To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance has been given to country desk officers on incorporating an understanding of freedom of religion or belief in their work.
Answered on
5 April 2017
Advancing human rights - including the right to freedom of religion and belief (FoRB) - is embedded across the work of our diplomats. In order to enhance the capabilities of staff working to promote FoRB in their country context, the FCO issued a revised toolkit in October 2016. This coincided with our London Conference on FoRB and Countering Violent Extremism, which was attended by a number of country desk officers. The FCO also routinely provides training and seminars to increase religious literacy amongst staff.