Red Wednesday campaign

That this House notes with concern the absence of religious minorities as priorities within the UK’s international development plan; commends the work of Aid to the Church in Need in drawing attention to the spiralling issue of religious persecution and discrimination worldwide through its annual #RedWednesday initiative; further notes with dismay Aid to the Church in Need’s research which finds that in 61 countries throughout the world, with combined populations of over 4.9 billion people, severe violations of religious freedom take place; calls on the Government to publish a standalone religious freedom strategy, outlining the most effective means of aid deployment to victims of religious discrimination and persecution; also calls on the Government to make religious minorities a fifth priority in the UK’s overseas development strategy; and further calls for the appointment of a UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion by Christmas.