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<p>Within the Human Rights and Democracy Department (HRDD), the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO) has one full time Desk Officer wholly dedicated to Freedom of Religion
or Belief (FoRB), who works closely with the Team Leader in the Equalities and Non-Discrimination
Team, who themselves spend approximately 50% of their time on FoRB. Additionally,
the Head and the Deputy Head of HRDD spend approximately 5% and 20% respectively of
their time on FoRB issues; one Human Rights Advisor spends 5% and one HRDD Communications
Officer approximately 10%.</p><p>As FoRB is one of only six thematic human rights
priorities for the FCO, a considerable number of other FCO officials in London and
overseas are engaged directly on FoRB as part of their wider human rights work. Given
that violations of FoRB can be closely associated with other threats to UK interests
around the world, I cannot provide a precise figure for the total number of FCO officials
working on FoRB, though the number is high and rising.</p><p>This year, seven FoRB
projects around the world were approved and received total funding of £307,835.</p>
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