Tonga's Parliamentary Speaker Lord Fakafanua represented Tonga at the 30th Annual International Law and Religion Symposium, on 1-3 October, hosted by the Brigham Young University School of Law, at BYU University in Provo, Utah.

The theme of this year’s symposium was “Protecting the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion: 75 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

The meeting was focused on the UDHR Article 18 protection of thought, conscience, and religion.

Lord Fakafanua provided an overview on Freedom of Religion in Tonga, from the point of view of a legislator and citizen of Tonga, during a presentation to Pacific Leaders.

“In a defining moment in the year 1839, King George Tupou I proclaimed Tonga’s dedication to God through the Tukufonua ki Langi, seeking divine protection for our nation. This proclamation marked the inception of religious freedom in Tonga, underlining our belief in protection through faith rather than human means. It laid the cornerstone for religious liberty, a core value woven into the very fabric of Tongan society. Tonga’s Constitution that followed in the year 1875 offers robust protection for religious freedom, more than 70 years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed in the year 1948.”

Meanwhile, academics, political and government leaders, religious thinkers, and judges, examined the impact of 75 years of protecting the rights of thoughts, conscience, and religion.

While in Utah, Lord Fakafanua will meet with senior authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to discuss humanitarian initiatives for Tonga. He will also visit the Church’s humanitarian, self-reliance and family history centres, as well as the Mana Academy Charter School, the office of the Fale Alea stated.