaches, researches, and publishes on the role of religion in global politics. His publications include Religion in International Relations (2003), Civilizational Dialogue and World Order (2009), Towards a Postsecular International Politics (2014), and Human Fraternity and Inclusive Citizenship: Interreligious Engagement in the Mediterranean (2021).