Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce protection and support for minorities suffering persecution on grounds of freedom of religion or belief into every level of planning within the Department for International Development; whether they intend to make this a priority; and what measures they intend to introduce to track the impact of programmes aimed at reducing levels of religious persecution, hatred, and intolerance.

DFID’s programme development procedures require consideration of the impact on different social and economic groups, including discrimination due to religion. In addition, partner governments’ commitment to respecting human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, is one of the four partnership principles that DFID also considers when providing direct financial support to governments. All DFID programme are rigorously monitored and reviewed to ensure they are delivering the intended outcomes.