---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 6441"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "6441"
heading: "Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/6441"
units:
  - "Chapter 73 — International Religious Freedom"
  - "Subchapter III — Presidential Actions"
  - "Part A — Targeted Responses to Violations of Religious Freedom Abroad"
---

# §6441. Presidential actions in response to violations of religious freedom

- (a) **Response to violations of religious freedom—**
  - (1) **In general—**
    - (A) **United States policy—** It shall be the policy of the United States—
      - (i) to oppose [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16) that are or have been engaged in or tolerated by the [governments](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) of [foreign countries](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2); and
      - (ii) to promote the right to freedom of religion in those countries through the actions described in [subsection (b)](#b).
    - (B) **Requirement of Presidential action—** For each [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2) the [government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) of which engages in or tolerates [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16), the President shall oppose such violations and promote the right to freedom of religion in that country through the actions described in [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) **Basis of actions—** Each action taken under [paragraph (1)(B)](#a-1-B) shall be based upon information regarding [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16), as described in the latest [Country Reports on Human Rights Practices](/usc/22/6402.md?p=6), the [Annual Report](/usc/22/6402.md?p=2) and [Executive Summary](/usc/22/6402.md?p=7), and on any other evidence available, and shall take into account any findings or recommendations by the [Commission](/usc/22/6402.md?p=5) with respect to the [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2).
- (b) **Presidential actions—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to paragraphs [(2)](#b-2) and [(3)](#b-3), the President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the [Ambassador at Large](/usc/22/6402.md?p=1), the [Special Adviser](/usc/22/6402.md?p=14), and the [Commission](/usc/22/6402.md?p=5), shall, as expeditiously as practicable in response to the violations described in [subsection (a)](#a) by the [government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) of a [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2)—
    - (A) take one or more of the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto) with respect to such country; or
    - (B) negotiate and enter into a binding agreement with the [government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) of such country, as described in [section 6445(c) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=c).
  - (2) **Deadline for actions—** Not later than September 1 of each year, the President shall take action under any of paragraphs (1) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto) with respect to each [foreign country](/usc/22/2321c.md?p=2) the [government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) of which has engaged in or tolerated [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16) at any time since September 1 of the preceding year, except that in the case of action under any of paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto)—
    - (A) the action may only be taken after the requirements of sections [6443](/usc/22/6443.md) and [6444](/usc/22/6444.md) of this title have been satisfied; and
    - (B) the September 1 limitation shall not apply.
  - (3) **Authority for delay of Presidential actions—** The President may delay action under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) described in any of paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto) if he determines and certifies to Congress that a single, additional period of time, not to exceed 90 days, is necessary pursuant to the same provisions applying to countries of particular concern for religious freedom under [section 6442(c)(3) of this title](/usc/22/6442.md?p=c-3).
- (c) **Implementation—**
  - (1) **In general—** In carrying out [subsection (b)](#b), the President shall—
    - (A) take the action or actions that most appropriately respond to the nature and severity of the [violations of religious freedom](/usc/22/6402.md?p=16);
    - (B) seek to the fullest extent possible to target action as narrowly as practicable with respect to the agency or instrumentality of the [foreign government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8), or specific officials thereof, that are responsible for such violations; and
    - (C) when appropriate, make every reasonable effort to conclude a binding agreement concerning the cessation of such violations in countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations.
  - (2) **Guidelines for Presidential actions—** In addition to the guidelines under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the President, in determining whether to take a Presidential action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of [section 6445(a) of this title](/usc/22/6445.md?p=a) (or [commensurate action](/usc/22/6402.md?p=4) in substitution thereto), shall seek to minimize any adverse impact on—
    - (A) the population of the country whose [government](/usc/22/6402.md?p=8) is targeted by the Presidential action or actions; and
    - (B) the humanitarian activities of United States and foreign nongovernmental organizations in such country.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–292, title IV, § 401, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2800.)

## Notes

### Executive Documents

### Delegation of Responsibilities Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

Memorandum of President of the United States, Aug. 17, 1999, 64 F.R. 47345, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by title IV, subtitle I (sections 401–409) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 [22 U.S.C. 6441 et seq.] (Public Law 105–292) (the “Act”).

Any reference in this memorandum to any act shall be deemed to be a reference to such act as amended from time to time.

The functions delegated by this memorandum may be delegated within the Department of State.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.