Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the governments of Bangladesh and Burma regarding the need for consultation with, and agreement from, (1) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and (2) displaced Rohingya people before commencing implementation of the recent agreement between those governments to repatriate refugee Rohingya people from Bangladesh to Burma.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Rt Hon Mark Field MP, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, has raised our concerns with the Bangladeshi and Burmese foreign ministers following their Governments’ announcement on the 30 October that the repatriation of over 2,000 refugees to Rakhine State would start in mid-November.
We have stated publicly that we agree with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. UNHCR continue to engage closely with the Rohingya community in Bangladesh to understand their views about returning to Rakhine.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States to press for the reuniting of refugee children with their parents from whom they have been separated at the United States border in recent months.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister was clear that the separation of children from their parents at the border was disturbing and wrong. President Trump has now signed an Executive Order aimed at ending the separation policy and US authorities are in the process of implementing this change. Of course, we hope the children will soon be reunited with their families.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the government of Ethiopia to implement its declared intention to accept the ruling of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission and to secure the re-opening of the border between those countries.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The joint declaration of 9 July between the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea covered implementation of the boundary commission decision and links between the two countries. As the Minister for Africa said in her statement of 11 July, the UK remains a steadfast partner to the region and stands ready to provide support to both parties as they work through the details necessary to implement the agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to secure the agreement of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition involved in the conflict in Yemen to the UN Plan of Action to protect children who are being killed, wounded and displaced by airborne and other military attacks.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom considers the agreement and implementation of the UN Action Plans to be a vital step in improving the protection of children. We therefore call on all parties listed within the annex of the Secretary-General's report that have not put these measures in place to do so as a matter of priority. We call on all other parties who have put measures in place to honour their commitments in full.
We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with Saudi Arabia and other parties involved in the coalition supporting the legitiment Goverment of Yemen. The Prime Minister raised the issue with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during a call on 2 June.