European Convention on Human Rights: 75th Anniversary

Lord Rook Excerpts

Thursday 20th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Rook (Lab)]

I draw the attention of the House to my registered interests: I am a partner at the Good Faith Partnership, which provides the secretariat for the UK FoRB Forum. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for this debate and, as other noble Lords have noted, for his tireless commitment to human rights. He has long been an inspiration to me and, as a new Member of the House, I hope to become more like him when I grow up.

I wish to draw noble Lords’ attention to the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights for the pursuance of freedom of religion or belief. Born amid the growing realisation of the full and horrific extent of the Holocaust, the issue of freedom of religion is core to the convention. “Everyone,” Article 9 declares,

“has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”.

Sadly, the fight for religious freedom is far from won. More than 80% of the world’s population live in states where there are severe or significant restrictions on their freedoms, and that number is rising. Although this continent is home to the convention, there remains work to be done and threats to guard against. A few years ago, I sat in the gallery of the Bundestag, witnessing the understandable anger and outrage of the majority of its members as one party repeatedly refused to condemn the internment of Uyghur Muslims in so-called education camps in China. Watching this scene play out in that place was chilling, to say the least.

I am grateful for the leadership of our Government in this area, for the work of my noble friends Lord Collins of Highbury and Lady Chapman of Darlington, and for the appointment of my honourable friend David Smith MP as the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. I am certain that they will build on the work of the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, and previous envoys to ensure that we as a country remain a leading force for freedom of religion or belief around the world.

Finally, I ask the Minister to take this opportunity to assure the House of this Government’s continued support for the court that upholds the convention. As the noble Lord, Lord Alton, mentioned, the European Court of Human Rights has only once found the UK to be in breach of Article 9. We can certainly be proud of our record. We must continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards and make ourselves accountable for our decisions and actions.

The challenge to reduce persecution around the world is beyond the powers of any one country. At a time when intergovernmental institutions are all too often and all too easily undermined, the court and its convention offer a unique opportunity for nations and institutions to work together to fashion a world where people are truly free.