Hundreds of CSW supporters in the UK wrote to their Members of Parliament or prospective candidates in 2024. In this crucial general election year, you spoke up to ensure that freedom of religion or belief remains on the political agenda. Thank you!

General Election

Over 700 messages were sent to UK parliamentary candidates as part of our general election campaign in the summer – an amazing response! We also created an in-depth guide to talking to your candidates about freedom of religion or belief. We hope you found it helpful at your local hustings or if a candidate came to your door. 

Parliamentary drop-in

Did you know that a record 335 MPs were elected for the very first time in July 2024? That’s more than half of Parliament! We therefore made it our goal to introduce hundreds of new MPs to the work of CSW; to urge them to use their platform to champion freedom of religion of belief for all. Many of you wrote to your MP, encouraging them to attend our drop-in event in Parliament in October. We are pleased to say that the event was well attended. 

Thanks to your action, MPs were given the opportunity to:

• Engage directly with CSW’s expert advocates. 
• Discuss meaningful ways to support persecuted communities worldwide. 
• Learn about the severe human rights violations in North Korea, and access general briefings on nearly 20 other countries. 
• Pick up our Parliamentary Toolkit, which will support their efforts to raise these critical issues in government.
  

Special Envoy for FoRB 

After July’s general election, a key position was left vacant for several months: the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). We work closely with this role, previously held by Fiona Bruce MP, and were pushing for a Special Envoy to be appointed without delay. In November, Chibuzor (CSW’s Parliamentary Liaison Officer) delivered a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, while Jim Shannon MP delivered a letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. 

We are delighted that the position has now been filled! In December, David Smith MP was announced as the new Special Envoy, who will represent the UK in international discussions on freedom of religion or belief. 

‘Having travelled with David in the past to China and Nigeria, I am greatly encouraged by his passion to champion the cause of those who experience injustice because of their beliefs,’ said Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s Founder President. ‘I have no doubt that he will build on the legacy of his predecessor and maintain the UK’s position as a world leader in FoRB advocacy.’ 

While we celebrate this good news, we are still campaigning for this role to be made permanent in government. ‘Without a dedicated envoy, cases of religious persecution around the world risk going unaddressed by the UK – reducing our impact as a leading advocate for human rights,’ says Chibuzor. 

On 28 March Jim Shannon MP will present a Private Members’ Bill, proposing that the role be made permanent within the constitution. It is crucial that MPs understand the importance of this bill and the need for their support. 

Will you help boost our advocacy by writing to your MP? Visit csw.org.uk/writetoyourMP for tips.