Widespread violations of religious freedom around the world are documented in a new report by the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission released today. The Freedom to Believe: Protecting and Promoting Article 18 draws on evidence received in two oral hearings and various written submissions from human rights groups and religious communities, detailing serious violations of religious freedom.

"In too many countries around the world freedom of religion and belief is not respected, and religious believers and minorities face discrimination, restrictions and persecution," the report notes.

Robert Buckland MP is to take up the new position as the new Chair of the Conservative Human Rights Commission, and will be celebrating this appointment by launching the Commission’s report The Freedom to Believe: Protecting and Promoting Article 18 on Tuesday 7th June.

The Commission, whose previous chairs include Gary Streeter MP, Stephen Crabb MP and Tony Baldry MP, is made up of members of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and senior members of the voluntary side of the Conservative Party, who have a particular interest in Human Rights.

11 January 2010

In a new report released today the Commission recommends that a future Conservative government should consult and involve Women Human Rights Defenders in political dialogue and demonstrate that the UK is serious about the enforcement of international commitments on human rights. It urges the provision of UK investment for training projects for WHRDs, particularly for national projects in countries where abuse is rife. The report aims at judicial reform and training for women in the creation of peaceful and prosperous societies and the legitimacy of the role of WHRDs.  It recommends that obligations towards women are treated as a foreign policy priority and that working with and supporting human rights is mainstreamed through UK government policy and practice.

Following the appointment of Tony Baldry as the new Chairman of the Conservative Human Rights Commission, the Commission has undertaken to publish two reports before the General Election.

On International Human Rights Day, the Commission, launched "The Female Face of Afghanistan at a reception held at the House of Commons.

When sexual violence is used as a widespread, systematic and deliberate weapon of war the international community has a moral responsibility to protect the victims and prosecute perpetrators.

The Globalising Human Rightsreport has been submitted to the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague MP and analyses the performance of the UN Human Rights Council.