July 2016
Recent years have seen a rising tide of restrictions on freedom of religion or belief. Baha'is, Shias, Sunnis and Alawites, Hindus, Sikhs, atheists, Christians and many others have fallen victim to a new sectarianism that is breaking out across continents. That is why, in the last Parliament, the Government ramped up its activities to promote freedom of religion or belief across the world.
Multilateral organisations are a vital avenue for the pursuit of progress on what is an international issue. In the last Parliament, the Government worked with the United Nations Human Rights Council to implement Resolution 16/18, which lays the foundations for combating discrimination against people based on their religion throughout the world. Foreign Office Ministers brought together countries across the world to discuss implementation in 2013 and continued to monitor progress through a number of follow-up meetings.
In the last Parliament, the Government also prioritised freedom of religion through bilateral engagement with governments across the world. The Government made sure that every minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was an ambassador for religious freedom, raising and promoting these issues in the countries for which they have responsibility will continue to do so going forward. For example, in China, the Government regularly raises the subject of harassment and legal restrictions faced by the Chinese Christian community at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, publishing quarterly updates on the progress made.
I would also like to mention the project work undertaken by the Government, through which the UK is working with human rights and faith-based organisations across the world; particularly those which bridge sectarian divides and promote dialogue between religions. One such project supports a network of human rights defenders working on this issue in South East Asia.
