The members of the IARF family fully support the principles laid out in the U.N.'s 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (DEIDRB) which advocates "freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief."

Within the framework of these rights, the Declaration also encourages responsible religious practice -- a cornerstone of IARF's work.

IARF is one of 139 organisations in General Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. This status entitles IARF representatives at the U.N. in Geneva to regularly make interventions on behalf of religious minorities.

IARF also has representatives in New York who work with other non-governmental organisations in support of religious freedom.