Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of (a) prosecutions of opposition party leaders and (b) levels of repression of civil society groups in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures. These are clearly politically motivated and aimed at blocking the political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream to end its misuse of the courts to silence dissent, and free all political prisoners. In addition, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation in Georgia under close review. On 1 July I chaired an emergency meeting with like-minded European democracies on Georgia to discuss our assessment of the situation and actions in response.
On 15 May I raised my wide-ranging concerns about recent repressive legislation on civil society and the media; restrictions on freedom of assembly and arbitrary arrests; and growing anti-Western rhetoric from high-level representatives of Georgian Dream. On 18 June I discussed my concerns about Georgian Dream's repressive legislation to restrict civil society, media, and opposition voices with Georgian 5th President Zourabichvili, and expressed my support for her work supporting democracy in Georgia. On 26 June our Ambassador to Georgia raised concerns about attacks on civil society, media and non-governmental organisations with Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Botchorishvili. We continue to keep a range of options under active review working with our partners to respond to the latest actions.
The UK's support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in a return to its European values and democratic norms.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the release of Dr Wang Bingzhang.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government stands firm on human rights in China. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang, Vice Premier He and Vice Premier Ding respectively).
We continue to coordinate efforts with our international partners to hold China to account for human rights violations and will continue to call on China to uphold its commitments under international law.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what long term support the Government plans to provide the International Commission on Missing Persons to support their work in identifying those still missing from (a) the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and (b) the Genocide at Srebrenica.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans, through diplomatic and programmatic efforts. This has included funding for the International Commission on Missing Persons for work in the Western Balkans, including for Regional Co-operation through the Missing Persons Group. The UK allocated £150,000 to the International Commission on Missing Persons for the period 1 July 2024 to 1 July 2025. The UK does not currently have plans for funding beyond this period.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding the Government plans to provide to Regional Co-operation in Accounting for Missing Persons in the Western Balkans (The Missing Person Group) of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27 financial years.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans, through diplomatic and programmatic efforts. This has included funding for the International Commission on Missing Persons for work in the Western Balkans, including for Regional Co-operation through the Missing Persons Group. The UK allocated £150,000 to the International Commission on Missing Persons for the period 1 July 2024 to 1 July 2025. The UK does not currently have plans for funding beyond this period.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Bahrain on allegations relating to (a) human rights violations, (b) arbitrary arrest, (c) prolonged detention without a fair trial and (d) the alleged torture of children.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary last visited Bahrain in October 2024 where he met the Foreign Minister. The focus for that visit was de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and to meet UK personnel working in the region, underscoring our commitment to regional security and stability.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office encourages all countries, including Bahrain, to uphold international human rights obligations. Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue by Ministers and officials in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Bahrain on allegations relating to the detention of minors in relation to peaceful protests.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary last visited Bahrain in October 2024 where he met the Foreign Minister. The focus for that visit was de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and to meet UK personnel working in the region, underscoring our commitment to regional security and stability.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office encourages all countries, including Bahrain, to uphold international human rights obligations. Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue by Ministers and officials in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the approach taken by the Bahrain Government to (a) pro-democracy protests and (b) social media content critical of the government.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years. We continue to work with Bahrain to encourage greater media freedoms.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of China's treatment of (a) Falun Gong, (b) The Church of Almighty God and (c) Christian practitioners.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor have all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what opportunities hon. Members will have to contribute to the review of the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is currently reviewing the Government's guidance for Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments. This is to ensure it remains fit for purpose and that the UK's overseas security and justice assistance aligns with the UK's human rights obligations and values, while increasing respect for the rule of law. The FCDO plans to engage with a wide range of civil society and other stakeholders as part of the review.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance prevents UK involvement in human rights abuses.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessment is an essential tool to ensure that the UK's overseas security and justice assistance meets our human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) obligations, increases respect for the rule of law, and supports UK values. It is important that the skills and expertise we impart internationally are not used to cause harm. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is currently reviewing the Government's guidance for OSJA assessments so that it remains fit for purpose and captures emerging risks that could contribute to violations of human rights and IHL.