A number of constituents have been contacting me about Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).
The importance of championing freedom of religion or belief is laid bare in the alarming facts and figures regarding Christian persecution described in the Open Doors world watch list for 2024.
I am committed to defending FoRB for all, and to promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities alike. I would be delighted to attend Open Doors’ World Watch List 2025 launch in January, should my schedule allow.
FoRB is a longstanding human rights priority for the UK. The previous Government worked to embed FoRB considerations across the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and appointed the UK’s first ever Special Envoy for FoRB, reflecting the desire to strengthen the UK’s international work in this area. I hope that the current Government will choose to appoint an envoy for a similar purpose.
In July 2022 the previous Government also hosted the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which brought together 800 faith and belief leaders, human rights activists and 100 government delegations to agree action to promote and protect those fundamental rights. As a result of the conference, 47 Governments, international organisations and other entities made pledges to take action in support of FORB.
Thanks to the momentum generated by the conference, the previous Government was able to strengthen coalitions of support and to protect FoRB for all within international bodies and the multilateral framework, and used the UK’s diplomatic network to encourage states to uphold their human rights and FORB obligations.
History has shown us that where freedom of religion or belief is under threat, other human rights are also at risk. In my view, it is vital that the new Government builds on the work of the previous, and continues to defend and promote this fundamental right.
