Campaign Reply - Freedom of Religion or Belief Worldwide

Thank you for bringing the World Watch List 2024 to my attention. Sadly, the World Watch List makes clear that many Christians are targeted daily purely for their faith, despite the protections of international law. It is evident that the need for collective action and unwavering commitment from the international community to protect FoRB for all remains imperative. I am therefore grateful that FoRB remains a human rights priority for the UK.

 

Nobody should live in fear because of their identity or beliefs. My ministerial colleagues and I are committed to defending FoRB for all, and to promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Indeed, promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. Regrettably, however, the UK Government remains deeply concerned about the increase in FoRB violations globally.

I welcome that officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regularly raise concerns with national Governments who are not meeting their obligations to this end, both publicly and in private, including at a ministerial level.

The FCDO also works via multilateral fora, such as the UN, G7, and the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance to promote and protect FoRB for all. In July 2022, the UK hosted an International Ministerial Conference on FoRB to energise collective efforts on this agenda, in addition to announcing £500,000 of new funding to support FoRB defenders and to provide legal expertise to countries where FoRB is under pressure. 

When FoRB is respected, societies are more likely to be stable and secure, and to flourish economically. They are also less prone to extremist attacks. It is therefore not to put too fine a point on it to say that in promoting FoRB we are promoting peace, and doing so now is as critical as ever.

I hope this has provided some reassurance to you on this important matter.