Written question asked by Ruth Jones (Labour) on Monday, 6 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 January 2025 (named day). It was answered by Catherine West (Labour) on Thursday, 9 January 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Southeast Asia: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on helping to improve freedom of religion or belief of minority Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia.

Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB multilaterally, bilaterally and through programme funding. In Southeast Asia, for example, as a member of the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Vietnam, the UK has often worked to raise cases of concern with Vietnamese authorities in this area. The appointment of David Smith MP as the Special Envoy for FoRB is a clear signal of the UK's ongoing commitment to these efforts in Southeast Asia and across the globe.

Secondary information