Written question asked by Julian Sturdy (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 December 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 December 2023. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 December 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Religious Freedom

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to promote freedom of religion and belief in other countries.

Answer

We continue to ensure that freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is central to our human rights and wider work. Our International Development White Paper published in November includes a commitment to prioritise FoRB in our bilateral and multilateral work.

We work with UN, G7, and other multilateral fora to promote FoRB. In June this year, the UN Security Council adopted, unanimously, a UK-United Arab Emirates (UAE) co-penned resolution on Tolerance and International Peace and Security, which contained language on FoRB. Bilaterally, Ministers and officials regularly raise specific cases of concern, and do not shy away from challenging those we believe are not meeting their obligations, whether publicly or in private.

This year, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP served a second consecutive year as Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, a network of 42 countries committed to the promotion and protection of FoRB.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 7033
Session: 2023-24
Subjects: Religious freedom
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Religious Freedom

Secondary information

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