Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Foreign Representatives Bill in Kyrgyzstan, with regards to (1) civic activism, and (2) human rights obligations, in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO is following the progress of the Foreign Representatives Bill closely. We share the concerns previously raised by the United Nations that it could contravene Kyrgyzstan's international obligations in relation to rights and freedoms. We encourage Kyrgyzstan to protect these fundamental rights, particularly in the area of freedom of expression and assembly, which is essential to the long-term health of democracy.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Kyrgyzstan regarding the protection of civic activism in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has raised his concerns over the Foreign Agents bill directly with the Kyrgyz government. His Majesty's Ambassador in Bishkek continues to raise these concerns with the government of Kyrgyzstan. We encourage Kyrgyzstan to protect fundamental rights, particularly in the area of freedom of expression and assembly, which is essential to the long-term health of democracy.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India to cease the demolition of properties owned by Muslims suspected of involvement in communal violence in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Any reports of discrimination against religious minorities are a matter for the Indian police and legal system. The British High Commission in New Delhi continues to monitor the situation in India.
We engage India on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. Where we have any issues, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at Ministerial level.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of Sudanese people who have fled to (1) Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, and (2) Abyei, since violence erupted in Khartoum and Darfur in April 2023.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UN estimates almost 9 million people are currently internally displaced in Sudan, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world. As of 23 January, 127,119 people have fled to Blue Nile and 125,373 to South Kordofan since 15 April 2023. Furthermore, as of 31 January, 15,750 people have fled from Sudan into Abyei since the start of the Sudan conflict. The UK is providing assistance those in need through our humanitarian aid package of £38 million for 2023-2024. In the next financial year 2024-2025, the UK bilateral ODA to Sudan will double to £89 million.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support displaced people and host communities in (1) Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan in Sudan, and (2) Abyei.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UN estimates almost 9 million people are currently internally displaced in Sudan, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world. As of 23 January, 127,119 people have fled to Blue Nile and 125,373 to South Kordofan since 15 April 2023. Furthermore, as of 31 January, 15,750 people have fled from Sudan into Abyei since the start of the Sudan conflict. The UK is providing assistance those in need through our humanitarian aid package of £38 million for 2023-2024. In the next financial year 2024-2025, the UK bilateral ODA to Sudan will double to £89 million.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights implications of the government of Belarus' recent amendments to their laws on the activities of religious organisations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of recent repressive amendments to Belarus' laws on the activities of religious organisations. These changes have served to tighten controls on freedom of religion or belief. The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and we monitor the situation for religious and non-religious communities globally. The British Embassy in Minsk continues to show its support for and where possible engages with, religious groups in Belarus. Belarus remains a human rights priority country for the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria following the series of massacres over the Christmas period in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau State.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Rising insecurity in Nigeria has affected all faith and non-faith communities, including Christians. The UK Government regularly raises the impact of insecurity on communities, and the need to bring perpetrators to justice, with the Nigerian Government. The British High Commissioner has raised the recent attacks in Plateau with the Nigerian National Security Adviser. The High Commissioner and his team continue to work closely with the respective authorities to raise and address these issues through multiple forums.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made, since September 2023, to (1) UNESCO and (2) the government of Azerbaijan, regarding the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is an important issue, and although we have not formally made representations to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) since September 2023, we support their work in this regard. The British Embassy in Baku has raised the topic of religious and cultural destruction with the Azerbaijani government consistently and at senior level.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have contributed financially since September 2023 to humanitarian support for the estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide life-saving medication, healthcare and other essential support to those affected by September's conflict. We liaise with the UN, ICRC and others to assess humanitarian need in the region.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bangladesh to encourage the protection of freedom of religion or belief in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to Freedom of Religion or Belief (ForB) for all, as guaranteed under international human rights law. The UK regularly raises human rights concerns, including on FoRB, as part of our ongoing dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh. We support FoRB and freedom of expression through our political advocacy and development programme funding. This included funding to Aid Connect for the Freedom of Religion and Belief Leadership Networks project (August 2019 - December 2023) that supported Bangladesh's parliamentary commitment to FoRB. Our support ensured the rights of minorities were respected, and that these groups were protected from discrimination.