Asked by: Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the government of Russia has targeted civilians, including children, in its invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ukraine has suffered horrific attacks, including missiles and air strikes which have torn through apartment blocks. Innocent people including children have lost their lives. Russia's actions are a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and show flagrant disregard for its commitments under the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk Agreements.
Asked by: Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 May (HL Deb, cols 1299–1300), what representations they intend to make to the government of Nigeria to call for urgent and effective action to be taken to protect ethnic and religious minorities in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, as well as being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right. In Nigeria, the right to freedom of religion is protected by the Constitution. The Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Nigeria, raised the issue of freedom of religious belief with the Vice President and had discussions with religious leaders to discuss how the UK can further support their work to promote interfaith relationships and long-term peacebuilding.
We are committed to working with Nigeria to help tackle threats to Nigeria's security and to address the underlying causes of instability which exist within Nigeria. We echo President Buhari's calls for calm and reconciliation between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Asked by: Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the curfew imposed in rural communities in Taraba State, Nigeria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the curfew imposed in Taraba State. We are engaging the Nigerian Federal and State Authorities to express our concerns about clashes between pastoralists and farmers of all faiths. Curfews may reduce the number of incidents temporarily but we are encouraging the government to address the underlying causes and develop a solution that meets the needs of all affected communities.
Asked by: Lord Selkirk of Douglas (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the abduction of 110 schoolgirls from a school in the town of Dapchi, Nigeria by Boko Haram last month and the recent return of around 100 of those schoolgirls; and whether they plan to provide any assistance to the government of Nigeria to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome the news that some of the Dapchi girls have been released and offer our condolences to the families of those reported to have died.
Attacks on schools and abductions of children are abhorrent and must stop.
The UK provides a substantial and increasing package of intelligence, military and development support to help Nigeria fight terrorism. This includes training and advice for Nigerian armed forces deploying against Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa and £5 million to support the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).