Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the British Embassy in Bogotá intends to conduct an official visit to the offices of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective following reports of attacks, threats and defamation of its members.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 28 November 2023, officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London met representatives of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective to discuss their security situation. Officials at our Embassy in Bogotá will schedule a further meeting in Colombia at the next available opportunity.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Colombia about reports of (1) attacks against, and (2) surveillance of, members of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern, with the Colombian Government. Officials from the British Embassy in Bogotá will schedule a meeting with the National Protection Unit (UNP) to discuss attacks against, and surveillance of, members of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective at the next available opportunity. We look to the Colombian authorities to investigate fully and to take appropriate action against those responsible.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are making representations to the government of Guatemala regarding the protection of Indigenous leaders and human rights defenders in Guatemala from attacks and forced eviction, in the light of the findings of the report by the Independent Delegations of International Lawyers to Guatemala “We are not trespassers: this is our land”: Agrarian conflict and Indigenous peoples' rights in Alta Verapaz, published in September .
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
When Minister Rutley visited Guatemala in April, he spoke with representatives from civil society groups about the need to protect space for environmental and human rights defenders including those from indigenous communities. These concerns are regularly reflected in bilateral discussions we have with the Guatemalan Government and in international fora, including in the UK's response to the 42nd Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Guatemala. We also regularly raise the issue of human rights defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City, working in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. FCDO Officials attended a roundtable with the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala on 18 October in order to discuss the findings of their report and consider their recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Guatemala regarding reports of threats against the Indigenous human rights defender Lesbia Artola and other members of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano in Guatemala.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
When Minister Rutley visited Guatemala in April, he spoke with representatives from civil society groups about the need to protect space for environmental and human rights defenders including those from indigenous communities. These concerns are regularly reflected in bilateral discussions we have with the Guatemalan Government and in international fora, including in the UK's response to the 42nd Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Guatemala. We also regularly raise the issue of human rights defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City, working in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. FCDO Officials attended a roundtable with the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala on 18 October in order to discuss the findings of their report and consider their recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have further to support the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in light of recent actions by President Dodik and the Republika Srpska.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fully supports the High Representative and the use of his executive powers, should the situation require it. We remain an active member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB), through which we provide the High Representative with political guidance. Ambassadors of the PIC SB issued a statement on 22 September, urging Dodik to immediately stop his policy of non-recognition of and non-co-operation with the High Representative.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the African Union's ability and willingness to fulfil its mandate to monitor the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Ethiopia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The African Union (AU) plays an important role in regional stability. The UK believes in African leadership and supports the African Union's role in facilitating the implementation of Ethiopia's Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. We support the critical role that the AU Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission continues to play in contributing to more sustainable peace in northern Ethiopia.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made (1) of the resilience of current human rights protections in India, and (2) how human rights issues may affect current and future strategic and security partnerships with India as part of their “Indo-Pacific Tilt”.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British High Commission in New Delhi consistently monitors human rights across India. The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship, including human rights, and raise issues where we have them. Both our countries are committed to transforming defence and security cooperation and to enhancing engagements in support of a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Leader of the House what plans she has to arrange a debate on the report by the Committee on Climate Change Reducing UK emissions: 2020 Progress report to Parliament, published on 25 June.
Answered by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
My Noble Friend the Government Chief Whip does not intend to schedule such a debate in Government time. Members who wish to initiate a debate of their own are able to do so by tabling a question for short debate. Subject to the progress of legislative business, it is expected that questions for short debate will be re-introduced during October.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of reports that US military exports to Colombia were used for illegal surveillance activities.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are aware of allegations that Colombian state actors have been conducting illegal surveillance activities against civil society organisations. We are also aware of media claims that US equipment may have been used in such surveillance. We do not have any information on the accuracy of these reports.
We welcome the Colombian authorities' announcement of an investigation into these allegations and their commitment to hold those responsible to account.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent reports of illegal surveillance by Colombian Military Intelligence on civil society organisations, what steps they have taken to establish whether cryptographic equipment exported by the UK to Colombia has been used in this type of activity.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are aware of allegations that Colombian state actors have been illegally gathering surveillance on civil society organisations. We expect state authorities to comply fully with their human rights obligations, and the United Kingdom is committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia. We welcome the Colombian authorities' announcement of an investigation into these allegations and their commitment to hold those responsible to account.
The UK Government rigorously examines each export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Risks around human rights violations or abuses are a key part of our assessment. We do not export equipment and technology where we assess there is a clear risk that it might be used for internal repression.