Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the bombing of a church, school compound and priests' compound in Kauda, South Sudan, on 25 May 2015.
Answered by James Duddridge
We are aware of the deeply troubling reports of bombings in Kauda, Sudan on 25 May. The recent escalation of fighting in the Two Areas of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile is extremely concerning and we will continue to press both the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-North (Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North) for an end to military action.Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the report Rape as torture in the DRC, published by Freedom from Torture in June 2014.
Answered by James Duddridge
As detailed in the FCO official’s 2014 Human Rights and Democracy Report, last year we raised the shocking allegations set out in Freedom from Torture’s report with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and pushed for an investigation. Whilst the DRC government did not acknowledge that the violations had taken place, it took the initiative to conduct surprise checks on police detention facilities. Those found to have been arbitrarily detained were released, and facilities where human rights violations including torture were found to have taken place were closed.
We continue to work closely with the government of the DRC, non government organisations and civil society to improve the care of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The UK is supporting a range of projects in the DRC focussed on documenting, collecting and preserving evidence and improving victims’ access to justice.
Following the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, at which the DRC Government was represented, President Kabila appointed Jeanine Mabunda as his Personal Representative for Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment. Ms Mabunda visited London in February and met with experts in her field and my noble friend Baroness Anelay of St John's, the FCO Minister of State. She has committed to working with Congolese groups, the international community, and others to address SGBV in the DRC in a comprehensive manner, reflecting the need for services to be delivered across the whole country and not just in areas affected by conflict.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Bahrain on the detention and treatment of political prisoners.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We encourage the Government of Bahrain to respect the rights of all peaceful opposition figures. If we have specific concerns around convictions or sentencing we raise these with the Government of Bahrain as part of our wider dialogue on human rights and reform. The UK’s reform assistance programme is focused on strengthening human rights and the rule of law, including torture prevention and the inauguration of the Ombudsman’s Office for the Ministry of the Interior, which has the responsibility for investigation allegations of detainee mistreatment. Our Ambassador in Bahrain has also raised our broader concerns about detainee rights and prison conditions with the Government of Bahrain at the highest levels, and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
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 adequacy of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei to protect Ngok Dinka returnees while they gather grass to rebuild homes in that region.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are aware of recent reports of attacks on Ngok Dinka. The UK supports the mandate provided by the UN Security Council to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to protect civilians in the Abyei Area under imminent threat of physical violence. It is for the mission’s leadership to decide how to fulfil the mandate. The actions of the mission are scrutinised by the UK as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the reasons advanced by the Swedish government for recognising Palestinian statehood.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Swedish position to recognise a Palestinian State has not changed UK policy. It continues to be our policy that we will also recognise a Palestinian State at a time when it will best serves the objective of peace.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contribution the Government is making to international efforts to ensure that people involved in the olive harvest in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are protected from violence and harassment by illegal settlers.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have had regular engagement with settler, political and religious leaders and Israeli Police and government authorities (National Security Council, Ministry of Justice, and others) on settler violence. They have specifically raised the issue of the olive harvest with several settler leaders asking them to urge restraint within their communities and help bring those responsible to justice.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the causes and consequences of recent unrest in East Jerusalem.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The recent unrest in East Jerusalem is a consequence of the absence of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. We are concerned about the possibility of further escalation in violence. It is therefore vital that all those with influence now work together to restore calm. Every Israeli and Palestinian has a right to live in peace and security. We urge the parties to focus efforts on resuming serious and comprehensive negotiations towards resolving the conflict once and for all.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government plans to respond to the request of the Brazilian Truth Commission for access to classified documents.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Brazilian National Truth Commission requested information from the Government through the British Embassy Brasilia on 9th April 2014. The Embassy responded via a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign affairs on 12th May 2014 referring the Commission to the National Archives and offering further assistance, if required.
We have no record of any other request for information, but are aware that the Commission’s report refers to a request for access to classified information which received no reply; we are investigating this.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government will be represented at the conference on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons taking place in Vienna in December 2014.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As I stated to the House during Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 October 2014, Official Report, column 153, the Government has received this invitation and is considering whether to attend the Conference, and will update the House once we have reached a decision.