Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Colombia about the dangers faced by defenders of human rights and leaders of land restitution claims, and the case for enhancing their protection.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are concerned by the increase in violence towards human rights defenders (HRDs) in Colombia. Reports from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Somos Defensores indicate that 63 HRDs were killed in 2015, a 13 per cent increase from 2014. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this issue during his meeting with President Santos on 12 May. During his visit to Colombia in April, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised human rights concerns with the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister, Patti Londoño-Jaramillo.
Ensuring protection and support for HRDs, including leaders of land restitution claims, is a priority area for our Embassy in Bogotá. As well as monitoring specific cases, the UK raises our concerns with the Colombian government at every possible opportunity. Our Ambassador to Colombia recently joined an international community initiative called “Ambassadors with Defenders” that aims to raise awareness of the situation of HRDs and follow up on specific cases. Earlier this year, the Ambassador accompanied the Colombian Minister of Interior to a regional human rights roundtable, where the role of local authorities in taking effective action on HRD cases was discussed. The UK was the only member of the international community invited to this event.
With regards to increased protection, on 26 April, President Santos announced the creation of a high level group in charge of investigating threats and killings against HRDs. He invited human rights organisations to appoint five representatives to participate in this group. The Attorney General’s Office has prioritised the investigations of these cases.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they have given to the government of Colombia to help it develop its national business and human rights action plan, and whether further assistance will be given to aid its implementation.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We supported Colombia in the development of their National Action Plan (NAP) to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The NAP, which is the first of its kind outside of Europe, was launched in December. It allows Colombia to meet its existing human rights obligations and increase business awareness.
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, the Lord Price of Sturminster Newton, launched a campaign for British businesses to support peace, primarily through the respect for human rights, during his visit to Colombia last month. Twenty of the largest British companies operating in Colombia subsequently agreed to align themselves to the Colombian National Action Plan for business and human rights.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, in terms of financial aid and technical assistance, to help reduce violence, to protect the rights of women, and to prevent human rights abuses, in El Salvador.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government strongly supports the promotion of women’s rights and the prevention of human rights abuses in El Salvador. We regularly raise human rights issues with the Salvadoran government. We publicly urged El Salvador to review its laws regarding abortion during it's Universal Periodic Review in 2014. We have recommended improvements to the treatment of women who have had abortions or miscarriages and continue to raise this issue with the Government of El Salvador.
Our Embassy works closely with UN Agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on projects aimed at protecting human rights and reducing violence. We funded a workshop for women from violent or at risk neighbourhoods, run by local NGO Vital Voices. Participants learned entrepreneurial skills to help obtain economic independence and escape their violent environments. We have also funded a UN Children's Emergency Fund project to protect children in El Salvador from sexual violence and online exploitation under the Home Office WeProtect programme. In February, we funded police training in internal investigation which focussed on limiting malpractice including human rights violations.
We would welcome a visit to El Salvador by members of interested All-Party Parliamentary Groups to see and discuss these and other issues at first hand.
Asked by: Baroness Hooper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Venezuela regarding human rights violations there, including the imprisonment of the opposition leader, the recent detention of the Mayor of Caracas and the shooting of student demonstrators.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain very concerned about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, particularly the death of a 14 year old protester on 24 February. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), set out this position personally with the Venezuelan Ambassador during a meeting held on 12 March, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We are also concerned about recent Venezuelan government action against opposition politicians. The UK strongly supported the EU press statement of 24 February regarding the arrest of opposition leader Antonio Ledezma. It is vital that political freedoms are guaranteed in Venezuela.