WATCH: Secretary Blinken gives report on religious freedom around the world

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday the release of an annual report on religious freedom around the world.

Watch Blinken’s remarks in the player above.

The State Department’s 2021 International Religious Freedom Report contains data on the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries.

“Religious freedom is the first freedom enshrined in our Constitution’s Bill of Rights,” Blinken said. “It’s been recognized by nations around the world as a human right, including in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The report notes several places where religious freedom has improved, such as Taiwan where the government has made it easier to report employers who refuse to provide workers a rest day to attend religious services.

“Ultimately, this report is about spreading that kind of progress to more parts of the world,” Blinken said.