Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department taking to protect the freedom of atheists around the world.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. This includes the right to have no religious conviction or belief. The UK regularly raises our concerns, including, where appropriate the treatment of atheists, with governments across the world. We do this at a Ministerial level and through our diplomatic network. We also use the Human Rights Council to draw attention to the treatment of religious and non-religious minorities, and the UK funds and supports projects that promote respect for all people of different faiths and none.