Press release

Combating religious intolerance and supporting freedom of religion and belief

Senior Minister of State Baroness Warsi convenes ministerial meeting in New York.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
FCO Minister Baroness Warsi

Baroness Warsi today convened a meeting of Foreign Ministers and officials from International Organisations in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting, which was attended by, amongst others, the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and the Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, discussed international efforts to fight against violence in the name of religion and to promote Freedom of Religion and Belief for all.

Speaking shortly after the meeting Baroness Warsi said:

The freedom to practice, change or share your faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a fundamental human right that all people should enjoy. Sadly too often around the world that right is denied to people of different religions or beliefs. I believe that societies which aim to guarantee freedom of religion or belief are stronger, fairer and more confident. Alongside the other Governments and International Organisations meeting here today the UK is committed to promoting awareness and action on UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 and the Istanbul Process.

We seek to generate practical action in every country in the world to combat religious intolerance and defend the right of all to contribute equally to society, regardless of their religion or belief. It is vital that we move beyond UN resolutions into practical actions that demonstrate that violence in the name of religion or belief is never justified.

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Published 27 September 2013
Last updated 27 September 2013 + show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. First published.