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Freedom of Religion or Belief: International Conference

28 June 2022

Lead MP

Fiona Bruce
Congleton
Con

Responding Minister

Vicky Ford

Tags

UkraineScience & TechnologyWomen & Equalities
Word Count: 12537
Other Contributors: 11

At a Glance

Fiona Bruce raised concerns about freedom of religion or belief: international conference in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

Fiona Bruce calls on the government to ensure that the upcoming international conference leads to increased global action and drives forward efforts to protect and promote FORB for everyone, everywhere. She urges the inclusion of best practices and strategies to prevent violations, enhance protection for women and girls, and foster dialogue between religious communities.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Congleton
Opened the debate
Fiona Bruce is deeply concerned about the increasing violations of freedom of religion or belief (FORB) globally, noting that millions are denied their religious rights due to discrimination and persecution. She highlights key exacerbating factors such as authoritarian regimes, terrorist attacks, misuse of technology, and FORB abuses during the COVID pandemic. She cites instances where people lose jobs, education, homes, families, and even their lives over what they believe.

Government Response

Vicky Ford
Government Response
The Government are committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief globally, hosting the UK's first ministerial conference with over 500 delegates from more than 60 countries. The event will focus on building coalitions for work in areas like gender equality and digital technology, addressing issues such as online harassment and protecting marginalised groups. Vicky Ford highlighted examples of ongoing initiatives to support religious freedom, including the Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks programme, support for the Community Security Trust, and efforts to pass the Online Safety Bill. She also mentioned specific cases from Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Ukraine, expressing condemnation over human rights violations and promoting dialogue and peace-building projects in conflict regions.
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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.