Today, July 5, the UK will host religious, political, and civil society leaders from all around the world in London to help advance efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will claim that FoRB is a “fundamental freedom” like free speech or democracy in an address at the QEII Centre.
More than 80% of people on earth reside in nations where FoRB is in danger.
The foreign minister would denounce the “appalling persecution of the Jewish community over centuries,” China’s discrimination against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and the situation of minorities in Afghanistan.
Ms Truss is expected to say:
“The freedom to believe, to pray and commit acts of worship is a fundamental human freedom and has been one since the dawn of time. Societies that allow their people to believe are better and ultimately more successful.
“This fundamental right is covered in the very first clause of Magna Carta and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
She will respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact it has on people’s ability to practise their faith or belief addressing an audience that will include a Ukrainian delegation, telling them the UK will not rest until “your people are free to live, believe and thrive”. She will add:
“Vladimir Putin and his enablers think Russia is waging a holy war, but in truth nothing is sacred. We are seeing growing evidence of heinous war crimes committed by Russian troops.
“Innocent civilians are having to shelter from Russia’s indiscriminate bombardment in places of worship. Churches, synagogues, and mosques have been reduced to rubble. Religion is proving to be collateral damage from Putin’s aggression.”
Opening the conference, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will say in a recorded statement:
“Freedom of conscience, of thought and of belief is central to any truly flourishing society. It allows people to contribute to their communities without fear of exclusion, to exchange ideas without fear of prejudice, and to build relationships without fear of rejection.
“A society where difference is respected, where it is accepted that all need not think alike, will benefit from the talents of all of its members.”
In order to “take us closer to our goal” of FoRB for everyone, everywhere, The Prince of Wales will discuss the “tragic paradox” of people with strong beliefs disregarding others.
The meeting will highlight doable strategies for achieving FoRB for everyone. The creation of early warning systems, the creation of more resilient societies, the eradication of online harassment and discrimination, the improvement of human rights education, and promotion of media freedom are some examples of this.
The Most Reverend and Rt Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abdallah Bin-bayyah, and Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Catholic church in Erbil, Iraq, will all speak at the event.
Today, the UK will also reveal £200,000 in fresh funding for the defence and promotion of FoRB.
This will promote community programmes, avert conflicts, and fund awareness efforts. It will also directly assist persons who are subjected to religious or philosophical discrimination.
The UK has committed an additional £300,000 to help nations where FoRB is under attack with British legal assistance. This assistance will make sure that governments and campaigners are better informed about the legal actions they can take to bring about long-lasting, legislative change in their nation.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said:
“The international community shares a collective responsibility to ensure freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere. Too many people around the world are denied access to this fundamental human right, persecuted, or indeed tragically killed simply because of their faith I look forward to welcoming partners from around the world to London to help drive collective action in defending everyone’s right to freedom of religion or belief.”
UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion of Belief (FoRB) Fiona Bruce said:
“I am delighted that the UK is hosting the International Ministerial Conference in London this week. This is an important opportunity to share best practice and strengthen international alliances, such as the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), which I am chairing this year. We need greater collective action to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief is protected for everyone, everywhere.”