Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government on West Papuan political prisoners held in West Papua and throughout Indonesia.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government follows the situation in Papua closely. Officials at our Embassy in Jakarta visit Papua and West Papua provinces regularly. Officials press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate human rights concerns, including upholding the right of all citizens to protest peacefully, and promote the sustainable and equitable development of the provinces. We fully support the positive steps taken by President Joko Widodo to release political prisoners.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote human rights of West Papuans.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government follows the situation in Papua closely. Officials at our Embassy in Jakarta visit Papua and West Papua provinces regularly. Officials press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate human rights concerns, including upholding the right of all citizens to protest peacefully, and promote the sustainable and equitable development of the provinces. The Ambassador raised the recent violence in Nduga Regency with senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government on the murder and torture of West Papuan indigenous people.
Answered by Mark Field
The British Government follows the situation in Papua closely. Officials in London and at the Embassy in Jakarta press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate human rights concerns, including upholding the right of all citizens to protest peacefully, and promote the sustainable and equitable development of the provinces.
I met the Indonesian Ambassador in January and raised Papua with him. The Ambassador raised the recent violence in Nduga Regency with senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January and called on the Indonesian authorities to ensure that any security response was proportionate. Officials at the Embassy in Jakarta raised reports of the use of torture with the Deputy Police Chief of Papua Province in February 2019.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in China on allowing independent human rights observers into Tibet; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including the ‘Tibetan Government in Exile’) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in China on respecting Tibetans' rights to freedom of expression; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Field
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including the ‘Tibetan Government in Exile’) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle human rights abuses in Tibet.
Answered by Mark Field
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including with the ‘Tibetan Government in Exile’) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote LGBTI rights in Uganda.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK is totally opposed to all forms of discrimination, and works to uphold the rights and freedoms of LGBTI people in all circumstances. Through our embassies and high commissions, and through international organisations including the UN, EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, we work to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBTI people and to address discriminatory laws, including those that criminalise homosexuality. In particular, the UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.
Our High Commission in Kampala engages closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to promote inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, in coordination with our international partners. We continue to support and fund training related to protection of LGBTI rights and provide support to groups working to improve the protection of minority rights. The UK welcomed the decision of the Ugandan Constitutional Court to annul the Anti-Homosexuality Act on 1 August 2014. Our High Commission in Kampala will continue to raise our concerns with the Ugandan Government about any legislation which could lead to persecution and discrimination against LGBTI people.
In Kenya, the High Commission in Nairobi has supported Kenyans from LGBTI groups to attend international forums on LGBTI rights.
We are aware of reports of abuse of LGBTI refugees in Kakuma Refugee camp and have been in close touch with UNHCR, who manage the camp, about how best to help those individuals. In January, UNHCR reported that all LGBTI refugees had been moved from Kakuma to a safe house. UNHCR continues to work closely with a local civil society organisation to help the refugees settle into their new community.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote LGBTI rights in Kenya.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK is totally opposed to all forms of discrimination, and works to uphold the rights and freedoms of LGBTI people in all circumstances. Through our embassies and high commissions, and through international organisations including the UN, EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, we work to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBTI people and to address discriminatory laws, including those that criminalise homosexuality. In particular, the UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.
Our High Commission in Kampala engages closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to promote inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, in coordination with our international partners. We continue to support and fund training related to protection of LGBTI rights and provide support to groups working to improve the protection of minority rights. The UK welcomed the decision of the Ugandan Constitutional Court to annul the Anti-Homosexuality Act on 1 August 2014. Our High Commission in Kampala will continue to raise our concerns with the Ugandan Government about any legislation which could lead to persecution and discrimination against LGBTI people.
In Kenya, the High Commission in Nairobi has supported Kenyans from LGBTI groups to attend international forums on LGBTI rights.
We are aware of reports of abuse of LGBTI refugees in Kakuma Refugee camp and have been in close touch with UNHCR, who manage the camp, about how best to help those individuals. In January, UNHCR reported that all LGBTI refugees had been moved from Kakuma to a safe house. UNHCR continues to work closely with a local civil society organisation to help the refugees settle into their new community.