One
of the most significant human rights acts of the U.S. government
is the designation of “countries of particular concern,”
or CPCs, for ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.
CPC designation is not an end point, but the beginning of focused
diplomatic activity required by the International Religious
Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) from which important obligations
in the form of consequent actions flow. Pursuant to the IRFA
statute, the Commission issues recommended responses for the
President, Secretary of State, and Congress to follow up on
the CPC designations.
In addition to its CPC recommendations, the Commission has
established a Watch List of countries where religious freedom
conditions do not rise to the statutory level requiring CPC
designation but which require close monitoring due to
the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom
engaged in or tolerated by the governments.
The Commission has recommended that the following countries
be designated as CPCs:
