Canada described its shift from a foreign policy approach to religious intolerance and discrimination based around the work of a single ‘Ambassador for religious freedom,’ to an approach to protecting freedom of religion and promoting religious tolerance in an integrated manner – alongside the promotion and protection of all other human rights. In that regard, the role of Ambassador for religious freedom was discontinued, and its responsibilities integrated within a new ‘Office of Human Rights, Freedom and Inclusion.’ The new Office has three divisions: human rights and indigenous affairs; inclusion and religious freedom; and democracy.
Moreover, as part of these reforms, the inter-linked issues of freedom of religion, inclusion and tolerance, and human rights more broadly, have been placed more squarely and more explicitly in the mandates of all Canadian ambassadors overseas.
A key objective of Canada’s diplomatic outreach in this area is to share the country’s experiences with promoting inclusion and respecting diversity.