Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) on Monday, 6 January 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 January 2025. It was answered by Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour) on Thursday, 23 January 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Religious Freedom

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made regarding the Declaration of humanity by leaders of faith and leaders of belief, published in 2020; how many leaders have signed the declaration and what activities they are planning to engage more widely on the declaration and to ensure its universality.

Answer: The Declaration of Humanity by Leaders of Faith and Leaders of Belief has been signed by over 750 faith leaders, NGOs and civil society actors in countries including Iraq, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UK Government remains committed to promoting the Declaration, including through the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. In November 2024, at a symposium organised by the British Embassy to the Holy See and the Jesuit Refugee Service, representatives of four major Catholic organisations became signatories.

Secondary information