Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to have discussions with his Mexican counterpart on ensuring that all religious minority children have access to a fair education and are not excluded on account of their faith or the faith of their parents.
Answered by Alan Duncan
In October 2018 the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief in Mexico with the former Mexican Ambassador to the UK, now Deputy Foreign Minister. We work closely with the Government of Mexico to support a broad human rights agenda. Through the Prosperity Fund, we support the consolidation of Mexico's new criminal justice and anti-corruption systems, by providing technical support to strengthen investigative capacities. In November 2018, during Mexico's Universal Periodic Review, the UK made recommendations to Mexico about accountability for human rights violations, independence of the National Prosecutor's Office and on addressing impunity for violence against human rights defenders.
Officials in our Embassy in Mexico City and ministers have contact with Civil Society Groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to help inform our understanding of the situation on the ground. Mexico has close to universal access to basic education. We will continue to work with civil society to identify when rare cases preventing this do occur and engage with the Mexican authorities as part of our frequent conversations.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the British Embassy is taking to assist (a) civil society and (b) opposition politicians in Zimbabwe.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK provides extensive financial and technical assistance to civil society organisations in Zimbabwe who support Zimbabwean citizens in holding the state to account. We do not publicise our partners to avoid putting them at risk.
The UK does not support any candidate or political party in Zimbabwe. We have made clear to the Government of Zimbabwe that opposition parties should be free to campaign peacefully. UK diplomats hold regular meetings with political leaders from all main parties. Our Ambassador last met with the main opposition The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on 16 January.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Malaysia on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Russia on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Kenya on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Mexico on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Qatar on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Tunisia on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Maldives on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of North Korea on that country's inclusion in the Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary and I, alongside other British Government Ministers, routinely raise our concerns about the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, where this occurs. He recently asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review of the persecution of Christians around the world to help inform this important area of our work and ensure it is targeted and effective. The Government works with a large number of NGOs, including Open Doors, to help promote and protect freedom of religion or belief. We use information from a wide range of sources to inform our work.