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<p>The UK has been at the forefront of international activity calling for the right
to freedom of religion or belief to be protected, including through the UN, seeking
to ensure that all tools at the UN’s disposal (in particular, the mandate of the UN
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief) are brought to bear.</p><p>In
Iraq, the government believes the international community must condemn, in the strongest
possible way, abuses and crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) and associated groups. During the UK’s Presidency of the United
Nations Security Council in August, the Council condemned the systematic persecution
of individuals from minority populations, including Christians, and those who refuse
the extremist ideology of ISIL and associated armed groups. The Council also recalled
that widespread or systematic attacks directed against any civilian populations because
of their ethnic background, religion or belief may constitute a crime against humanity,
for which those responsible must be held accountable.</p><p>As a member of the Human
Rights Council, the UK has given strong support to mandates (such as the Commission
of Inquiry on Syria – sustained by a resolution on which the UK is chief sponsor)
that monitor and report on the plight of people who have suffered violations or abuses
because of their religious identity. Twice every year the EU sponsors a resolution
at the UN on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This provides an opportunity to highlight
specific developments.<br>During a Special Session of the UNHRC on 1 September, the
UK requested a UN investigation into ISIL abuses, which would include those directed
at Christians, as well as Yazidis and other religious and ethnic minorities.</p><p>Through
a UK co-sponsored resolution the UN is calling on Iraq to protect members of religious
and ethnic minorities, women and children, and members of groups in vulnerable situations,
and to provide support to them. Barbaric acts by ISIL such as targeted killings, forced
conversions, abductions, trafficking, slavery and sexual abuse carried out on the
basis of ethnic, religious or sectarian discrimination will be confronted at the forthcoming
UN General Assembly and UN Security Council meetings.</p>
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