Where will the conference "Religion in Turbulent Times" take place?

The conference will be held in Uppsala, SWE.

What is the primary focus of this conference?

The conference focuses on the challenges religion poses to society, democracy, and human dignity in turbulent times.

Religion in Turbulent Times: Challenges for Society, Democracy, and Human Dignity

Name: Religion in Turbulent Times: Challenges for Society, Democracy, and Human Dignity
Start: 2027-08-23T00:00:00Z
End: 2027-08-24T00:00:00Z
Location: Uppsala

Aug 23–24, 2027Uppsala, SwedenIn-person

Registration open

The conference "Religion in Turbulent Times: Challenges for Society, Democracy, and Human Dignity" will convene in Uppsala, Sweden. This event focuses on the multifaceted roles and impacts of religion in contemporary global crises, examining how religious beliefs and institutions interact with societal structures, democratic principles, and the concept of human dignity amidst turbulence. It aims to foster dialogue and research on these critical intersections. The gathering will explore various dimensions of religion's influence, from its potential as a source of conflict or reconciliation to its implications for human rights and political stability. Participants will engage with scholarly perspectives and practical case studies to understand the complexities of religion in a rapidly changing world.

Committees & topics

Security Council 1 (UNSC)
The Situation in Sudan
Security Council 2 (UNSC)
Cybersecurity and the Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Committee on Digital Affairs & Sovereignty
Digital Sovereignty, Platform Governance, and Religious Expression Online
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Sovereign Debt, Inequality, and the Role of Faith-Based Development Actors
UNESCO
Safeguarding Religious Heritage and Education in Conflict
UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
Climate Change, Religious Communities, and Environmental Displacement
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Pandemic Preparedness, Equity, and Faith-Based Health Systems
Human Rights Council (HRC)
Freedom of Religion or Belief in an Age of Polarisation

Why it matters

In an era marked by geopolitical shifts, humanitarian crises, and evolving social norms, understanding the role of religion is paramount. Religious actors and institutions frequently serve as significant forces, whether in promoting peace and social cohesion or, at times, contributing to division and conflict. This conference offers a crucial platform for dissecting these dynamics, particularly as they pertain to the resilience of democratic systems and the universal recognition of human dignity.

The discussions will be particularly relevant for policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders grappling with issues such as religious extremism, interfaith dialogue, and the protection of religious freedoms. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event seeks to illuminate pathways for constructive engagement with religious communities to address pressing global challenges. The insights generated can inform more nuanced diplomatic strategies and foster a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between faith, governance, and human rights.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for this conference should focus on understanding the diverse manifestations of religion in political and social spheres. Researching specific case studies where religion has played a pivotal role in either exacerbating or mitigating conflict, or in shaping democratic transitions, will be highly beneficial. Consider how different religious traditions interpret and engage with concepts of human dignity and democratic governance.

Familiarize yourself with the concept of Hidden Stakeholders, as religious leaders and organizations often operate outside conventional political structures but wield significant influence. Developing an understanding of their motivations and networks is crucial for effective Engagement Strategies. Additionally, a Dynamic Analysis of current global events where religion is a prominent factor, such as conflicts or social movements, will provide valuable context for the discussions.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Sweden

As the host nation, SWE often champions secular governance and human rights, but also navigates increasing religious diversity and debates around integration and freedom of expression.

Role in topic

SWE, known for its progressive social policies and commitment to human rights, provides a compelling backdrop for discussions on religion in turbulent times. Its experience with multiculturalism and secularism, alongside its active role in international diplomacy, offers a unique perspective on balancing religious freedom with societal cohesion and democratic values.

United States

The USA grapples with the interplay of religious freedom, pluralism, and the separation of church and state, often facing challenges related to religious influence in politics and social issues.

Role in topic

The USA, with its constitutional commitment to religious freedom and a highly diverse religious landscape, offers a rich context for examining the challenges religion poses to democracy and human dignity. Debates over religious exemptions, the role of faith-based organizations, and the impact of religious conservatism on policy are central to its experience.

India

IND, a secular state with a vast array of religious traditions, faces ongoing challenges related to religious nationalism, interfaith relations, and the protection of minority rights.

Role in topic

IND, the world's largest democracy and home to numerous major religions, presents a complex case study. The interplay of religious identity with national politics, the challenges of maintaining secularism amidst diverse religious populations, and instances of inter-religious tension highlight the critical issues the conference addresses.

Israel

ISR's identity is deeply intertwined with religious and ethnic dimensions, leading to unique challenges in balancing democratic principles with religious law and minority rights.

Role in topic

ISR offers a unique and often contentious perspective, where religious identity is inextricably linked with national identity and political discourse. The challenges of maintaining a democratic state while navigating deeply entrenched religious laws and the rights of diverse religious and ethnic groups are central to its national experience and relevant to the conference's themes.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Security Council 1 (UNSC)

The Situation in Sudan

Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when fighting erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ('Hemedti'). The conflict grew out of a failed transition following the 2019 ouster of Omar al-Bashir and the 2021 military coup that derailed civilian rule. Disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the regular army triggered open warfare, which has since spread to Darfur, Kordofan, and Gezira, reviving ethnic violence reminiscent of the 2003 Darfur genocide. The war has produced the world's largest displacement crisis, with more than 10 million people uprooted and famine confirmed in parts of Darfur. The UN arms embargo under Resolution 1591 (2005), originally limited to Darfur, has been widely violated, with credible reporting of weapons flows from external backers to both sides. Humanitarian access is routinely obstructed, and the ICC continues to investigate atrocities in Darfur. Religious and ethnic dimensions — including attacks on churches, mosques, and minority communities — make the conflict directly relevant to debates on dignity and pluralism. The Council remains divided: Western members press for sanctions enforcement and unhindered aid, while Russia and some regional actors resist expanded measures. Mediation tracks led by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the African Union have repeatedly stalled, leaving the Council to weigh embargo expansion, civilian protection mechanisms, and accountability referrals.

Key players

Security Council 2 (UNSC)

Cybersecurity and the Protection of Critical Infrastructure

Cyberattacks on hospitals, power grids, water systems, and electoral infrastructure have become routine features of interstate competition. The 2017 NotPetya attack, the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident, and sustained attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure since 2022 demonstrated that cyber operations can produce kinetic-scale harm. Religious and civil-society organisations have also been targeted, raising concerns about digital persecution of minorities and the weaponisation of disinformation in sectarian conflicts. UN engagement has proceeded through two parallel tracks: the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), which produced the 2015 consensus norms, and the more inclusive Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICT, whose 2021 and 2025 reports reaffirmed that international law — including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law — applies in cyberspace. Yet states remain divided on whether new binding rules are needed, how to attribute attacks, and whether a permanent UN cyber mechanism should replace the OEWG. For the Security Council, the question is whether cyber operations against critical infrastructure constitute threats to international peace and security warranting Chapter VII responses, and how to reconcile sovereignty claims (notably from Russia and China) with the open-internet positions of Western states. Religious institutions and houses of worship — increasingly digitised — are part of the protected civilian infrastructure under debate.

Key players

Committee on Digital Affairs & Sovereignty

Digital Sovereignty, Platform Governance, and Religious Expression Online

The rise of a handful of globally dominant digital platforms has produced a structural tension between national sovereignty and transnational private power. The European Union responded with the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act (in force from 2024), imposing due-diligence and transparency duties on very large online platforms. China operates a tightly controlled domestic internet, while India, Brazil, and others have advanced their own data-localisation and content-moderation regimes. The 2024 UN Global Digital Compact, adopted as part of the Pact for the Future, sought to align these approaches around human rights, interoperability, and AI governance. Religious expression sits at the heart of these debates. Platforms moderate hate speech, blasphemy claims, and extremist content under inconsistent rules; governments invoke religious harmony to justify takedowns and shutdowns; and minority faith communities increasingly depend on encrypted and cross-border services to organise. Generative AI has sharpened the problem, enabling both large-scale religious disinformation and new forms of sacred-text analysis and translation. The core dispute is how to reconcile state authority over digital space with universal rights to free expression, privacy, and freedom of religion or belief (ICCPR Articles 18 and 19). Delegates must weigh binding platform obligations, cross-border data rules, and safeguards against using 'digital sovereignty' as a cover for censorship of dissent or minority faiths.

Key players

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Sovereign Debt, Inequality, and the Role of Faith-Based Development Actors

Developing economies face the most severe debt squeeze since the early 2000s. UNCTAD estimates that more than 3.3 billion people live in countries spending more on debt service than on health or education. The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, launched in 2020, has delivered slow and uneven results, with only a handful of cases (Chad, Zambia, Ghana, Sri Lanka) progressing. African and Latin American debtors increasingly call for a UN-led sovereign debt workout mechanism, an agenda carried into the 2025 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville. The crisis intersects directly with the conference's focus on dignity. Austerity-driven cuts erode public health, education, and protection systems on which religious minorities and the poor disproportionately rely. Faith-based organisations — from Caritas and Islamic Relief to Buddhist and Hindu development networks — remain among the largest non-state providers of services in fragile contexts, and the Jubilee tradition of debt relief, rooted in Abrahamic theology, continues to shape advocacy. ECOSOC's task is to align debt restructuring, development finance, and SDG implementation. Disputes centre on creditor coordination (including China's expanding role), the treatment of private bondholders, the use of credit ratings, and whether a binding UN framework convention on sovereign debt — long championed by the G77 — should finally be negotiated.

Key players

UNESCO

Safeguarding Religious Heritage and Education in Conflict

UNESCO's mandate to protect cultural heritage and promote education has been repeatedly tested by the deliberate targeting of religious sites. The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas (2001), the demolition of shrines in Timbuktu (2012), ISIL's devastation of Palmyra, Mosul, and Nineveh (2014–2017), and the damage to churches, mosques, and synagogues in Ukraine, Gaza, and Nagorno-Karabakh have all underscored that heritage destruction is often a tool of identity erasure. The 2016 ICC conviction of Ahmad al-Mahdi for the destruction of Timbuktu shrines established that such attacks can constitute war crimes. UNESCO operates under the 1954 Hague Convention and its protocols, the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017), which condemned the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage. The agency's Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative and emergency interventions in Ukraine illustrate both its convening power and its dependence on member-state cooperation and funding. In parallel, UNESCO leads on global education, where curricula on religion, secularism, and pluralism are increasingly contested. Debates over textbooks, religious education, Holocaust and genocide remembrance, and the teaching of evolution and gender intersect with rising authoritarianism and populism. Delegates must consider how to strengthen heritage protection, counter trafficking in looted religious artefacts, and promote education that fosters tolerance without imposing a single cultural model.

Key players

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

Climate Change, Religious Communities, and Environmental Displacement

UNEP coordinates the global environmental agenda set out in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and the Rio process. The Paris Agreement (2015) committed states to limiting warming to well below 2°C, yet current Nationally Determined Contributions place the world on a 2.5–2.9°C trajectory according to UNEP's Emissions Gap Reports. Loss-and-damage financing, agreed in principle at COP27 and operationalised at COP28, remains chronically underfunded, while the 2022 UN General Assembly Resolution 76/300 recognised the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Climate impacts increasingly intersect with religion. Sacred landscapes — from the Ganges to the Amazon to Pacific island burial grounds — are being degraded or submerged. Faith communities are major landholders and educators: religious institutions own an estimated 8% of habitable land globally and influence the moral framing of climate action through documents such as Laudato Si' (2015), the Al-Mizan Covenant for the Earth (2024), and Buddhist and Hindu environmental declarations. At the same time, climate-driven displacement disproportionately affects religious and ethnic minorities in vulnerable regions. UNEP's debate centres on raising ambition before the 2025 NDC update cycle, scaling adaptation and loss-and-damage finance, completing the Global Plastics Treaty, and integrating Indigenous and faith-based knowledge into environmental governance without instrumentalising either.

Key players

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Pandemic Preparedness, Equity, and Faith-Based Health Systems

COVID-19 exposed deep inequities in global health: high-income countries secured vaccine supplies years before much of Africa and parts of Asia, while the International Health Regulations (2005) proved unable to compel timely outbreak reporting or coordinate response. In response, WHO member states negotiated amendments to the IHR (adopted June 2024) and the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2025. The Agreement now enters implementation, with contested annexes on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) still to be finalised. Religion shapes pandemic response in profound ways. Faith-based hospitals and clinics — Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and others — deliver an estimated 30–70% of health care in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Religious gatherings have been both vectors of transmission and engines of vaccine confidence or hesitancy. The handling of last rites, burial practices, and gender-segregated care during outbreaks has tested the balance between public-health authority and religious freedom. The WHO's 2026 agenda also encompasses non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, mental health), where the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting set 2030 targets that remain off-track, and the structural underfunding of WHO itself, partially addressed by the 2022 reform to increase assessed contributions.

Key players

Human Rights Council (HRC)

Freedom of Religion or Belief in an Age of Polarisation

Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR, and elaborated in the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on FoRB, established in 1986, documents a global pattern of deterioration: Pew Research and the Special Rapporteur's reports record rising state restrictions and social hostilities involving religion in a majority of countries. Contemporary flashpoints include the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, religious minorities in Iran and Pakistan, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe and North America, Christian communities in parts of the Sahel and the Middle East, and Hindu, Sikh, and Christian minorities in South Asia. Blasphemy and apostasy laws remain in force in dozens of states, while populist movements in democracies increasingly mobilise religious identity against minorities and migrants. The HRC must also grapple with the intersection of FoRB and other rights: women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of expression (including 'defamation of religion' debates revived after Quran-burning incidents), and the digital dimension of religious persecution. The 2019 Rabat Plan of Action and Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 provide a framework distinguishing protected speech from incitement, but implementation remains highly uneven.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Religion in Turbulent Times: Challenges for Society, Democracy, and Human Dignity.

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Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

Sweden August 2027

By committee

Frequently asked questions

Religion in Turbulent Times: Challenges for Society, Democracy, and Human Dignity

Aug 23–24, 2027Uppsala, SwedenIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

Security Council 1 (UNSC)
The Situation in Sudan
Security Council 2 (UNSC)
Cybersecurity and the Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Committee on Digital Affairs & Sovereignty
Digital Sovereignty, Platform Governance, and Religious Expression Online
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Sovereign Debt, Inequality, and the Role of Faith-Based Development Actors
UNESCO
Safeguarding Religious Heritage and Education in Conflict
UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
Climate Change, Religious Communities, and Environmental Displacement
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Pandemic Preparedness, Equity, and Faith-Based Health Systems
Human Rights Council (HRC)
Freedom of Religion or Belief in an Age of Polarisation

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Sweden

As the host nation, SWE often champions secular governance and human rights, but also navigates increasing religious diversity and debates around integration and freedom of expression.

Role in topic

United States

The USA grapples with the interplay of religious freedom, pluralism, and the separation of church and state, often facing challenges related to religious influence in politics and social issues.

Role in topic

India

IND, a secular state with a vast array of religious traditions, faces ongoing challenges related to religious nationalism, interfaith relations, and the protection of minority rights.

Role in topic

Israel

ISR's identity is deeply intertwined with religious and ethnic dimensions, leading to unique challenges in balancing democratic principles with religious law and minority rights.

Role in topic