Religious freedom proponents are hoping Mongolia’s first symposium on religious liberty later this month will increase awareness and lead to a large-scale religious liberty conference next year.

The May 29 symposium, co-sponsored by the Mongolia’s Council of Religious Affairs under the nation’s president and the International Religious Liberty Association, could pave the way for the country to play host to the 3rd Asian Congress on Religious Liberty.

“The government seems very positive and appreciative,” said Glenn Mitchell, an IRLA representative from the Adventist Church in Northern Asia. “The president has been advised of this symposium and is giving it his support.”

The Northern Asian nation is home to about 2.6 million people, 50 percent of whom are Buddhist. About 40 percent claim no religion.

“Religious freedom is generally respected in Mongolia, which is rather a remarkable exception in this part of the world,” said John Graz, IRLA secretary-general. “This will be a first for Mongolia.”

Established in 1893, the IRLA has affiliated associations in some 80 countries and is the world’s largest non-sectarian forum dedicated to religious freedom.