WASHINGTON, D.C. The Armenian Bar Association made a major impact at the 2025 International Religious Freedom Summit, held from February 3-5, 2025, in the nation’s capital. This annual event draws over 90 organizations from more than 30 faith traditions, dedicated to protecting the fundamental right to religious freedom. It serves as a critical platform for global leaders and advocates to discuss and address the urgent challenges of religious persecution and restrictions worldwide. On the second day of the summit, U.S. Vice President JD Vance was the plenary speaker.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Armenian Bar Association joined a broad-based assembly of Armenian clergy, historians, and journalists to present a unified message on matters impacting Armenians globally. The focus at this year’s summit was on the illegal detention of Armenian hostages and political prisoners in Azerbaijan, the widespread destruction of religious and cultural sites in Artsakh, and the continuing threats to those that remain.
Sonya Nersessian, former Chair of the Armenian Bar and chief organizer of the Association’s delegation, was a prominent panelist at the summit. Nersessian addressed the legal frameworks and international mechanisms that could be employed to protect and promote Armenian cultural identity—encompassing language, religious practices, and historical sites—within the context of Azerbaijani law and international human rights standards, particularly in the Artsakh region.
The Armenian Bar Association’s substantial input at the 2025 summit reaffirms its steadfast commitment to human rights, the protection of religious freedoms, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Throughout the event, the Association engaged in important discussions on safeguarding sacred sites, supporting religious minorities, and finding solutions to end the suffering of those unjustly detained in Azerbaijani prisons.
As a leading advocate for justice and human rights, the Armenian Bar Association continues to recognize the crucial role that civil society plays in advancing international religious freedom. The summit provided a valuable opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic and diverse coalition of organizations, all united in their mission to defend religious liberty around the world.
