Avatar photo

Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of FCDO Human Rights UK in Holy See

19th February 2015

#freedomtobelieve

IMG_0332
Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay discusses freedom of religion or belief with His Excellency Archbishop Cyril Vasil, Secretary Congregation for the Oriental Churches, during her visit to the Holy See (December 2014).

Most of the world’s population lives in countries where freedom of religion or belief is restricted in some way, and over a third where such limitations are extreme. Some 60 countries retain on their statute books laws against blasphemy, or apostasy, with often draconian punishments for those who transgress. And yet, as long ago as 1948, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”. It is a clause that far too many countries still honour in the breach.

Baroness Anelay, Minister for Human Rights at the Foreign Office, recently launched a social media campaign #freedomtobelieve as part of our efforts to build partnerships and alliances to change this situation. As she commented in a recent blog posting, we are under no illusion “that a UN resolution automatically translates into action in the societies where it is most needed”. But there is a great deal that those who believe in religious freedom and pluralism and oppose religious intolerance can do if we are prepared to work together. For example, Baroness Anelay was recently at the Holy See to discuss with senior Vatican officials, including those responsible for the Eastern Churches currently under such pressure from ISIL in Iraq and Syria, what more we and other governments could and should be doing. She was accompanied by Baroness Berridge, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Religious Freedom, who is leading a strong cohort of British parliamentarians determined to see the UK do more.

Just last week, the Foreign Office hosted events at Wilton Park and in Geneva to explore what more we and others can do. There is as yet no clear international consensus on how best to ensure that Article 18 is respected universally, but that should not stop us and partners from taking forward practical action and sharing best practice to seek to make it so. I spoke recently in London to officials from the Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development and the Foreign Office about the issue. It is just this sort of approach – cross-disciplinary, harnessing expertise in different areas – that is needed to improve the way governments can respond, interacting with the human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, community leaders and others on the front line when people are persecuted for their simple wish to teach, practise, worship and observe their own faith.

If you support the effort, do support #freedomtobelieve. Every voice counts.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

Follow Nigel

Tags

#freedomtobelieve Baroness Anelay belief freedom Human Rights london persecution pope francis religion teaching Wilton Park

Links