








IDC Summit 2017: American Leadership and Securing the Future of Christians in the Middle East
October 24-26 – Washington, D.C.
Take Action along with advocates from across the country to protect and preserve Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East.
Highlights
Press Conference at the National Press Club
Ecumenical Prayer Service: Bridging East and West
Policy and Awareness Symposium
Experts and Leaders from Around the World
Grassroots Mobilization
Meet with dozens of Members of Congress and Administration officials
*Free student registration. See below!
Fourth Annual
IDC Solidarity Dinner for Christians
in the Middle East
October 25, 2017
Summit Location
JW Marriott
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1796
Credentials Pick Up Begins Tuesday October 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm
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2017 Summit Sponsors
IDC 2017 Summit Policy Agenda
Click each title to expand
IDC supports the passing of H. Res.252 to promote the security, stability, and independence of Lebanon.
- The Resolution encourages coordination between the Department of State, the UN, and humanitarian organizations to establish a safe zone in Syria for Syrian refugees displaced by war as the first step toward return and re-settlement.
- The Resolution also focuses on the importance of the Lebanese Armed Forces being able to provide stability and security for the people of Lebanon, as well as calling for the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all non-governmental forces in Lebanon.
The Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act is a bill which would provide immediate relief to minority religious groups in Iraq and Syria, particularly Christians and Yazidis.
- These communities would receive special humanitarian status and refugee resettlement priority in the US.
- IDC is working with partners to urge the Senate to introduce and pass this resolution as quickly possible.
IDC supports the introduction of a resolution on the Accountability of American Allies in the Middle East. This resolution would ensure that American allies, especially those receiving foreign aid and with whom the U.S. partners on vital national security matters, do not countenance material support for violent extremism, which has brought genocide on Christians and other communities.
- The American people expect their allies will take steps to protect places of worship from reasonably foreseeable acts of terror.
- The American people expect their allies will not tolerate support for U.S. government-designated terrorist organizations and will hold those who support such organizations to account.
- The American people expect their allies to respect the fundamental human rights of all people, including non-citizen workers who are Christian.
IDC supports a full acknowledgment by the Government of the Republic of Turkey of the Armenian Genocide as a first step in improving Turkish-Armenian relations, as stated in Senate Resolution 136.
IDC urges the U.S. government to identify and punish the Accessories of Genocide of the ISIS genocide.
- IDC urges the Trump Administration to create a task force to identify all persons and organizations that provided material support to ISIS and al-Qaeda, all who aided and abetted ISIS, to be brought to justice. The taskforce would also work to identify and account for aiders, abettors and accessories of terrorism.
Special Performance by Internationally Acclaimed Lebanese Singer
Abeer Nehme
Special Guests
Past Speakers
Register Now
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Summit Schedule
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
2:00pm | Opening Press Conference at the National Press Club |
Moderator | |
Andrew Doran Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser of In Defense of Christians |
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Introduction | |
Carl Anderson The 13th supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus |
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Remarks by Patriarch Rai, Patriarch John X Yazigi, Patriarch Absi and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I | |
Speakers | |
Aram Hamparian Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America |
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Robert Nicholson Executive Director of The Philos Project |
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6:30 to 8:30pm |
Ecumenical Prayer Service at Saint Matthew’s Cathedral Special Performance by Internationally Acclaimed Lebanese Singer |
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
8:00am | Breakfast and Keynote Remarks |
9:30am | Lebanon and Syria: Security and Stability Post Conflict |
Moderator | |
Tonia Khouri Chairman of Economic Development for DuPage County |
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Speakers | |
Neemat Frem President of The Maronite Foundation in the World |
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11:00am | How to Advance U.S. Interests by Protecting Religious Minorities in the Middle East |
Speakers | |
Loay Mikhael Head of Foreign Relations Committee of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council |
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Aram Hamparian Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America |
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Robert Nicholson Executive Director of The Philos Project |
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Nermien Riad Executive Director of Coptic Orphans |
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12:30pm | Lunch |
2:15pm | Who Are America’s Allies and Enemies in the Middle East? A Hard Look at Turkey, Iran and the Gulf States |
Moderator | |
Andrew Doran Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser of In Defense of Christians |
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Speakers | |
Pamela Pryor Senior Advisor, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State |
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Brian Katulis Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress |
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3:45pm | Interactive Workshops: How to Organize Your Community. Setting Up In-District Meetings with Members of Congress- Maximizing Effective Advocacy |
Moderators: | |
Philippe Nassif Executive Director of In Defense of Christians |
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Steven Howard National Outreach Associate of In Defense of Christians |
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Facilitators: | |
Father Paul O' Callaghan Dean of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral |
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Nahren Anweya Assyrian American activist for the persecuted Christians and other minorities |
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Speakers | |
Art Estopinan President of The Estopinan Group |
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Armen V. Sahakyan Board Member, ANCA Eastern Region |
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Milad Zohrob Chair of IDC Detroit Chapter |
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Antoinette Balta Officer of IDC Orange County Chapter |
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6:30pm | Solidarity Dinner Cocktail Hour |
7:30pm | Solidarity Dinner |
Thursday, October 26, 2017
8:00am | Breakfast |
9:00am | Advocacy Day Briefing: Policy and Education on Capitol Hill |
10:00am | Senate Canvassing |
12:30pm | Lunch (TBD) |
1:30pm | Capitol Hill Canvassing |
3:00pm | Congressional Auditorium Event: Hearing from Members of Congress |
5:00pm | Closing Cocktail Party |