Campaign reply - Invitation to 'The Forgotten Women: Persecuted Women and Girls from Religious Minorities' 28/02/2022

 

 Thank you for contacting my office. I very much appreciate you getting in touch.

 Unfortunately, due to other parliamentary commitments, I could not attend this session.

However, this is an important issue. It is a sad reality that many religious minorities have long been subject to discrimination and campaigns of persecution. I am also aware that the coronavirus pandemic has also exacerbated existing inequalities and made addressing the needs of some communities harder.

In November 2020, the Government launched the Declaration of Humanity, which condemns conflict-related sexual violence and committed its signatories to work to dismantle harmful interpretations of faith and belief that may be used to condone or commit acts of sexual violence.

I am pleased that up to January 2021, 50 faith and belief leaders, civil society organisations and governments had signed from across the world.

The UK has also aid has funded several programmes promoting human rights, including:

• Through the UK Aid Connect, the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (Creid) programme, which works with women from religious minorities in Egypt, Pakistan, India, Iraq and Nigeria.

• Sexuality and Religion Network (Serene) in East Africa, which works with religious groups to promote LGBTIQ inclusion.

• Resisting gender-based violence and injustice through activism with biblical texts and images in four African countries, which seeks to assist those most vulnerable to gender-based violence through education.

The UK is also hosting the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in July 2022, which I will keep a close eye on.

Thank you once again for getting in touch, and if I can be of further assistance with any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.