Against the historic backdrop of one of Europe’s most celebrated cities of interreligious coexistence, the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) holds its Conscience & Liberty 2026 Conference in Toledo, Spain, from 24 to 26 March 2026. The conference, titled “A New Era in Human Rights? Impacts on Freedom of Religion and Belief,” brings together around 70 invited participants from across the globe—scholars, jurists, human rights practitioners, diplomats, faith-based leaders, and representatives of international institutions—for three days of in-depth reflection, debate, and action on the state of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in an increasingly turbulent world.
The gathering carried special significance: 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of AIDLR’s founding, making this conference not only a major intellectual and policy event, but also a milestone celebration of eight decades of tireless advocacy for the freedom of conscience, religion, and belief.
Opening Ceremony: A Historic Hall, a Global Message
The conference opened on the morning of Tuesday, 24 March 2026, in the Sala Capitular of the Ayuntamiento de Toledo—Toledo’s historic City Hall—in a ceremony that set the tone for the days ahead. The opening ceremony was moderated by Paulo Macedo, Secretary-General of AIDLR, and Rubén Guzmán of AIDLR Spain.
The proceedings began with an institutional message of the highest international standing: a written address from His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, sent expressly to the conference and read aloud by Dr. Nazila Ghanea, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. In his message, Secretary-General Guterres described freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief as a cornerstone of human dignity and, more broadly, a litmus test for the state of human rights.
Institutional addresses followed from a distinguished roster of leaders: Dr. Barna Magyarosi, president of AIDLR; Dr. Adama Dieng, president of the AIDLR Honorary Committee; Dr. Óscar López, president of AIDLR Spain; Dr. Soledad de Frutos del Valle, representative of the Diputación Provincial de Toledo; and Dr. Carlos Velasquez Romo, mayor of Toledo, who welcomed the assembly to his city with words underscoring Toledo’s unique vocation as a symbol of intercultural dialogue.
A central moment of the ceremony was the reading of AIDLR’s 80th Anniversary Statement. The statement reaffirmed AIDLR’s founding principles and its commitment to defending freedom of conscience as a foundation of world peace.
Eight Decades of History: The Commemorative Video Documentary
The opening ceremony also featured the world premiere of a commemorative video documentary marking AIDLR’s 80 years of history. The film traced the association’s journey from its founding by Dr. Jean Nussbaum, in 1946—in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and amid the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—through decades of engagement at the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and beyond.
Nussbaum’s founding motto, “We do not stand for interests. We stand for principles”, resounded throughout the ceremony, and indeed across the entire conference, as a living charge to all present.
Awards of Honor: Recognizing Lifetimes of Service
In recognition of exceptional contributions to the cause of religious liberty, AIDLR presented its 80th Anniversary Awards of Honor to three distinguished individuals whose careers have been closely intertwined with the work of the association and the broader field of human rights: Alberto de la Hera, Ganoune Diop, and John Graz.
Plenary Sessions: Engaging the Critical Questions
Following the opening ceremony, the plenary programme at the Palacio de Congresos “El Greco” explored the critical questions at the heart of religious freedom. The sessions opened with a keynote by UN Special Rapporteur Dr. Nazila Ghanea, who outlined the global pressures on the FoRB mandate. This was complemented by dialogues between international actors and civil society leaders.
The programme also tackled the geopolitical complexities of a changing world, specifically addressing the fragmentation of global responsibilities and the tensions between multilateralism and religious nationalism. A significant portion of the discourse focused on the digital age, examining how AI and new communication technologies introduce novel forms of surveillance and discrimination. The conference concluded with a debate on the "Voices of Conscience," which brought the core intellectual themes of the gathering to a close.
The Closing Session of the main proceedings was attended by the reverend Archbishop of Toledo, Don Francisco Cerro Chávez, and the representative of FEREDE (the Evangelical Federation of Spain), the distinguished Executive Secretary Doña Carolina Bueno. AIDLR President Barna Magyarosi closed the session with gratitude to all participants, expressing the hope of a future encounter for the next Conference, in 2029.
The Declaration of Toledo 2026
One of the most substantive outcomes of the conference was the adoption of the Declaration of Toledo 2026, an AIDLR statement on rising challenges to freedom of conscience, belief, and religion. The Declaration sets out twelve points of action, calling upon international organizations, state actors, and civil society to take action. The Declaration closes by reaffirming the founding spirit of Jean Nussbaum and his enduring charge: “We don’t stand for interests. We stand for principles.”
To read the Declaration of Toledo, please go here.
To read the original article, please go here.
