Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure human rights defenders working to expose corruption will be supported both (1) within, and (2) outside, the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly supports human rights defenders worldwide to enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear. When the Foreign Secretary spoke at the UN General assembly special session on corruption on 2 June, he called on other countries to deliver 'a safer environment for journalists to shine a light on corruption'. The UK is supporting investigative journalists through the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project to help expose corruption and illicit finance in both the Middle East and North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. UK funding directly contributes towards strengthening local journalists' capacity to investigate the perpetrators, professional enablers, offshore entities, and financial systems that facilitate corruption and the illicit flow of money. The project helps, helping fight for the key changes needed in developing countries held back as a result, and pushes for justice in key cases to ensure accountability, good governance and sustainable development.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to incorporate commitments to improve support and protection for human rights defenders into G7 statements on the promotion of "open societies".
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly supports human rights defenders worldwide. We know human rights defenders form an integral part of civil society, as representatives and key enablers of civic space. The G7 Foreign and Development Communique and the G7 Leaders' Open Societies Statement acknowledges the importance of human rights defenders in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. G7 members have committed to condemn the intimidation and harassment of, and violence against, journalists, many of whom act as defenders when reporting on human rights abuses. The G7 has also committed to support initiatives such as the Global Media Defence Fund, which supports projects that bolster journalists' legal protection and/or enhance media freedom through investigative journalism or strategic litigation.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to incorporate objectives on working with human rights defenders into (1) all "open societies", and (2) Human Rights Directorate, plans and strategies.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO puts human rights and their defenders at the heart of its work. We regularly assess how the UK can enhance our ability to assist human rights defenders to carry out their work safely and without fear, including in the context of the increased risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2019 we published a report titled 'UK Support for Human Rights Defenders', which publicly underlined the UK's commitment to protecting them. In the recent Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, we said that one of our priority actions would be to defend universal human rights, including by working with local civil society and human rights defenders. As part of a wider review of departmental strategy, we are considering a range of options for how we should advance the human rights agenda globally, including our support for human rights defenders.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to conclude the review of the evidence of the government of China's use of Uighur forced labour in Xinjiang; whether they plan to designate identifiable officials of that government as pursuant to the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 6 July, the UK Government established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. The Government's position remains that it is not appropriate to speculate about who may be designated under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime, as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations. We will keep all evidence and potential listings under close review. We remain deeply concerned that Uyghurs are being placed into forced labour programmes following "graduation" from internment camps, and others are detained for not participating in such programmes. We continue to raise these concerns, including most recently in a joint statement on Xinjiang with 38 other countries at the UN Third Committee in October.
Asked by: Lord Garnier (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to review the evidence of the government of China's non-compliance with international human rights law and respect for human rights in Hong Kong; whether they plan to designate identifiable officials of that government as pursuant to the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As a co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, we have a duty to speak out when we have concerns. The UK has raised our deep concerns with China on a number of occasions and been clear with them that they should reconsider their actions. In light of our concerns we have taken three decisive actions in relation to the erosion of rights, freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong - specifically in response to the National Security Law. This has included: a new immigration path for British Nationals (Overseas); suspending our extradition treaty with Hong Kong; and extending our arms embargo on mainland China to HK.
We will continue to consider designations under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations. It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated under the sanctions regime in the future. To do this could reduce the impact of the designations. We continue to bring together our international partners to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their freedoms, and to hold China to their international obligations.