To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of (a) violations of freedom of religion or belief and (b) a rise in ethno-religious nationalism and intolerance in Myanmar (i) before and (ii) after the forthcoming elections in that country.

The UK is very concerned by the discrimination facing religious minorities in Myanmar, and by reports of hate speech, destruction of places of worship and forced conversions. The Race and Religion Laws and the 1982 Citizenship Law have been used to discriminate against non-Buddhists. The UK continues to raise the issue of freedom of religion or belief with the Myanmar Government. The UK also works with partners and community leaders to improve religious tolerance and social cohesion through facilitating a greater understanding of religious and cultural differences, and promoting dialogue between different communities across Myanmar.

The UK is deeply concerned that the Rohingya and other minorities will be excluded from the upcoming elections. I raised this directly with the Myanmar Minister for International Cooperation in June. The 2020 elections are an important milestone but the transition to democracy will be a long-term process. The UK is clear that universal suffrage for all of Myanmar's communities is a key part of achieving an effective, plural democracy. We will continue to call for elections to be credible and inclusive, allowing individuals of all communities to participate.