Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has met representatives of the Women's League of Burma to discuss rape and sexual violence in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
The Women’s League of Burma (WLB) was one of several civil society and religious organisations invited by the Government to attend the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in June. I met representatives of many of these organisations at a roundtable during the Summit to hear their views and concerns first-hand, but unfortunately no WLB representatives were able to attend. They were, however, able to meet officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and attend much of the Global Summit. Officials in London and Rangoon remain in contact with the WLB, along with other non-governmental organisations working to address the issue of sexual violence in Burma.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
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 his Sri Lankan counterpart on their cooperation with the investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged abuses in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to fully co-operate with the UN Human Rights Council resolution of March 2014 and the international investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international law on both sides of Sri Lanka’s military conflict it established. In his Written Ministerial Statement of 31 March, the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), stated that ‘we encourage the Sri Lankan government to fully co-operate with the resolution, and to work alongside the international community for the benefit of its people’. Our High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has raised this point directly with members of the Sri Lankan government, and in public statements.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on steps to bring to justice people responsible for the recent inter-communal violence in that country.
Answered by Lord Swire
We continue to raise our concerns about attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan government, including the most recent violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala. Through our High Commissioner in Colombo, we have urged the Sri Lankan government to take early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.
On 7 July, I also met members of the Sri Lankan Muslim community resident in the UK whose family and friends were directly affected by recent violence in order to hear their concerns.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made relations with the government of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
We remain committed to supporting the Zimbabwean people in achieving a prosperous and democratic future, including through engagement with the Government of Zimbabwe. The UK continues to hold regular high-level meetings with the government and others across the political spectrum to promote democracy and good governance and discuss a range of issues.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he plans to make to his Egyptian counterparts on the seven year jail terms handed down to three Al-Jazeera journalists; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
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