To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Brett on 13 January (WA 160), what assessment they have made of the statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the report of her mission to India, published on 26 January 2009, that anti-conversion laws “raise serious human rights concerns”; and whether they will make representations to the government of India to implement the recommendations made in that report. [HL1557]

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief’s report was used as a reference document during the most recent EU-India Human Rights Dialogue in February 2009, when the issue of anti-conversion laws in relation to minority rights was discussed with Indian officials. UK officials will continue to participate in the EU-India human rights dialogue on these issues and encourage the relevant Indian authorities to safeguard minority rights, including the right to freedom of religion and belief.