Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2019 to Question 250501 on Brunei: LGBT People, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Brunei on revoking in their entirety the anti-LGBT laws in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people. The Foreign Secretary and I have made that position clear through public and parliamentary statements and in conversations with the Government of Brunei.
We welcomed assurances provided by The Sultan of Brunei on 5 May regarding the implementation of phase 3 of the Sharia Penal Code. His Majesty confirmed that the de facto moratorium on the death penalty will apply to punishments under the Sharia Penal Code and has committed to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The assurances provided by the Sultan go some way to addressing our anxieties about the human rights situation in Brunei. We have urged Brunei to build on these assurances and formalise its commitment to respect individual freedoms and minorities. We echoed this message in the UK's statement at Brunei's Universal Periodic Review on 10 May.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2019 to Question 245924 on Brunei: LGBT People, what meetings he has had with his counterpart in Brunei on the implementation of anti-LGBT laws in that country; and what the outcomes of those meetings has been.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary spoke to Brunei’s Foreign Minister, Dato Erywan, on 4 April to express the UK’s concerns about the impact of the Sharia Penal Code. On 11 April, the Foreign Secretary and I met Dato Erywan and the Finance Minister, Dato Amin Liew, in London. The Prime Minister wrote to His Majesty The Sultan on 1 May encouraging the Sultan of Brunei to respond to international concerns.
We welcome the assurances thereafter provided by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei on 5 May; in particular, confirmation that the de facto moratorium on the death penalty will apply to punishments under the Sharia Penal Code and that His Majesty the Sultan will commit to ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Following this announcement, I again met Dato Erywan and Dato Amin Liew on 7 May in London followed by a letter from the Foreign Secretary on 9 May.
The announcement by His Majesty demonstrates the importance of engaging in respectful dialogue and diplomacy to address sensitive issues. The assurances provided by His Majesty the Sultan are positive and go some way to addressing our anxieties about the human rights situation in Brunei. However, we urge Brunei to build on these assurances and formalise its commitment to respect individual freedoms and minorities.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) representations he has received and (b) meetings he has had on the transition of power in Algeria.
Answered by Mark Field
We are following events in Algeria closely, following (former) President Bouteflika's resignation, the appointment of an interim Head of State and the announcement of presidential election scheduled for 4 July.
We have discussed these developments with Algerian officials and civil society representatives at a variety of levels. We commend the peaceful and dignified nature of the demonstrations. The forthcoming transition period is a matter for the Algerian people.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of diplomatic sanctions against Brunei as a result of the implementation of anti-LGBT laws by that country.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government does not support calls for sanctions or economic boycotts against Brunei. We believe that open and honest discussions best support our efforts to encourage Brunei to uphold its international human rights obligations, and to respect individual freedoms.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government made at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council on the crisis in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the North-West and South-West (Anglophone) regions of Cameroon, which continue to suffer from high levels of violence. We condemn all human rights violations and abuses and continue to press the Government of Cameroon to ensure that those responsible face justice. In his address to UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 25 February, the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN stressed that the cycle of violence in the Anglophone regions in Cameroon must end and urged all sides to come together to initiate a credible, inclusive dialogue to address the root causes of the crisis. The UK and Austria made a joint statement on the human rights situation in Cameroon at the UN Human Rights Council on 21 March, supported by 39 countries, raising concern about the deteriorating human rights situation and calling on Government of Cameroon to establish a credible dialogue.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2019 to Question 206886 on Leyla Guven, when UK Government officials last raised the case of Leyla Güven with the Turkish government; and what assurances the Government it has sought from the Turkish Government on her welfare.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Further to my written answer (206886), our Embassy in Ankara raised concerns over the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) hunger strikers, including Leyla Guven, with the Turkish Government earlier this month. They have also discussed the issue with the HDP. They did so most recently on 18 January. We are pleased to note that Leyla Guven was released from detention on 25 January. We expect Turkey to treat hunger striking detainees fairly, and to allow access to medical treatment.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance his Department has provided to Paul Whelan and his family following his detention in Russia.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Foreign & Commonwealth Office officials sought access to Mr Whelan on 3 January after being informed by the Russian Authorities and the US Embassy in Moscow that he was a British national. We are in regular contact with the Russian Government to push for consular access, most recently on 21 January. We are working closely with the US, Canadian and Irish Embassies in Moscow, who also have a consular responsibility for Mr Whelan, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to Mr Whelan’s health and wellbeing. We are in touch with Mr Whelan’s family.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made and to whom to ensure the government of Sri Lanka abides by UNHRC Resolution 30/1 agreed on 1st October 2015 at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Answered by Mark Field
Since UNHRC 30/1 was established in 2015 we have repeatedly pressed the importance of the Government of Sri Lanka implementing its commitments under the UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 and its follow-up Resolution 34/1. During my most recent visit to Colombo, in early October 2018, I again raised these commitments with Foreign Minister Marapana. I encouraged accelerated progress towards fulfilling these commitments, including the return of military-held private land, and the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards.
The British High Commission in Colombo is also in regular contact with the Government of Sri Lanka and other key stakeholders on the implementation of Resolution 30/1.
Lord Ahmad spoke at the September Human Rights Council in Geneva, encouraging further implementation of Sri Lanka's commitments in the area of devolution through constitutional reform, truth-seeking and accountability.
The United Kingdom has made a long-term commitment to improving human rights in Sri Lanka and is dedicated to supporting the rebuilding of the country after three decades of civil conflict. The UK is providing Sri Lanka with £8.3 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding over three years (2016-2019), including support for police reform and training, reconciliation and peace building, and demining in the north of the country.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received on the detention of Uighur Muslims in China; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the Chinese Government’s deepening crackdown; including credible reports of re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at ethnic minorities.
During China’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council on 6 November, the UK made a statement which described our concern about the treatment of ethnic minorities in China, including Uyghurs. We issued a specific recommendation, calling on China to implement the recommendations by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Xinjiang, and to allow the UN to monitor the implementation. We also raised our concerns about Xinjiang in our Item 4 statement at the September UN Human Rights Council, and we supported the statement of 26 October by the European External Action Service highlighting concerns about Xinjiang.
I raised our concerns about Xinjiang with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou during my visit to China on 22 July 2018. The Foreign Secretary also raised our concerns about the region with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China on 30 July 2018.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the case against Mr Nabeel Rajab; and what representations his Department has made to the Bahraini Government on Mr Rajab.
Answered by Alistair Burt
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October 2018 (PQ 180116).
The honourable member will recall that I expressed my concerns on the sentence given to Mr Rajab in my written statement of 21 February. I also reiterated the UK's call for Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens, in line with international obligations.
Our Embassy in Bahrain has closely monitored the trials of Mr Rajab. Officials from the Embassy regularly attend Mr Rajab's court hearings, including the handing down of the latest appeal verdict. We have raised the case at senior levels as part of the UK's ongoing open dialogue with Bahrain. I am aware that there is now an opportunity for Mr Rajab's legal team to apply for an appeal through the judicial system. My officials will continue to monitor the case closely.