Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Ghanaian counterpart on the potential impact of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill on (a) human rights and (b) UK-Ghana relations.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is disappointed that Ghana's Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. If enacted, it would further criminalise consensual same-sex relationships and undermine the human rights and freedoms of those perceived as being a member of, or an ally to, the LGBT+ community. The UK routinely encourages Ghana to confirm its opposition to all forms of discrimination and uphold the human rights provisions enshrined in Ghana's Constitution, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the principles of both the African and Commonwealth Charters. The Foreign Secretary, Ministers and senior officials have expressed these concerns, including during my [Minister Andrew Mitchell] visit to Ghana in February 2024 and my meeting with the Ghanaian High Commissioner to the UK in March. We continue to consider our response in the event that the Bill is granted assent.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill on human rights within the Commonwealth.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is disappointed that Ghana's Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. If enacted, it would further criminalise consensual same-sex relationships and undermine the human rights and freedoms of those perceived as being a member of, or an ally to, the LGBT+ community. The UK routinely encourages Ghana to confirm its opposition to all forms of discrimination and uphold the human rights provisions enshrined in Ghana's Constitution, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the principles of both the African and Commonwealth Charters. The Foreign Secretary, Ministers and senior officials have expressed these concerns, including during my [Minister Andrew Mitchell] visit to Ghana in February 2024 and my meeting with the Ghanaian High Commissioner to the UK in March. We continue to consider our response in the event that the Bill is granted assent.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps he is taking to prevent businesses from evading sanctions by exporting goods to Russia via third countries.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Working closely with G7 partners, we have stepped up our engagement with third countries to support them to tackle circumvention of UK sanctions. We have sent joint delegations to UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Armenia, to highlight risks and offer technical support to government and business.
The UK Government supports businesses domestically to tackle sanctions evasion, including by publishing guidance for exporters and by publishing the "Common High Priority Items List" of goods critical to Russia's military. HMG is also standing up the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation, which will boost the enforcement and implementation of UK trade sanctions.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to support international efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible for (a) potential war crimes and (b) other atrocity crimes in Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We welcome the report of 23 February by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Expert, Radhoune Nouicer, on the situation in Sudan. The report details multiple atrocities committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. We continue to take a leading role in supporting processes for justice and accountability in Sudan. In October 2023, the UN Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led Sudan Core Group resolution to establish an independent and international Fact-Finding Mission. This will support future accountability efforts in Sudan. The UK is also funding open-source investigation experts to use satellite and social media to verify and preserve information relating to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps the UK is taking to address sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Mozambique.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has provided up to £24 million in humanitarian support in Cabo Delgado to date and is reaching up to 100,000 of the most vulnerable people displaced by conflict. This includes increased support through mobile health brigades and the provision of civic documentation for those displaced, along with mental health and psychosocial support for those displaced, including assistance for women and girls affected by gender-based violence and trauma. These interventions recognise the increased risk for women and girls in conflict settings and help to reduce some of the inequalities they face.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on (a) the security situation in Cabo Delgado and (b) its impact on regional stability.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is reaching up to 100,000 of the most vulnerable people displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado province with emergency shelter, food and protection services. We are also working to address the underlying causes of the conflict by improving access to basic services, supporting development, building peace and resilience to shocks. In May 2023, the Minister of State for Development and Africa met President Nyusi and discussed UK support for the Government of Mozambique's response, including through new programmes aimed at building local resilience to violent extremism and security and human rights training that has been delivered to over 200 Armed Forces personnel to date.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is providing support to (a) Mozambique and (b) regional partners in relation to the (i) humanitarian and (ii) security situation in Cabo Delgado.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is reaching up to 100,000 of the most vulnerable people displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado province with emergency shelter, food and protection services. We are also working to address the underlying causes of the conflict by improving access to basic services, supporting development, building peace and resilience to shocks. In May 2023, the Minister of State for Development and Africa met President Nyusi and discussed UK support for the Government of Mozambique's response, including through new programmes aimed at building local resilience to violent extremism and security and human rights training that has been delivered to over 200 Armed Forces personnel to date.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he is taking steps with international partners to support displaced people in Cabo Delgado.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is reaching up to 100,000 of the most vulnerable people displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado province with emergency shelter, food and protection services. We are also working to address the underlying causes of the conflict by improving access to basic services, supporting development, building peace and resilience to shocks. In May 2023, the Minister of State for Development and Africa met President Nyusi and discussed UK support for the Government of Mozambique's response, including through new programmes aimed at building local resilience to violent extremism and security and human rights training that has been delivered to over 200 Armed Forces personnel to date.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help tackle conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, there has been a significant escalation of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. The UK has reprioritised its official development assistance programming to focus on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, protection of and care for rape survivors. We have also integrated CRSV into humanitarian assistance, making use of local Women's Centres, mobile clinics and internally displaced person's gathering points, for community engagement and service provision. In Sudan in 2023, over 26,000 people have been provided with sexual and reproductive health services, over 38,000 people have been given mental health and psychological support, and over 9,000 people have benefited from risk mitigation and response services.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the potential impact of the conflict in Sudan on regional security.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK supports an immediate end to hostilities, both for the sake of Sudan's people, and to avoid spillover into the wider region. We continue to emphasise to the international community the importance of neutrality and of supporting a ceasefire and political transition. Since 15 April, 1.8 million people have been displaced outside of Sudan, many fleeing to neighbouring countries. The UK recognises the significant pressure that the Sudan crisis is putting on neighbouring countries and commends them for the support they are providing. We are helping those fleeing to neighbouring countries as a result of the conflict, with £7.75 million to support existing and new Sudanese refugees as well as vulnerable returnees and host communities in South Sudan and £15 million to Chad.