The third annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit took place from January 31 to February 1 in Washington, United States of America. The purpose of the Summit was to create "a powerful coalition of organizations to act together for the cause of religious freedom around the world" with the aim of "increasing public awareness and the political strength of the international freedom movement religious".

Hugues Sanon, Special Envoy for International Relations of the United Nations Commission on Justice, Equality and Peace, and Global Ambassador of the World Organization for Sustainable Development, was invited to speak at the IRF summit group meeting

In fact, one thousand (1000) defenders of religious freedom showed up in the North American capital for the International Religious Freedom Summit. Advocates held more than two hundred (200) breakout sessions, numerous panel discussions, interviews, and exhibits on Capitol Hill with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, ambassadors, and survivors representing broad faith groups to advocate for and oppose violations of religious freedom . That year, the IRF Summit also coincided with the National Prayer Breakfast and highlighted four distinct tracks: Defend, Document, Develop and Deny.

In addition, Dr Sanon met with various leaders, including Ambassador Susan Johnson Cook, Her Excellency Gingrich, and numerous academics, lawmakers and religious leaders. In addition, he met with Abdullah bin Mafdou ibn Baiyah, an Islamic scholar and professor of Islamic studies at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,

Ambassador Hugues Sanon: Ambassador Hugues Sanon is an outstanding motivational speaker, writer,  public advocate, lecturer and international goodwill ambassador.

Ambassador Hugues Sanon has given motivational speeches at numerous high-profile events throughout the United States and abroad such as United Nations, Washington DC, New Jersey, also in Canada, Mexico, El-Salvador, Dominican republic, Geneva, Honduras, Guatemala, San Salvador, and Haiti