THE UK’s Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, David Smith MP, has set out a framework for tackling restrictions of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and highlighted ten countries where the Government will focus its efforts, mainly in Asia.
During a 90-minute debate in Westminster Hall on Thursday, he said: “The Government have formally made a new commitment to the centrality of FoRB in their foreign policy. . . FoRB will play its own distinctive part in our foreign policy.”
He explained that the ten countries were: Afghanistan, Algeria, China, India, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Ukraine, and Vietnam. They had been chosen, he said, “for their historical or geographical links that place the United Kingdom in a special position of influence; because we believe that there is a potential to make a difference now; and because of their place on the Pew Research Center index, in terms of high levels of FoRB persecution.”
He also addressed civil servants, MPs, and peers at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office a week earlier. At both events, Mr Smith outlined a five-point strategy, which includes maintaining support for international standards on FoRB in multilateral forums such as UN bodies; encouraging partner nations towards pro-FoRB behaviour, legislation, and policies to encourage more inclusive and tolerant societies; strengthening coalitions such as the Article 18 Alliance and the International Contact Group on FoRB; mainstreaming (making the norm) FoRB considerations throughout the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and increasing understanding of the issue in the FCDO; and working more closely with civil society and human-rights groups.
DAVID SMITH MPThe strategy launch at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 8 July
Mr Smith also explained that his work on FoRB would not be limited to the ten countries. “I will be championing FoRB for all wherever and whenever I can,” he said. “Promoting FORB revitalises our national story, challenges our darker impulses, and creates a future to work towards. That is the role of FORB in Britain’s foreign policy — not as a policy, but as a blessing for those who need and deserve freedom.”
At the debate, the Conservative MP John Glen praised Mr Smith for the “tone and manner with which he is approaching this complicated and difficult work”, and said that selecting ten countries would make it easier to measure progress. Interacting with countries where FoRB was restricted was complex. “It is not that we cannot talk about what is happening with the Uyghur Muslims in China while recognising that China is an important economic actor in the world that needs to be respected. We need to find ways of interacting well together,” he said.
The Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley expressed concern that diplomatic pressure in the ten priority countries “remains inconsistent and at times ineffective”, and urged the Government to resource the FoRB Special Envoy properly — a measure that would have been agreed if a Private Member’s Bill introduced by the previous Special Envoy, Fiona Bruce MP, had been passed before the last election.
The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Rosindell MP, responded: “What matters now is whether this Government are matching the words with actions. . . Will they publish regular updates on how the five-point strategy is being delivered? Will they bring transparent, accountable, and measurable goals into the work published?”
The Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP (Labour), offered examples of the inclusion of FoRB in international relations. She said that another Foreign Office minister, Hamish Falconer MP, had, in Pakistan, “discussed this topic with government ministers and religious leaders during his visit in November”. In October, she had “personally pressed the Vietnamese government to respect people’s rights to speak freely, to meet in groups, and to practise their religion”.
Mr Smith was appointed special envoy in December (20 December 2024), five months after the General Election. The delay in his appointment had led to concerns that the Government would downgrade the position and the work that had been begun by Ms Bruce (News, 29 November 2024).
A communiqué from the NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), issued after the Foreign Office speech, said that the new FoRB strategy “was generally welcomed as a timely and necessary initiative to reinvigorate the UK’s role in championing FoRB globally”.
CSW’s parliamentary liaison officer, Chibuzor Tina Amadi, said: “CSW welcomes the Special Envoy’s strategic approach to embedding FoRB considerations more intentionally within the UK’s foreign policy. The prioritisation of key countries where FoRB violations are widespread and systemic, and where the UK’s interventions can be most effective, provides a critical focus for ongoing government engagement.
“We also welcome the express commitment to champion FoRB in countries not included in the list where the right is violated egregiously.”