This week a series of written questions on the way the FCO attempts to train and respond on issues of Freedom of Religion or Belief were answered by government ministers.
Asked by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 31 January 2018:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Religious Freedom – HL5270
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what training in the use of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s freedom of religion or belief toolkit is given to UK employed staff before deployment to posts overseas; and how frequently that training is updated.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 February 2018
The aim of the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) toolkit is to provide British diplomats with guidance on the human right to FoRB. The toolkit sets out what FoRB means, how it is commonly denied, and how the right to FoRB can be defended and promoted. The toolkit is therefore designed as a self-standing resource for use by British diplomats in any post.
We are also increasing the focus on FoRB across our diplomatic network and have encouraged a number of our missions, including those in Asia to have a greater focus on FoRB.
Asked by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 31 January 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Religious Freedom – HL5269
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks made by the Rt Hon Mark Field MP on 26 October 2017 (HC Deb, col 233 WH) that in partnership with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon he would reissue the freedom of religion or belief toolkit to all ambassadors and high commissioners, what training has been given to staff in post overseas in the use of that toolkit; and whether the toolkit is publicly available.
A Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 February 2018
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reissued the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) toolkit to all Embassies and High Commissions on 10 October 2017. The aim of the toolkit is to provide British diplomats with guidance on the human right to FoRB. The toolkit sets out what FoRB means, how it is commonly denied, and how the right to FoRB can be defended and promoted. The toolkit is therefore designed as a self-standing resource for use by British diplomats in any post.
To complement the educational value of the toolkit itself, the FCO runs a variety of learning and development activities to help our staff to develop their religious literacy and their understanding of the way in which religion affects public policy across the world. Furthermore, officials from the FCO’s Human Rights Policy Unit maintain very regular contact with a network of colleagues working on FoRB issues in many posts, offering guidance and support as required.
NB – the question asked if the toolkit is publicly available. It is – here
Asked by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 31 January 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Religious Freedom – HL5268
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks made by the Rt Hon Mark Field MP on 26 October 2017 (HC Deb, col 233 WH) that in partnership with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon he would write to the embassies and high commissions in key countries for which he had responsibility, asking them to report on precisely what they are doing to promote freedom of religion or belief, which embassies and high commissions responded; and what they reported.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 February 2018
To date, I have received substantive replies to the letter of 26 October 2017 from our Embassies or High Commissions in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Burma, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
As requested in the letter of 26 October, these letters report on the main current and planned activities of those Embassies and High Commissions in the defence and promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Due to the sensitivities of some of the material contained in those letters it would not be appropriate to disclose their contents in detail. In general terms, the responses received show that those Embassies and High Commissions are using a variety of diplomatic tools to defend and promote FoRB as appropriate for the country in which they are operating.
Asked by Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) on 06 February 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom 126805
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects in which countries were funded from his Department’s Magna Carta Fund to support freedom of religion and belief in 2016-17.
Answered by Mark Field on 14 February 2018
Her Majesty’s Government places great importance on defending and promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy is one of the tools we use to achieve this goal. In 2016-17 we funded the following projects that supported freedom of religion or belief:
- Creating Advocates for Freedom of Religion or Belief in developing countries (including, India and Indonesia)
- Defending Freedom of Religion or Belief in South And Central Asia (including in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).
- Upholding Freedom Of Expression and Promoting Stable Pluralistic Societies In the MENA region (including Egypt).
- Promoting Social Stability and Security through Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief in Central Asia (Tajikistan & Turkmenistan)
Due to sensitivities, we are unable to disclose details of all our projects to support freedom of religion or belief.
Asked by Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) on 06 February 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom 126804
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what positive outcomes for freedom of religion or belief were achieved from Magna Carta Fund funding in 2016-17.
Answered by Mark Field on 14 February 2018
There have been a number of positive outcomes for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) from projects supported through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy in financial year 2016-17. These include:
A project delivered by the Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) Hardwired Inc has promoted tolerance in secondary school curricula in 50 schools in Iraq, Morocco and Lebanon. The Kurdish Regional Government has also asked for it to be shared with all children in their region.
The NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide is running a project to support human rights defenders in a number countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This project is raising awareness at the national, regional and international level of the unique challenges human rights defenders campaigning for FoRB face in South and Central Asia. The project is advocating for better protection for them by state authorities.
A project run by the Salzburg Global Seminar is increasing the capacity of institutions with educational missions in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to combat extremism, prevent genocide and promote tolerance. There is particular emphasis on Rwanda, South Africa and Cambodia.
The Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy was also used to support projects to promote FoRB and tolerance in Burma, Tunisia, Egypt, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. These projects have strengthened civil society actors in those countries.
A project carried out by Cumberland Lodge has promoted greater understanding of FoRB issues and challenges amongst overseas students in the UK. This is sensitising them to these matters before their returning to their native countries where it is hoped they will act as informal advocates for human rights, including FoRB.
Asked by Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) on 06 February 2018
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Diplomatic Service: Religious Freedom 126803
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make Religious and Freedom of Religion or Belief Literacy training compulsory for diplomats serving in countries where violations are most prevalent.
Answered by Mark Field on 14 February 2018
A specific course in Religion and Diplomacy is available to FCO staff designated to take up roles where an understanding of religion is key to their work. We will keep attendance at the course under review, but so far we do not see a need to make this training mandatory.
The FCO also runs seminars on specific themes. For example, Bishop Jonathan Goodall spoke to the FCO about Orthodox Christianity and foreign policy.
Written questions reproduced from www.parliament.uk