Policy paper

Statement on freedom of religion or belief and youth

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-youth-statement-at-the-international-ministerial-conference-2022/statement-on-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-and-youth

Preamble

*The UN defines ‘youth’ as persons between the ages of 15 and 24.

  1. We recognise the importance of youth participation to achieving and maintaining the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and the realisation of peaceful and inclusive societies, not least because youth constitute over 40% of the global population.

  2. We affirm the right of everyone, including every young person, to freedom of religion or belief and acknowledge the potential young people have to help foster and sustain understanding across faith, belief, and social groups. We recognise the importance of initiatives that promote non-discrimination and respect for religious or belief diversity among young people, and encourage and facilitate meaningful youth participation in advancing the right to FoRB for all.

  3. We note with concern that freedom of religion or belief violations and abuses can have grave and lasting effects on young people, whether directed against them and their communities, or committed within the contexts of conflict, insecurity, or public health emergencies, including the coronavirus pandemic.

  4. We note the importance of harnessing the energy of the next generation, of working with youth ambassadors and advocates at every level, and of promoting freedom of religion or belief through educational programmes and social media awareness campaigns designed in partnership with them.

We commit to

  • engaging young people from a diverse range of religion or belief backgrounds and enabling their effective and meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels related to freedom of religion or belief

  • combating discrimination and violations related to the right to freedom of religion or belief that affect young people

  • listening to young people, their ideas and initiatives, amplifying their voices, and working with their suggestions for advancing freedom of religion or belief and, where appropriate, designing programmes to support meaningful engagement with young people on freedom of religion or belief

  • taking all steps necessary to tackle threats, discrimination, arbitrary arrests and detention or other forms of acts of intimidation and restrictions against youth activists and other civil society actors representing young people

Co-signatories

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