Leaders from the UK’s major faith groups and faith-based aid
charities met virtually today (8 June) to discuss the global
impact of coronavirus on religious communities, and how they can
work effectively together in the fight against the virus.
Chaired by UK’s Minister of State for Human Rights Lord (Tariq)
Ahmad of Wimbledon, faith leaders also talked about the
importance of religious support services in tackling the
pandemic, including those based in mosques, churches, temples,
synagogues and other religious organisations. It comes as the
World Health Organization points to the important role religious
groups play in helping identify those most in need.
Faith-based organisations are playing a crucial role in reducing
poverty, providing humanitarian aid, and giving accurate
information about coronavirus to communities around the world.
Lord Ahmad reiterated the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to
working with them to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic,
both in the UK and internationally.
Talking at the roundtable, Department for International
Development and Foreign Office Minister Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of
Wimbledon said:
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have an unprecedented
impact on communities around the world, we know – more than
ever – that we will only succeed in fighting it if we do so
together.
That is why I am hugely grateful to our faith leaders and
faith-based charities who are doing so much to tackle the
virus’ devastating spread, by providing support and advice for
the most vulnerable. Today I repeated our commitment to work
alongside them to fight this disease, and to gain their
insights and advice on what more can be done
, the Prime Minister’s
Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said:
In some countries around the world, minority faith and belief
communities are more vulnerable to the secondary effects of
coronavirus than those of the majority religion. As the Prime
Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, I
am fully committed to promoting respect and understanding
between different religious groups, and calling out instances
where the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief is being
abused. I stand with faith leaders and faith-based
organisations as we work together to help communities in need.
Those suffering deserve nothing less than our support.
The UK Government has committed £766 million to the global
coronavirus response in recent months, and last week hosted the
Global Vaccine Summit. This saw more than 50 countries come
together to pledge $US8.8billion to help deliver life-saving
vaccines to millions of children worldwide.
Following their attendance at the roundtable, the chief
executives of faith-based development agencies CAFOD, Christian
Aid, Islamic Relief UK, Tearfund and World Vision released a
joint statement saying:
We know from our long experience working with some of the
world’s poorest communities that trusted faith leaders will be
crucial for raising awareness and challenging misinformation
among those most vulnerable during this pandemic. Maximising
the reach and effectiveness of our faith-based aid networks
around the world will be vital to effectively fight the spread
of coronavirus. Faith leaders are rooted in their communities
and understand their challenges and needs. We hope that the
government will understand this and work more closely and
meaningfully with faith institutions who are part of the
frontline in tackling this pandemic.
As faith organisations we are urging the international
community to lead a new vision after this crisis – where
inequalities are reduced, where basic services and rights are
guaranteed for every human-being and the planet is respected.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive Humanists UK, said:
The UK Government is world-leading in making sure that freedom
of belief in its foreign affairs agenda includes the freedom of
those with non-religious worldviews. There is a lot to do to
make sure that this globally persecuted group does not face
even greater hardship under the cover of coronavirus. More
positively, humanists and humanist organisation around the
world are stepping up their own humanitarian efforts in
response to the virus and it is good these are being showcased.
List of attendees at the 8 June roundtable:
- Lord
- Dr David Ryall, Assistant General Secretary, Catholic
Bishops’ Conference
- Nigel Harris, CEO, Tearfund
- Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK
- Dr Aziz Ahmad Hafiz, Chairman Humanity First (UK)
- Dan Bacall, Director of External Affairs at the Office of the
Chief Rabbi
- Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox
- Fareed Ahmad, Ahmadiyya UK
- Andrew Copson, Humanists UK
- Professor Mariz Tadros, Institute of Development Studies
- Charles Reed, Advisor, Foreign Policy, Church of England
- Padideh Sabeti, Baha’I UK
- Christine Allen, Director, Cafod
- Tufail Hussein, UK Director, Islamic Relief
- Mark Sheard, CEO, World Vision UK
- Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Government Advisor on Definition of
Islamophobia
- Amanda Mukwashi, CEO, Christian Aid
The development agencies joint statement was signed by:
- Christine Allen, director of CAFOD
- Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, CEO of Christian Aid
- Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK
- Nigel Harris, CEO of Tearfund
- Mark Sheard, CEO of World Vision
