Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to support and promote the Northern Ireland creative sector and universities in Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom's soft power strategy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Soft Power Council is working with the UK Government to develop and deliver a new Soft Power Strategy that will harness the strength of our soft power sectors - from universities and the creative industries, to sport, heritage and tourism - from all nations of the UK, including Northern Ireland, to craft a unifying, positive narrative that will raise the profile of our soft power assets and enhance our influence in the world. Plans are being developed for a future meeting of the Soft Power Council to take place in Northern Ireland - a moment to consider in particular the soft power opportunities for Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report, Russia Country Update, published on 30 June; and what steps are they taking, bilaterally or through multilateral bodies, to press for accountability and improvements to religious freedom in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The report highlights issues that have long concerned this and the previous UK Government. We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia. We condemn Russia's attempt to destroy Ukraine's religious and belief communities. We are further concerned by prosecution of "non-traditional" religious communities within Russia. We provide funding to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to document and report human rights abuses and violations in Ukraine. We continue to raise concerns in multilateral fora to hold the Russian state to account for its human rights violations.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of continued severe restrictions and persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in China; and what representations they have made about that issue to the government of China.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to FoRB. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions FoRB for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
The recent launch of our FoRB strategy on July 8 outlines our approach to promoting and protecting the right to FoRB globally, of which China is one of ten focus countries. We continue to do all we can to encourage FoRB across China.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on British Sikh communities of recent internal controversies within the Sikh community in India, including leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC); and what steps they are taking to engage with British Sikhs and representative organisations to understand and respond to these concerns.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government is aware of recent developments concerning leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the concerns these have raised among some British Sikhs. These are internal matters for the Sikh community, however, we recognise the importance of religious leadership and governance to British Sikhs' cultural and spiritual life. The UK remains committed to supporting the British Sikh community and promoting religious freedom and community cohesion.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threats facing religious personnel in Khartoum and surrounding regions, following the reported killing of a Catholic priest; and what representations they have made to call for an urgent ceasefire, the protection of clergy, and unhindered humanitarian access in that region.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly condemns the reported killing of Catholic priest, Father Luka Jomo, in El Fasher, North Darfur, and also condemns the reported bombing of churches which killed and injured multiple people. We will continue to recognise the issue of Christian persecution globally, alongside the persecution of other individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. Our Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 4 March, highlighting our concerns regarding the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. On 15 April, following the London Sudan Conference, the co-chairs' statement called on relevant parties to enact an immediate ceasefire, and allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of need through all necessary routes in adherence with their obligations under international humanitarian law. On 27 June, during an open briefing at the UN Security Council, the UK echoed the UN's calls for humanitarian pauses in Sudan, emphasising the need for aid to reach those most in need.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for freedom of religion or belief in China following the introduction of China’s “Measures for the Administration of Religious Activity Venues” in 2023, which require religious leaders and venues to demonstrate loyalty to the Communist Party.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary have all raised human rights recently with their counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of Christians in Eritrea, particular with regard to prolonged detention without trial; and what steps they are taking with international partners to seek the release of prisoners of conscience and to hold Eritrean authorities accountable for any violations of religious freedom under international law.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We consistently raise human rights with the Eritrean government, including religious freedoms. We advocate for the end of detentions based on religion or belief, as we have stated at the UN Human Rights Council. We call for all those unjustly incarcerated to be released. The UK's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea raised human rights during her most recent visit to Eritrea in April and the UK supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2024.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria concerning Leah Sharibu, who was abducted in 2018; and what steps they are taking to support efforts for her release.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly condemns the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and other children by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in North East Nigeria, repeatedly calling for their release. Through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we continue to support the Government of Nigeria's anti-kidnap cell to assist coordination between Nigerian law enforcement agencies responding to kidnap cases.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of their role in promoting long-term peace and stability in regions affected by religious persecution.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. Societies that respect and uphold human rights, including FoRB, are stronger, more stable and prosperous.
Faith leaders play a vital role in international mediation and reconciliation. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works internationally with faith-based organisations to support the UK's conflict resolution efforts and build trust and understanding between communities. In Colombia and South Sudan, the UK worked with faith leaders to call on warring parties to negotiate and to support the design and implementation of peace agreements.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to integrate freedom of religion or belief into their broader foreign policy and international development strategies
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. In December 2024, I detailed five Human Rights priorities including defending the rights of people belonging to vulnerable and marginalised groups. By championing FoRB for all, we are fighting back against the threats so many people face for simply what they do, or do not, believe in.
Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our multilateral and bilateral engagement. Where FoRB is under attack, other rights are often threatened too. Our policy is to defend the full range of rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in international human rights treaties to which we are a state party - including FoRB. We work to fully integrate human rights across our wider policy and development agendas to support meaningful change on the ground.