To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 1 March (HL5421) stating that it is their policy to promote freedom of religious belief, why there was no mention of freedom of religion or belief in the UK’s opening statement at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Answered on
20 March 2017
The UK's opening statement at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights COuncil did not provide an exhaustive list of our priorities for the session. During the current session the UK has however, underscored its commitment to promoting freedom of religion or belief by participating in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, where we expressed concerns about the situation of religious minorities in the Middle East, including Christians, Yazidis, the Baha’is, and some Muslim minority groups.