UK approach to freedom of religion or belief: UK Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief speech, July 2025
The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, gave a speech outlining the UK’s approach to freedom of religion or belief at a recent event held at the FCDO
Welcome
Thank you, Lord Collins.
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Excellencies, fellow Parliamentarians, Foreign Office colleagues, and representatives of civil society, welcome to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and the heart of the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world.
As Lord Collins has said, collaboration and partnerships are critical to making Freedom of Religion or Belief for all a reality. So, what does that look like? Today I am pleased to be here to set out the UK’s approach to achieving this goal.
I would like to suggest that our place on the international stage must continue to revolve around our values as a country, values which we aim to humbly share with the rest of the world.
It’s easy to talk about principles like ‘freedom’, ‘human rights’, ‘respect’, ‘tolerance’ or ‘justice’ – and far harder to live up to their meaning in our actions.
And yet the history of this country is one in which we have worked hard to create a plural society based on these values. We don’t always get it right, but I am proud that in the UK today you are free to practice your religion or belief, without fear of persecution.
I am also proud of the UK’s history of championing these values within the international rules-based order, not least as an original supporter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1966.
The foundation for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all is clearly set out in Article 18 of both documents.
And our shared commitment to upholding the rights enshrined in these documents is a phenomenal strength. When we look around the world today and see growing evidence of persecution based on religion or belief, we know we must act.
The challenge
Most of you in this room are well aware of the challenge we face. But some facts bear repeating.
You will know that, according to the Pew Research Centre, the number of countries with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions on FoRB, is at its highest level since 2007. At the community level, social hostilities involving religion (including violence and harassment by private individuals, organisations, or groups) are also on the rise, further reducing respect for human rights in general and FoRB in particular.
You will know that, according to the charity Open Doors, 380 million Christians alone are persecuted worldwide because of their faith.
Persecution on the basis of religion or belief, enacted by States themselves and social groups, is taking place on every continent in the world.
It includes social ostracism, police harassment, arbitrary detention, denial of citizenship, assault, destruction of sites of religious worship, torture, and killings.
In Pakistan, Ahmadiyya Muslims are not recognised as Muslims by the State, and their mosques have repeatedly been desecrated by extremist groups.
In Iran, the Baha’i are acutely vulnerable to scapegoating, incitement and threats of violence from authorities.
In North Korea, those seeking to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief face surveillance and arbitrary detention, with Christians and others treated as political criminals if their faith is discovered.
Lord Collins has mentioned Mubarak Bala. Humanists International’s Freedom of Thought Report underlines the risks humanists and atheists face globally.
As their latest edition states, “blasphemy” laws exist in 89 countries across the globe. 7 countries have the death penalty for blasphemy, and a further 63 countries have prison sentences for related “offences”.
So what is to be done?
These are not niche issues. FoRB is central to the problems of the world today and to our efforts to build a better world at peace with itself.
Horrific acts such as the murder of worshippers in a church in Damacus last month are not only attacks on people for what they believe in, but also attempts to destabilise societies and spread division.
FoRB demonstrates the core principle that human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
If you have no freedom to worship, you have no freedom of assembly.
If you have no freedom of belief, you have no freedom of conscience.
If you have no freedom to share your faith, you have no freedom of speech.
If you have no freedom to practice your faith or belief you are not equal in dignity and rights.
And so, today, the UK makes a new commitment to the centrality of FoRB in our foreign policy.
Countries that respect FoRB and in which all constituent communities can flourish are more stable, more secure and more prosperous.
And respect for FoRB internationally is good for the UK domestically. Shared values of FoRB with other countries promotes secure, stable and prosperous partners that can contribute to UK security, growth, development, and management of migration.
I was honoured to take on the role of UK Special Envoy for FoRB in December last year. Since then, I have met with a wide range of experts, activists and international partners; as well as UK officials and the FCDO ministerial team to listen and build my understanding of the opportunities we have to make a difference.
This engagement, and close collaboration with Lord Collins has resulted in the framework I will set out today. As Lord Collins has underlined, our approach to FoRB is situated clearly within the FCDO’s wider human rights approach.
Our overarching goal is a reduction in the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed, and to promote internationally the right to FoRB as fundamental to human flourishing.
There are 5 core strands to our work
As I have said, the international standards for FoRB and the system that supports them are central to defending the rights of individuals. That is why the first strand of our approach is to uphold and maintain support for this framework within multilateral fora.
This means working through, and with, institutions such as the UN and OSCE to promote FoRB for all. I have been to the Human Rights Council twice, including last week where I spoke alongside the UN Special Rapporteur for FoRB about FoRB in Tibet. And I am delighted to have Eleanor Sanders, the UK Human Rights Ambassador, here with us today.
We will continue to work with international partners to take country-specific action where appropriate, for example through the UN’s Universal Periodic Review Process in which the UK regularly raises FoRB, and on promoting and protecting FoRB in multilateral resolutions.
Secondly, we will work to achieve better outcomes on FoRB through targeted bilateral relationships. FoRB matters everywhere and we will deploy our extensive diplomatic presence around the world to encourage partners towards behaviour, legislation and policies that enable individuals to exercise their right to FoRB, and encourage more inclusive and tolerant societies.
As I’m sure Eleanor agrees, even Special Envoys can’t be everywhere, all the time. So, working with the teams here, I will be focussing on countries where the need is greatest; where opportunities exist to make positive change; and where the UK, specifically, has the relationships and partnerships to help achieve this.
Our approach here is about partnership and shared learning. This is demonstrated with a broad range of countries including Vietnam, where there are concerns, but also an opportunity to work together on Vietnam’s constructive response to their Universal Periodic Review recommendations. We stand ready to support them, and other partners such as Algeria, another focus country, in realising our objectives on FoRB.
The UK is privileged to have diverse diaspora communities including from India, Nigeria and Pakistan where we have much to share on FoRB and I look forward to strengthening my relationships on FoRB in these countries too.
Our approach to FoRB is inextricably interwoven with our wider human rights efforts. For example in China, we raise our concerns at the highest levels. I will support these efforts, encouraging China to meet its international obligations on FoRB.
And as I have said, respect for FoRB is vital to peaceful, strong societies. Religious intolerance and persecution can fuel instability and conflict. So it is right that our approach works to support those countries navigating the impact of conflict – past and present – to protect FoRB for all. This is why we will also focus on Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Our focus in seeking to journey with these 10 countries is an important stepping stone towards our overarching goal of a reduction in the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed.
However, it is important to say that a more targeted approach does not limit us. Situations such as that in Eritrea and in Yemen are also on my mind, and I will be championing FoRB for all wherever and whenever I can. As Lord Collins has said, we will continue to do so, including through public and private advocacy for prisoners of conscience.
We know that we cannot deliver change alone. This is why the third strand of our approach is to strengthen international coalitions for collective action. The UK is proud to be a member of the Article 18 Alliance and the International Contact Group on FoRB and it’s great to see many of our fellow members represented here today. The UK is committed to working with you to continue increasing the impact of these important groupings.
Where FoRB is under attack, other rights are threatened too and vice versa. The fourth strand of our approach is, therefore, ensuring that FoRB considerations are mainstreamed throughout the FCDO’s work and the need for a holistic human rights approach understood. This means bolstering our efforts to increase awareness and understanding of FoRB within the organisation – today’s event, open to all staff, being a case in point.
As well as ensuring that tools, training and research are available to staff, I will report annually on our work, including at the highest levels of government. By the end of tomorrow, I will have met with every FCDO Minister to discuss how we can collaborate to promote FoRB in their respective areas of responsibility.
Finally, and I must confess a slight bias given my life before politics, perhaps most importantly, the fifth strand of our approach is stronger and wider engagement with civil society and human rights champions.
From sharing information to fostering understanding and respect between different religion or belief communities on the ground, your engagement is central to the protection and promotion of FoRB.
And I know that this can come at personal cost. I want to take this opportunity to underline that the UK stands with you in your work to defend FoRB for all.
In closing I would like to refer to the Hebrew scriptures – what Christians call the Old Testament – which contain a book of wisdom called Proverbs.
In Proverbs 31, we find an injunction which is a challenge to us all – wherever we call home, and whatever we believe – when it comes to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief for all, one which I will leave us with today:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Thank you.