Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the view espoused by President Gustavo Petro of Colombia that the 'war on drugs' has failed and that a new strategy, potentially involving legalisation, is required.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
It is estimated that the drugs trade costs the UK £22 billion per year. The UK's ten-year plan to combat illicit drugs recognises that the effective control of these substances is a crucial tool in mitigating the harm that they cause, alongside preventing their misuse and supporting people with drug addiction in finding a route to recovery. We are committed to working bilaterally with international partners, including Colombia, to disrupt the supply chains that feed European and UK markets and we are firmly committed to our international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support President Gustavo Petro of Colombia in his attempts to negotiate with the remaining armed groups who were not part of the 2016 agreement.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government has spent over £69 million to support the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia. We are committed to continuing to offer firm and active support for peace in Colombia, both the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and the current administration's ambition to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting peace across the whole of Colombia.
Our funding is supporting the Colombian Government's rural development and reintegration programmes, transitional justice mechanisms, and strengthening the security and participation of the communities in conflict-affected areas. Significant progress has been made on peace and security in Colombia. Through our Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund programme, we will continue to support programmes that help to protect former FARC combatants and other groups affected by violence.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Peru about the threats from illegal loggers to (1) leaders, and (2) members, of the Wampis community; and what plans, if any, they have to press for them to be protected.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government monitors human rights in Peru closely. We hold regular discussions on them with the Peruvian Government, including raising prominent cases with the authorities and with civil society stakeholders.
The safety of environmental defenders in the Peruvian Amazon region is a particular priority for our human rights work in Peru. Officials in our Embassy to Lima met with the Peruvian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights on 13 July to raise concerns about threats to the Wampis community and human rights defenders, as well as the problem of illegal logging. We are monitoring the Peruvian Government's response and will continue to hold an active dialogue with them on these issues. Our Ambassador to Lima has travelled within Peru to meet environmental defenders and indigenous peoples, and Embassy representatives are in close contact with organisations representing human rights defenders.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that UK companies carrying out extractive activities in Colombia support (1) smallholder farmers, (2) indigenous peoples, and (3) local communities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
As set out in the FCDO Annual Human Rights Report, we expect British businesses to respect local and international law wherever they operate. The UK was the first country to create a National Action Plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This plan sets out the expected conduct of UK businesses, including compliance with relevant laws and respect for human rights; treating the risk of causing human rights abuses as a legal compliance issue; adopting appropriate due diligence policies; and consulting those who could potentially be affected. The UK also supports multilateral mechanisms, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, which sets out recommendations to help ensure companies respect the human rights of local communities.
Colombia is an FCDO Human Rights Priority Country and since 2020, UK funding has supported engagement between small-scale and large-scale mining companies in Antioquia to address security and human rights risks, and supported the development of guides for joint risk assessments between extractive companies, public security forces and communities to help prevent community-corporate conflicts.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to protect the human rights of local communities in which UK companies trading at the London Stock Exchange carry out extractive activities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In relation to the extractives sector, the UK Government works through a number of international mechanisms including support to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables businesses to operate responsibly in conflict affected and high risk areas and as a member of the Kimberley Process to help stem the flow of conflict diamonds. The UK is also a member of the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights which promote a set of principles to guide companies in the extractives sector to maintain the safety and security of their operations in a manner that reduces the risk of human rights abuses including in local communities.
More broadly, the Government expects all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The UK is signatory to the 1976 OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multi-National Enterprises, which adopted the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group's recent offer of a 90-day ceasefire, what steps they are taking to help achieve a negotiated end to the conflict in Colombia.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK remains extremely concerned about the continued activity of illegal armed groups in Colombia, including that of the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the impact that their violence has on ordinary Colombians.
At a UN Security Council meeting on 14 April, we noted the unilateral ceasefire declared by the ELN on 30 March, and hoped it would facilitate efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic as well as potentially representing a positive step towards peace. We regret that this ceasefire was not renewed by the ELN.
We are aware of the request for a bilateral 90-day ceasefire made by the ELN in a statement on 7 July, and the Colombian Government's response. In our Permanent Representative's statement at the UN Security Council on 14 July, we encouraged all conflict parties in Colombia to create the conditions necessary for a cessation of hostilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK, alongside international partners, has continued to urge the ELN to end its campaign of violence, free all the hostages that it holds, and play a part in bringing an end to this conflict.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement between the government of Colombia and Farc rebels.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The United Kingdom is committed to the full implementation of the Peace Accords of 2016, and to supporting the Colombian Government as they work to ensure sustainable peace across the country. We are proud to be the penholder on the issue at the United Nations Security Council. Most recently, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations spoke on this issue at the Security Council on 14 July, and stated the importance of pressing ahead with work to consolidate peace for all, and build stability. We are working with stakeholders to help refine the mandate of the UN Verification Mission as it comes up for renewal later this year.
We also regularly raise our commitment to the peace process directly with the Colombian Government, most recently when Minister Wendy Morton spoke to the Colombian Foreign Minister Claudia Blum on 2 June.
The UK has committed almost £53 million over 5 years through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund for Colombia to support the implementation of the peace process, and we are the largest donor to the multilateral UN Trust Fund. We will continue to work closely with the Colombian Government and civil society on the peace process and related matters.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that Polish citizens living in the UK are able to vote in the Polish Presidential election on 10 May; what steps they are taking to ensure voting at the Polish Embassy is considered a legitimate essential duty; and what discussions they have had with the government of Poland about the steps being taken to ensure that adequate social distancing measures are in place at the Embassy when the election is held. [T]
Answered by Baroness Sugg
On 3 April, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued guidance to all missions in the United Kingdom setting out our expectation that countries intending to conduct Out of Country Voting should enable citizens to vote in a way compatible with current social distancing guidelines, for instance through postal voting or in-country representatives. The Polish parliament is currently considering draft legislation to allow for universal postal voting in the Polish presidential elections on 10 May. Senior FCO officials have received assurances from the Polish authorities that the proposed elections will be organised as a postal vote and that Polish citizens in the United Kingdom are not expected to vote in person. The Polish authorities have confirmed that consular and electoral commission staff organising the postal vote will respect social distancing guidelines at all times.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the current political situation in Malaysia, and (2) the protection of freedom of religion or belief by the government of Malaysia; and what representations they have made to that government about the protection of religious minorities in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We continue to follow the political developments in Malaysia closely. We look forward to working with the new Prime Minister and his government on institutional reforms and to tackle important global challenges such as climate change.
The Foreign Secretary's visit to Kuala Lumpur on 11 February underlined the strong, historic ties between the UK and Malaysia and set out our vision for a dynamic future relationship.
The British Government is firmly committed to standing up for freedom of religion, and for individuals to practise their beliefs free from fear. These views are well known in Malaysia, and our longstanding relationship allows us to raise concerns at senior levels with the Malaysian government.
I discussed freedom of religion or belief with the then Malaysian Minister for National Unity, Waytha Morthy, in January. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur regularly raise the issue of freedom of religion or belief with their Malaysian counterparts.
Asked by: Lord Alderdice (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they have taken to enquire about the health and well-being of Dr Essam El-Haddad and his son Gehad El-Haddad, who are being detained by Egyptian authorities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Egypt is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Priority Country and the UK regularly raises concerns about human rights with the Government of Egypt. We are concerned about reports of torture and mistreatment in detention in Egypt. We have not raised these individual cases with the Egyptian authorities, but will continue to urge them to ensure all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human right standards.
We have raised these concerns in public, including in our statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 12 March and through the FCO’s Human Rights Priority Country reports, and in private in meetings with Egyptian Government representatives in London and in Cairo. We shall continue to call on Egypt to take action to release journalists and political detainees who remain imprisoned, review mass judicial decisions and remove restrictions on civil society.