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<p>The UK Government works to ensure that UK overseas aid is targeted at the most
vulnerable and that religious minorities are not discriminated against. The UK is
committed to delivering its aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian
principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those
who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race,
religion or ethnicity. The UK is firmly committed to the protection of religious minorities,
and regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they
can to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, including those from religious
minorities.</p><p>DFID undertakes interdisciplinary analysis of a country’s politics,
society, state and economy to identify the most significant problems that hinder development
and the main entry points and opportunities to create change. There is a strong emphasis
on how politics, security, and demographics interact with economic growth and human
development to ensure that aid is targeted at the most vulnerable.</p><p>Vulnerable
religious minority groups will experience crises such as COVID-19 outbreaks differently.
Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience
of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential
support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting
that inclusion must be central to our response and that the specific contexts and
needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken
into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.</p><p>On 8 June,
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable
to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific
challenges minority faith communities were facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
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