BWA (Baptist World Alliance) launched on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from Falls Church, Virginia, an open call for nominations for its 2026 Human Rights Award. The award aims to recognize a global Baptist leader who is making a significant impact in defending religious freedom, human rights, and justice. The winner will be honored during the upcoming BWA Annual Gathering, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, in July 2026.
Rev. Dr. Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary & CEO, said it is inspiring to witness Baptists around the world making a kingdom impact as human rights advocates.
Jennifer Lau, BWA Awards Committee Chair says through the Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award, Baptists celebrate individuals whose courage, leadership, and service advance human rights around the world.
“We look forward to receiving nominations that highlight the extraordinary work being done across our global Baptist family,” said Jennifer Lau.
He also called all Baptists to stand for justice and to uphold the dignity of every person.
This announcement comes at a time when global tensions surrounding religious freedom are on the rise.
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Growing threats to religious freedom around the world and in Africa
According to recent reports by organizations such as Open Doors and the Pew Research Center, more than 80 countries impose restrictions on religious freedom. In Africa, several countries face significant challenges.
According to the Pew Research Center, government restrictions on religion reached a record high in 2022: 59 countries had high or very high levels of religious restrictions (out of 198 countries studied). This represents over 30% of the countries analyzed, the highest level since tracking began in 2007.
A 2025 global report indicates that approximately 5.4 billion people live in countries where serious violations of religious freedom (persecution or discrimination) have been observed.
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Some countries, despite having constitutional protections, still face practical challenges. Others, like Uganda, offer a more favorable environment.
Nigeria remains one of the most affected, with violent attacks against Christians. Reports highlight severe attacks on Christian communities, particularly by Fulani herders and jihadist groups (like ISWAP) in central and northern Nigeria, leading to displacement and deaths, but the government frames these as general insecurity issues, not targeted persecution.
In 2025, Nigeria was ranked as the 7th most difficult country for Christians according to the Open Doors World Watch List. Independent sources estimate that thousands of Christians have been killed or subjected to violence related to their faith since 2009, with thousands of places of worship attacked or destroyed in various regions of the country.
In Eritrea, dozens of pastors are still imprisoned without trial. In the Central African Republic (CAR), conflicts with religious undertones have weakened the social fabric.
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Controlled Worship: The New Religious Reality in Burundi
In today’s global climate of increasing pressure on religious freedom, Burundi is no exception to the growing trend of state control over religious organizations. Although the Burundian Constitution guarantees freedom of worship, legal oversight has been tightened in recent years, especially with the adoption of the 2022 law.
The 2022 Burundian law regulating religious denominations introduced stricter standards and reinforced compliance mechanisms aimed at structuring and monitoring religious activities.
For example, the law now imposes strict conditions for a religion to be officially recognized. It requires that an independent religious denomination have a minimum number of permanent resident founders nationwide — at least 500 for a local denomination and 1,000 for a foreign-based one.
While these measures may be seen as an effort to streamline religious organization, they have also drawn criticism for potentially serving as a tool of increased state administration in the religious sphere — highlighting the tension between religious freedom and legal frameworks in the country.
Rwanda: 8,000 Churches and Prayer Houses Closed in 2024
The case of Rwanda also highlights the restrictions placed on religious freedom in certain African countries. Since 2018, the Rwandan government has shut down thousands of churches, citing reasons of security, sanitation, and compliance with urban regulations.
During inspection campaigns in 2024, over 13,000 places of worship were reviewed by the Rwanda Governance Board. Among them, more than 8,000 churches and prayer houses were closed for non-compliance with the regulations, according to a report by the World Evangelical Alliance.
While authorities claim they are seeking to professionalize the religious sector, many critics view these actions as an attempt to curb the influence of certain evangelical churches that have become increasingly popular.
Moreover, Rwandan law requires religious leaders to hold a theology degree from a recognized institution, which excludes many self-taught pastors. Some analysts believe that these measures, though administrative in appearance, effectively limit free religious expression — especially in rural areas where access to recognized theological training is limited.
In this global climate where religious freedom is increasingly under threat, initiatives like that of the Baptist World Alliance are highly significant. By recognizing Baptist leaders who defend human rights, justice, and freedom of worship, the international organization sends a strong message: courageous efforts to protect faith, human dignity, and peace deserve to be encouraged and made visible.
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About Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award
Named in recognition of the longstanding human rights advocacy of BWA General Secretary Emeritus Denton Lotz and his wife Janice, the award is presented annually to an individual who embodies similar passion, leadership, and service.
Established in 2006, the award is given by the BWA for significant and effective action and activities to secure, protect, restore, or preserve human rights.
It includes all rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other declared rights by United Nations bodies such as the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice.
Past awardees include Julie Mariama Sesay, Sierra Leone (2024); Mona Khauli, Lebanon (2023); Daniel Buttry, USA (2022); Burchel Taylor, Jamaica (2019); Christer Daelander, Sweden (2018); Cynthia Maung, Myanmar/Thailand (2017); Ilie Coada, Moldova (2014); Glen Stassen, USA (2013); Edgar Palacios, El Salvador (2012); Wati Aier, India (2011); Leena Lavanya, India (2009); Dennis Datta, Bangladesh (2008); João and Nora Matwawana, Angola (2007); and Gustavo Parajón, Nicaragua (2006).
Till to this date, Africans João and Nora Matwawana from Angola have worn this award in 2007.
Previous nominees who did not win are eligible to be nominated again. Nominations should be submitted no later than January 15, 2026. Nomination forms and instructions are available at BaptistWorld.org/human-rights-award.
You will know that the BWA Awards Committee is composed of Baptist leaders from around the world, who prayerfully review nominees and recommend a recipient to the BWA Leadership Council for deliberation.
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