Human Rights and Religious Freedom
Latest News
Archbishop of Congo meets Foreign
Secretary
On Tuesday, 19 March, the Archbishop of Congo, the Most Rev Henri
Isingoma met with the Foreign Secretary. The meeting provided an
opportunity for the Foreign Secretary to learn more about the role
of the Church in DRC and the steps the Church is taking to speak
out against sexual violence. The rationale for the meeting was the
Foreign Secretary's forthcoming visit to DRC and the April's G8
Foreign Minister's meeting in London which will focus on the
Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI).
26 February 2013 - Tibet
The Archbishop of York made a powerful
intervention in the House of Lords yesterday urging China to see
the Dalai Lama as first and foremost as a religious rather
than a political leader.
Click here to find out more
25 February 2015 - Georgia's Human Rights
Record
The Bishop of Wakefield received today written
responses to his questions raising concerns about Georgia's human
right records.
Click here to see the full Parliamentary exchange. The
questions were tabled following a visit by the Bishop to Georgia in
January 2013.
22 January 2013 - Freedom of Religion and
Conscience
The House of Lords today debated a question for
short debate tabled by the Lord Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd
Christopher Hil. The debate focused on HMG's freedom of
religion stratgey. The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt
Revd John Packer, also contributed to the debate. To read the
debate in full
click here.
9 January 2013 - Homosexuality in Nigeria and
Uganda
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds today
pressed HMG on whether it will consult with Lambeth
Palace on the issue of homosexuality in Nigeria and
Uganda since Lambeth Palace has considerable experience
of relating to these two countries in particular, and of
challenging their human rights records?
27 November 2012 - Religious Freedom and
Interfaith Relations
The Bishop of Guildford today received a written
answer to his written question on whether HMG was drawing
sufficiently on the UK's comparative advantage in interfaith
relations when devising its strategy on religious freedom.
Click here to read the full exchange.
21 November 2012 - Bishop presses government on
its religious freedom strategy
The Rt Revd Christopher Hill, the Bishop of
Guildford, today received a written response to his question asking
the government whether it would publish a strategy on religious
freedom.
Click here to read the full exchange.
21 November 2012 - Bishop expresses concern at
Rwanda's poor human rights record
The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Revd Peter
Price, today asked a supplementary question in the House of Lords
raising concerns at the shrinking democratic space in Rwanda.
Click here to read the exchange in full.
20 November 2012 - Bishop raises questions about
the effectiveness of HMG's freedom of religion toolkit
The Rt Revd Christopher Hill today received three
written responses to questions he had tabled regarding the
effectiveness of the government's freedom of religion toolkit and
the steps it was taking to contribute to developing
a EU freedom of religion toolkit.
Click here to read the exchange in ful.
25 October 2012 - Treatment of Homosexual men
and women in the developing world
The Bishop of Leicester
spoke in the a House of Lords on the treatment of
homosexual men and women in the developing world. The Bishop argued
that discriminatory interference in the private sexual conduct of
consenting adults was "an affront to the fundamental Christian
values of human dignity, tolerance and equality."
17 October 2012 - Church submission to
Parliamentary inquiry into FCO's human rights work in 2011
In March 2012 the Church of
England's Mission and Public Affairs Council made a written
submission to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Inquiry
into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's human rights work in
2011. This submission can be read
here. The Committee's final report can be read
here.
16 October 2012 - Archbishop's 'shock
and sadness' at the violent attack on Malala Yousafzai
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has
expressed his shock and sadness at the violent attack on Malala
Yousafzai and two other school girls in Pakistan. Click
here to read the full statement.
22 May 2012 - Violence against Christians in
Sudan
In response to a written question tabled the
Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Government suggested that while they
had no evidence that there is a state orchestrated campaign against
Christians, the recent rhetoric by government leaders on the
north-south conflict has led to tension between communities and
fear of attacks against South Sudanese in Sudan, many of whom are
Christians. To read the full exchange click
here.
15 May 2012 - Religious Freedom in
Pakistan
The Rt Revd Stephen Platten, Lord Bishop of
Wakefield asked a supplementary question during debate on Lord
Ahmed's question about the Pakistani Prime Minister's visit to the
UK. Bishop Stephen asked if the Prime Minister had received
assurances and commitments from the Prime Minister of Pakistan
regarding protection for religious minorities in Pakistan. The
exchange can be read
here.
20 April - HMG responds to Church's concern
about Israel's discrimination of its Arab citizens
The Government today replied to a series of
written questions tabled by the Lord Bishop of Exeter in the House
of Lords before the Easter recess on Israel's treatment of its Arab
citizens. The full list of questions and responses can be read
here.
2 April 2012 - The EU should set the
standard on Religious Freedom
In a seminar (30 March 2012) involving
the Conference of European Churches' Church and Society Commission
and the European Commission, representatives of the European
Churches pressed the EU to more
actively monitor violations of freedom of religion both
within the EU and throughout the world. The Church of England was a
participant in this seminar. To read more about this seminar and
its results please click here.
28 March 2012 - Protecting the Rights of
Israel's Arab Citizens
The Bishop of Exeter today tabled a
motion for debate in the House
of Lords drawing attention to the institutionalised discrimination
experienced by Israel's Arab citizens.
28 March 2012 - USPG launches appeal for Anglican
Church in Zimbabwe
The Anglican mission agency USPG today launched an
appeal
in support of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe as its faces ongoing
harrassment and intimidation from state authourities.
14 March 2012 - If good men do nothing evil will
prevail
The Archbishop of York joined a human rights activist Ben
Freeth from Zimbabwe and Pastor Paul Negrut from Romania to deliver
The Royal Geographical Society Lecture on 'Fighting Justice Under
Dictatorship'. The three men told their inspirational stories, and
gave an insight into living under dictatorships. The
Archbishop's comments can be read here.
28 Feb 2012 - Human Rights and Religous
Faith
The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights has made a profound
impact in fighting injustice and is "a landmark in the history of
moral consciousness", says the Archbishop of Canterbury in a
lecture on Human Rights and Religious Faith at the World Council of
Churches Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. The Archbishop's lecture can
be read here
8 February 2012 - Church's General Synod shows
solidarity with Christian in Nigeria
Against a backdrop of growing violence in Nigeria, the
Church of England's General Synod passed a motion requesting the
British Government to do all it can to support those in
Nigeria seeking to protect religious minorities of all
faiths. The debate was informed by a
report
from the Bishop of Durham reflecting on a recent visit to the
country.
30 January 2012 - Pakistan and Religious Freedom
The Rt Revd Graham James Lord Bishop of Norwich asked a
supplementary question during Lord
Ahmed's question regarding the democratic process in Pakistan. The
Bishop asked the Minister what the government was doing to support
minorities to play a full part in the democratic process.
9 December 2011 - Archbishop leads House of Lords debate
on Christians in the Middle East
The Archbishop of Canterbury introduced and closed an
almost 5-hour debate in the House of Lords on the
situation of Christians in the Middle East. Lord Wood of Anfield
and Lord Howell of Guildford concluded the debate on behalf of the
Opposition and the Government.
29 November 2011 - The Bishop of Exeter on the Arab
Spring and Religious Minorities
In a supplementary oral question in
Parliament the Bishop of Exeter pressed the Government on what
measures it was taking to advance human development in the
region.
16 November 2011- New Church Briefing Paper on the
situation of Christians in the Middle East
The Church has prepared the following briefing paper
exploring and reflecting on the implications of the Arab Spring on
the situation of Christians in the Middle
East. The briefing paper has
been produced ahead of a House of Lords debate (9 December
2011) sponsored by the Arcbishop of Canterbury that calls attention
to the situation of Christians in the Middle
East.
18 October 2011 - Archbishop of Canterbury speaks out on
the situation in Egypt.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, today
asked a supplementary question in the House
of Lords about the situation of Christians in Egypt and
subsequently released the following statement.
11 October 2011 - Tony Baldry, Second Church Estates
Commissioners, responds to MPs concern regarding Coptic Christians
in Egypt.
In response to growing Parliamentary concern as to the
treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt, Tony Baldry, MP, set out
how the Church was responding on the
ground.
4 October 2011 - The Bishop of Wakefield raises concern
regarding religious freedom in Iran
The Rt Revd Stephen Platten Lord Bishop of Wakefield asked
a supplementary question to Baroness
Stern's question regarding the new FCO strategy document 'Abolition
of the Death Penalty'. Bishop Stephen asked his question
specifically with regard to Government policy towards Iran
especially after the most recent case of Youcef Nadarkhani.
14 September 2011 - The Foreign Secretary Responds to
Foreign Affairs Committee's Report on Human Rights
The Foreign Secretary's response to a Parliamentary
inquiry that the Church submitted written evidence to can be read
here.
13 September 2011 - Bishop raises concerns regarding the
protection of minorities in Libya
The Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, the Lord Bishop of
Hereford, asked a supplementary question during Lord Hoyle's
question about Libya. Bishop Anthony asked what conversations the
Government were having in regard to religious minorities in the
country.
5 September 2011 - 2nd Estates Commissioner expresses
concerns on restricted access to Jerusalem's Holy Sites.
Tony Baldry, MP, the Church's 2nd Estate Commissioner
pressed the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the Government's policy on the
status of Jerusalem as a holy city for all faiths.
5 September 2011 - 2nd Estates Commissioner and the
Wilton Park Conference on Human Rights
Tony Baldry, MP, the Church's 2nd Estate Commissioner
asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the conclusions were of the
recent Wilton Park conference on religious freedoms across the
world.
20 July 2011 - Parliamentary inquiry endorses Church's
view on human rights
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee published its
report on the FCO's 2011 Human
Rights Report on 20 July. The Committee's report referred
extensively to the submission made by the Church of
England's Mission and Public Affairs Council.
18 July 2011 - Archbishop of Canterbuy hosts a two day
internatioal conference on Cristians in the Holy
Land
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, launched an Appeal at General Synod's
July 2011 Group of Sessions, for funds to help sustain Christian
communities in the Holy Land. This appeal was followed by
a two day international conference on Christians in
the Holy Land that was organised by the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster.
14 July 2011 - Archbishop of Canterbury expresses
anxiety for Christians in the Middle East
During an interview on BBC Radio 4's World at One
(14 July 2011), the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his
deep anxiety for Christians in the
Middle East, but also cautious optimism about possible outcomes of
the Arab Spring.
5 July 2011 - Wilton Park Report on Religious
Freedom
With religious communities under threat of discrimination
and violence in many parts of the world, this conference organised
by the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the EU,
identified how the international community can strengthen its
ability to protect religious freedom. It built new partnerships
between governments, NGOs and faith groups to help the exchange of
good practice and to develop practical proposals to support those
wishing to exercise their right to peaceful worship. The resulting
conference report can be read here.
23 June 2011 - Bishop of Exeter raises concerns
regarding Coptic Christians in Egypt
The Bishop of Exeter, asked a supplementary question (23
June) during Baroness Cox's question on Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Bishop Michael asked the Minister what advice the Foreign Secretary
had received from the FCO human rights panel and how the Government
planned to respond.
22 June 2011 - Bishop of Chichester presses Government
about Turkey accession
Bishop of Chichester, asked a supplementary question on (22 June)
during Lord Sharkey's question about the accession of Turkey to the
EU. Bishop John asked the Minister if the accession process might
provide an opportunity to increase pressure on Turkey in relation
to its treatment of the Syriac Orthodox community.
4 April 2011 - Government responds to Bishops
question on its human rights budget
The Rt Revd Michael Langrish Lord Bishop of Exeter received a reply
to his written question about overseas aid 0n 4 April. The Minister
responded to the Bishop's question about the Foreign Office
spending on the monitoring of religious freedoms overseas to say
that no figures were kept for 2010-11 and that in 2011-12 the FCO
has a £5 million fund dedicated supporting to human rights projects
and democracy, allocations for spending the £5 million have not
been made yet.
1 April 2011 - Bishop warns of vulnerability of
religious minorities in Egypt
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds stresses (1 April 2011) the
need for Egypt's religious minorities to
be protected during the country's transition to
democracy.
7 March 2011 - Archbishop of Canterbury responds to
murder of Shazbaz Bhatti
The Archbishop of Canterbury's article in The Times following the
murder of Shahbaz Bhatti.
18 January 2011 - Bishop of Wakefield expresses concern
about attacks on Copts in Egypt
The Bishop of Wakefield raises concerns regarding recent attacks
against the Coptic Church in Egypt.
8 January 2011 - Second Church Estates
Commissioner responds to MPs concerns on religious
persecution
The Second Church Estates Commissioner answers questions
concerining the Church's support of Christians in Pakistan and Sudan.
