Thank you for contacting me about the persecution of Christians worldwide.
My ministerial colleagues and I are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (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, HM Government remains deeply concerned about the increase in FoRB violations globally.
Nobody should live in fear because of their identity or beliefs including those who have no religious convictions or beliefs. Rest assured 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, and in July 2022, the UK hosted an International Ministerial Conference on FoRB to energise collective efforts on this agenda. This is just the latest step in the UK’s leadership on this matter.
In December 2020, Fiona Bruce MP was appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, a clear testament to the UK's commitment to this cause. In this role, Fiona works with Ministers, officials, and others to deliver HMG's goal of seeing everyone, everywhere able to have and practice a faith, belief, or no religious belief, in accordance with their conscience. I commend Fiona's determined action on this matter as Envoy.
Most prominently, Fiona is working with FCDO Minister Lord Ahmad to drive forward the implementation of the recommendations from the Bishop of Truro's report on FCO support for persecuted Christians in a way that improves the lives of those persecuted for their faith, or belief, or for not holding a religion. I was encouraged that at the FoRB Conference in July, the former Foreign Secretary made clear that those 22 recommendations have been taken forward in a way that will make a real change. I am confident that the
Truro review has also set a standard that it is worth other countries following too.
Women are more likely than men to be victims of religious discrimination and violence. It is therefore welcome that HMG has put women and girls at the heart of its Strategy for International Development, and that the UK-hosted Conference on FoRB was used to advocate for them.
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.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.