Policy paper

Statement on freedom of religion or belief and cultural heritage

Updated 7 July 2022

© Crown copyright 2022

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-religion-or-belief-and-cultural-heritage-statement-at-the-international-ministerial-conference-2022/statement-on-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-and-cultural-heritage

Preamble

  1. We recognise the importance of places of worship as focal points where aspects of the right to freedom of religion or belief and culture interconnect and thrive.

  2. Pilgrimage, worship, and other activities have continued for millennia at many historic religious and belief sites, and religious or belief rites and traditions preserve customs of communities.

  3. We acknowledge that religious sites are representative of the history, social fabric and traditions of people all over the world and should be fully respected as such.

  4. We note that places of worship and religious sites may be targeted during times of peace, instability, or conflict. As we have seen in Myanmar, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia and elsewhere.

  5. Most recently we have seen the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion on religious cultural heritage in Ukraine, which is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We welcome Ukraine’s considerable efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage in the course of Russia’s invasion, in conformity with the International Humanitarian Law obligation to safeguard cultural property.

  6. We condemn all violations of international law pertaining to the protection of places of worship and cultural heritage, and call for urgent assistance for impacted religious or belief communities in securing, protecting, repairing, and stabilizing their cultural and religious heritage sites.

We commit to

  • promote the protection of places of worship as a point of convergence for the creation of inclusive societies through mutual respect and sustainable development

  • condemn violations of international law pertaining to the protection of places of worship and cultural heritage and support measures to hold those responsible for these violations to account

  • encourage the provision of technical assistance in support of the safeguarding of heritage sites and moveable cultural objects where necessary through professional training for relevant officials and those providing emergency assistance for cultural heritage sites and objects in immediate danger

  • support the protection and restoration of the cultural heritage of all affected communities without discrimination, in order to foster intra and inter-communal relations and build peace

  • respect and safeguard cultural heritage based on principles enshrined in the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954, and other relevant instruments

Co-signatories

  • Albania
  • Australia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • The Slovak Republic
  • Slovenia
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
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