Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun will deliver a plenary speech at the International Religious Forum Summit set to take place Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
According to the IRF, You will be one of seven keynote speakers invited by the Washington-based organization to talk at the annual event. The others include Sam Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett, co-chairs of the IRF Summit 2023, and the U.K. Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Fiona Bruce.
Born in 1948 in Taiwan’s northeastern county of Yilan, You played a key role in orchestrating the establishment of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in 1986, which was pivotal to Taiwan’s transformation from an authoritarian state to a democracy, according to the organizer.
You, a staunch defender of religious freedom even in the face of Chinese authoritarianism, has also spearheaded efforts to provide support in Taiwan to those fleeing persecution due to religious beliefs or political views, the organizer added.
As chairman of Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, You hosted the 2022 Regional Religious Freedom Forum – An Indo-Pacific Civil Society Dialogue on Religious Freedom in Challenging Times that took place Aug. 30-31 in Taipei City. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and American Institute in Taiwan. (SFC-E)
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