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837772

registered interest
date	06/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Diplomatic Service: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	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.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126803
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2018 answer text <p>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.</p><p>The FCO also runs seminars on specific themes. For example, Bishop Jonathan Goodall spoke to the FCO about Orthodox Christianity and foreign policy.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 14/02/2018 15:24:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837773

registered interest
date	06/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	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.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2018 answer text <p>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:</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 14/02/2018 15:29:27 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837774

registered interest
date	06/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	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.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126805
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2018 answer text <p>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:</p><ul><li>Creating Advocates for Freedom of Religion or Belief in developing countries (including, India and Indonesia)</li></ul><ul><li>Defending Freedom of Religion or Belief in South And Central Asia (including in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).</li></ul><ul><li>Upholding Freedom Of Expression and Promoting Stable Pluralistic Societies In the MENA region (including Egypt).</li></ul><ul><li>Promoting Social Stability and Security through Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief in Central Asia (Tajikistan &amp; Turkmenistan)</li></ul><p>Due to sensitivities, we are unable to disclose details of all our projects to support freedom of religion or belief.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 14/02/2018 15:31:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837819

registered interest
date	06/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sri Lanka: Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the delivery of commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1.
tabling member constituency	Edmonton
tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
uin	126850
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2018 answer text <p>The UK is closely monitoring delivery of the commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, in collaboration with the UN, international partners, Government of Sri Lanka and civil society. I raised commitments most recently with Foreign Minister Marapana by telephone on 8 February.</p><p>During my visit to Colombo and Jaffna in October 2017 I also discussed the importance of the Sri Lankan government meeting its obligations in full under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, which rolled over the commitments made under 30/1. Among these were establishing transitional justice mechanisms, including a credible accountability process for those most responsible for violations and abuses during Sri Lanka's civil war and the return of military held civilian land, particularly in the predominantly Tamil north and east.</p><p>The UK continues to support the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts to promote reconciliation and human rights. The UK is also providing Sri Lanka with £6.6 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding over three years, to include support for police reform and training, reconciliation and peace building, and demining in the north of the country.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 14/02/2018 15:39:40 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

837416

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Indonesia: Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of religious freedom in Indonesia; and whether he is taking steps to raise the importance of freedom of religious belief with the Indonesian Government.
tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
uin	126535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2018 answer text <p>The Government of Indonesia has taken steps to address the issue of freedom of religion, including through the creation of a new Presidential Working Unit which aims to promote, among other things, tolerance of the 6 officially recognised religions of Indonesia. We also welcome the ruling of the constitutional court in November 2017 permitting followers of traditional beliefs to state their faith on their identity cards. However, we remain concerned about treatment of non-Sunni Islamic groups, such as the Ahmadiyya and Shia communities who often face intolerance. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN most recently discussed it with the Indonesian Ambassador to London in January.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 08/02/2018 16:35:01 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

837549

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for the publication of the Government’s freedom of religion or belief strategy.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2018 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is developing a work-plan and has a &quot;toolkit&quot; which supports our work to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The toolkit is published and can be seen at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516/Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516/Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf</a>. The work-plan addresses activity at multilateral human rights fora and in our bilateral diplomatic engagement with other states, as well as project work. Because of the sensitivities of some of the material contained, it would not be appropriate to publish the work.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/02/2018 13:44:59 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837550

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what way his Department is using the responses from HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners to its correspondence on their work to advance freedom of religion or belief in order to inform his Department's work in that area.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2018 answer text <p>​The responses we recieved from Her Majesty's Ambassadors and High Commissioners to our letters of 27 October 2017 and 28 November 2017 set out the main current and planned activities of their respective Embassies and High Commissions in the defence and promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Officials will follow the progress of these activities and will evaluate outcomes in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/02/2018 13:47:09 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837551

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and which HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners responded to the letters that his Department sent asking them to report on their work to advance freedom of religion or belief.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2018 answer text <p>​So far ten heads of mission have formally responded to the letters Lord Ahmad and I sent. We have received substantive replies from Embassies or High Commissions in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/02/2018 13:48:45 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837553

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to use information from Stabilisation Unit meetings on enhancing understanding of freedom of religion or belief to inform (a) Government programmes and (b) the work of UK overseas posts to improve the way in which patterns of religious persecution are tackled.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126672
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2018 answer text <p>​The Stabilisation Unit works with Government Departments to facilitate cross-government conflict assessments which seek to understand the key characteristics of conflicts. Freedom of religion or belief is considered as part of this framework where relevant. These assessments inform wider Government programming, policy making ,and posts are able to draw on them to inform their programme work.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/02/2018 13:51:01 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker

837554

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to feed information gathered from roundtable meetings with civil society on freedom of religion or belief into its policy and programmes.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Mr Gavin Shuker
uin	126673
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2018 answer text <p>The FCO minister of state with responsibilities for human rights, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, has hosted two roundtables to date. The first, on 23 October, looked at Burma in the light of the Rohingya crisis. The second, on 12 December, examined the role of women in tackling religiously motivated violent extremism. These roundtables have been excellent opportunities to hear the perspectives and insights of faith leaders.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 13/02/2018 14:08:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4013 label Biography information for Mr Gavin Shuker