Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding has been allocated to indigenous peoples in Brazil through the UK’s International Climate Finance Programmes, and for what purposes.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK supports local and indigenous people in the Amazon through our International Climate Finance Programmes, with nearly £120 million invested across the Amazon since 2012. One of these programmes is 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation for Early Movers' (REM) that operates in two Brazilian states. REM includes a project working with indigenous communities to develop sustainable income sources, safeguard their rights and strengthen food security; nearly 20,000 families have benefitted so far.
In June 2021, a four year, £7.4 million extension to the Rural Sustentável Programme was announced. This project will benefit Pará, Rondônia and Amazonas States and focus on strengthening sustainable value chains, supporting nature-based solutions to reduce deforestation and raise awareness of the importance of preserving the forests. It will cover 15 municipalities and ensure participation of indigenous communities, including in Altamira and São Feliz do Xingú, in Pará State.
In addition, the Partnerships for Forests (P4) programme provides grants and technical assistance to achieve zero-deforestation commodity supply chains through the development of forest partnerships. The programme supports roughly 1,971 indigenous people by financing three projects. The focus is on strengthening livelihoods through sustainable forestry management practices.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of links between members of the Kazakh elite and London's financial services.
Answered by Amanda Milling
The Government has long recognised the corrosive risks of dirty money being laundered in the UK. We have consistently reinforced our ability to crack down on illicit finance in the UK whether through ground-breaking legislation or a strengthened law enforcement response. Serious criminals, corrupt elites and individuals who seek to threaten the security of the UK and allies are not welcome in the UK.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans the Government has to place sanctions on members of the Kazakh elite with assets in the UK following the civil unrest in that country.
Answered by Amanda Milling
We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. We will consider targets, guided by the objectives of the relevant sanctions regime and the evidence. It is not normally appropriate to speculate on who may be designated in the future, as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the closure of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) in September 2019 and the dismissal of Juan Francisco Sandoval as Head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity in Guatemala (FECI) in July 2021 on the independence of the judiciary and rule of law in that country; and whether her officials have made representations to their Guatemalan counterparts on those issues.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government works actively to uphold the rule of law and democracy across Central America. We joined other international partners in condemning the previous Guatemalan Government's decision to close the UN-sponsored International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala ('CICIG'). The UK Government is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the removal of the head of the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity ('FECI' in Spanish). I (Minister Wendy Morton) also expressed my concern via Twitter on 8 June and 29 July, noting that the removal undermines the fight against corruption, and efforts to uphold the rule of law in Guatemala. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has made representations regarding this issue to the Guatemalan Ambassador in London, and the Government of Guatemala via the British Embassy in Guatemala.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the merger of multiple Governmental secretariats responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in Guatemala into the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on the safety of human right defenders in that country; and whether (a) she and (b) her officials have raised concerns regarding that merger with their Guatemalan counterparts.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly raises the issue of human rights' defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City. We work in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. In April, the UK sanctioned an individual from Guatemala and two others from Central America as part of our efforts to tackle serious corruption, and uphold good governance, the rule of law, and open societies.
The Embassy has persistently kept the issue of human rights on the agenda, including by recently hosting its fourth Business and Human Rights Week, which stresses the relevance of human rights to the business environment. The Embassy has also called on the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on several occasions, raising the issue of human rights' defenders, land defenders, media freedom, and progress on the Public Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Officials from the Embassy virtually attended Bernardo Caal's hearing in May after visiting him in 2018. In January and February 2021, the British Embassy, together with Rainforest Alliance and the Forest National Institute of Guatemala, supported a project in La Blanca, Ocos, Retalhuleu to analyse how mangroves contribute to fighting climate change. In doing so, the British Embassy was able to raise awareness of droughts and water pollution affecting Retalhuleu.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) she and (b) her officials have made representations to the government of Guatemala regarding reports by the Community Council of Retalhuleu, Guatemala, of droughts and water pollution in Retalhuleu resulting from the large-scale expansion of monocultural farming.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly raises the issue of human rights' defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City. We work in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. In April, the UK sanctioned an individual from Guatemala and two others from Central America as part of our efforts to tackle serious corruption, and uphold good governance, the rule of law, and open societies.
The Embassy has persistently kept the issue of human rights on the agenda, including by recently hosting its fourth Business and Human Rights Week, which stresses the relevance of human rights to the business environment. The Embassy has also called on the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on several occasions, raising the issue of human rights' defenders, land defenders, media freedom, and progress on the Public Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Officials from the Embassy virtually attended Bernardo Caal's hearing in May after visiting him in 2018. In January and February 2021, the British Embassy, together with Rainforest Alliance and the Forest National Institute of Guatemala, supported a project in La Blanca, Ocos, Retalhuleu to analyse how mangroves contribute to fighting climate change. In doing so, the British Embassy was able to raise awareness of droughts and water pollution affecting Retalhuleu.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) she and (b) her officials have made representations to the government of Guatemala regarding the alleged misuse of criminal law and multiple due process failings in criminal proceedings against indigenous activists in Guatemala defending traditional lands and resources against large-scale commercial developments, including in the cases of (i) Bernardo Caal Xol from Santa María de Cahabón and (ii) Anabella España Reyes, Abelino Salvador Mejía, Flavio Vicente and Virgilio García Carrillo, from the municipality of Champerico.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly raises the issue of human rights' defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City. We work in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. In April, the UK sanctioned an individual from Guatemala and two others from Central America as part of our efforts to tackle serious corruption, and uphold good governance, the rule of law, and open societies.
The Embassy has persistently kept the issue of human rights on the agenda, including by recently hosting its fourth Business and Human Rights Week, which stresses the relevance of human rights to the business environment. The Embassy has also called on the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on several occasions, raising the issue of human rights' defenders, land defenders, media freedom, and progress on the Public Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Officials from the Embassy virtually attended Bernardo Caal's hearing in May after visiting him in 2018. In January and February 2021, the British Embassy, together with Rainforest Alliance and the Forest National Institute of Guatemala, supported a project in La Blanca, Ocos, Retalhuleu to analyse how mangroves contribute to fighting climate change. In doing so, the British Embassy was able to raise awareness of droughts and water pollution affecting Retalhuleu.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help encourage and assist the government of Guatemala in ending the potential persecution and unwarranted criminal prosecution of environmental defenders in that country; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly raises the issue of human rights' defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City. We work in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. In April, the UK sanctioned an individual from Guatemala and two others from Central America as part of our efforts to tackle serious corruption, and uphold good governance, the rule of law, and open societies.
The Embassy has persistently kept the issue of human rights on the agenda, including by recently hosting its fourth Business and Human Rights Week, which stresses the relevance of human rights to the business environment. The Embassy has also called on the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on several occasions, raising the issue of human rights' defenders, land defenders, media freedom, and progress on the Public Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Officials from the Embassy virtually attended Bernardo Caal's hearing in May after visiting him in 2018. In January and February 2021, the British Embassy, together with Rainforest Alliance and the Forest National Institute of Guatemala, supported a project in La Blanca, Ocos, Retalhuleu to analyse how mangroves contribute to fighting climate change. In doing so, the British Embassy was able to raise awareness of droughts and water pollution affecting Retalhuleu.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support and protect human rights defenders, including those defending environmental and land rights, in Guatemala.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly raises the issue of human rights' defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City. We work in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. In April, the UK sanctioned an individual from Guatemala and two others from Central America as part of our efforts to tackle serious corruption, and uphold good governance, the rule of law, and open societies.
The Embassy has persistently kept the issue of human rights on the agenda, including by recently hosting its fourth Business and Human Rights Week, which stresses the relevance of human rights to the business environment. The Embassy has also called on the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights on several occasions, raising the issue of human rights' defenders, land defenders, media freedom, and progress on the Public Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Officials from the Embassy virtually attended Bernardo Caal's hearing in May after visiting him in 2018. In January and February 2021, the British Embassy, together with Rainforest Alliance and the Forest National Institute of Guatemala, supported a project in La Blanca, Ocos, Retalhuleu to analyse how mangroves contribute to fighting climate change. In doing so, the British Embassy was able to raise awareness of droughts and water pollution affecting Retalhuleu.