Foreign Office Human Rights Minister Lord Ahmad has written to Humanists UK giving reassurances of the UK Government’s commitment to the human rights of humanists, women, and LGBT people, in response to concerns over the Prime Minister’s appointment of Fiona Bruce MP as his Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Humanists UK has welcomed Lord Ahmad’s assurances.
Ms Bruce was appointed the Special Envoy in late December. Humanists UK expressed alarm at her appointment given her record of opposing the right to freedom of belief of the non-religious, women’s, and LGBT people. For example, she has worked to block the teaching of humanism in the curriculum, signed an EDM calling on the House of Commons to encourage people to pray to be ‘closer to God’, chairs the ‘Pro-Life’ APPG, which seeks to deny women freedom of conscience in abortion, and voted against the decriminalisation of abortion in Nothern Ireland, and against giving same-sex couples the civil right to marriage, in 2019. In January, over 20 MPs and peers wrote to the Prime Minister to express similar worries.
Lord Ahmad wrote to Humanists UK saying:
‘The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK’s longstanding human rights priorities. Human rights are universal and apply equally to all people. We are opposed to all forms of discrimination, and work to uphold the rights and freedoms of women and girls (including their sexual and reproductive health and rights), and of LGBT people in all circumstances.
‘We are deeply concerned about the severity and scale of violations and abuses of FoRB in many parts of the world. Religious intolerance and persecution are often at the heart of foreign and development policy challenges. Where FoRB is under attack, other human rights are often threatened too. That is why we ensure our human rights policy work considers the intersectionality of human rights, for example the importance of addressing the specific issues which may be experienced by women from religious minority communities.’
Welcoming his comments, Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:
‘We very much welcome Lord Ahmad’s words of reassurance, and the Government’s commitment to the full human rights and equality of humanists, LGBT people, and women. We are still concerned that the Special Envoy is someone who has not, in the past, shared that commitment, but we look forward to working with her in her new role as she turns the Government’s commitments into concrete action.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Read our previous statements about Fiona Bruce’s appointment and 20+ MPs and peers writing to the Prime Minister in protest about it.
Read more about our work on international campaigns.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.