Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the recommendations of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, entitled Article 18: From Rhetoric to Reality, published on 25 Oct 2017.

The UK Government and, therefore, DFID recognise that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental freedom applying to all human beings, which is recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18. Violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief are among the most common human rights violations, and people are discriminated and persecuted all over the world for having and expressing their belief (or non-belief).

DFID welcomes the analysis and recommendations contained within the report which will further enrich the government’s understanding and help to inform our approach as we continue to seek ways in which to further promote and protect freedom of religion or belief in all countries.