Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect the religious freedom of adherents of African-influenced religions in Rio de Janeiro; and what discussions he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on religious intolerance in that region.

The UK is committed to protecting freedom of religion or belief, as guaranteed under international human rights law. In July, alongside the Brazilian Minister for Racial Equality Anielle Franco, International Development Minister Dodds visited a 'Quilombo' in Rio de Janeiro home to a community targeted with violence driven by intolerance towards Afro-Brazilian religions. In October, the UK Gender and Equalities Envoy spoke to Minister Franco to further raise awareness of discrimination against marginalised Brazilian communities. The UK and Brazil have also committed to establishing an Open Societies and Human Rights Dialogue, which will deepen collaboration on this issue.