International Christian Concern (ICC) was well represented at the 2026 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C. this month. ICC was one of 82 event sponsors, and its staff participated in planning and breakout sessions. 

More than 1,600 global participants came together for the two-day conference on Feb. 2-3. The Summit is the leading gathering of advocates for religious freedom, with smaller regional IRF conferences held in Africa and Asia. The Summit strives to “gain political support for the global religious freedom movement and embolden civil society, people of faith, and governments to take a stand for religious freedom.” 

The annual Summit in Washington allows ICC staff to connect with peer ministries and bolster its advocacy efforts and connections in the field.  

ICC Human Rights Counsel Colton Grellier served on the “Action” breakout track that planned six panel sessions, including one moderated by ICC President Shawn Wright. Several ICC Fellows, academics, and experts in their respective fields attended the conference, interviewed survivors of persecution, and conducted research for future reports. 

Subash Marapaka, ICC’s representative in South Asia, was also a panelist on the “Linking Sectors, Bridging Generations: The Secret to Collaboration that Works” session. Marapaka discussed the plight of Christians in India, where some 80 percent – more than one billion – of the population is Hindu compared to about 2.5 percent, or 25 million, as Christian. U.S. Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA), the son of Vietnamese refugees, gave opening remarks. 

Marapaka noted that of the Christian community, more than 20 million are Dalit Christians who are ostracized socially and oppressed as followers of Christ. 

“I was told that I was nobody … and an outsider,” said Marapaka. “About 20 million of them face day after day these discriminations, and what I hope is for all of us to come together, to put our minds and strategies together to help these marginalized people.” 

During the panel discussion, Marapaka told of a Christian pastor who was attacked and his church ransacked. “The pastor was beaten up brutally, and he had no help anywhere. He could not go to the police station; he was so vulnerable.” 

Marapaka rallied local Christian leaders and activists, and ICC helped the pastor and his family. 

Sam Brownback, ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021), and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, served as co-chairs of the Summit. Manus Churchill, former ICC Advocacy director, serves as Summit executive director.