Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2019 to Question 248760 on Libya: Undocumented Migrants, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the urgent humanitarian evacuation from Libya of refugees and migrants held in detention centres in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Libya and reports of violence in Libyan detention centres. The UK is clear that all parties to the conflict must commit to a ceasefire, ensure unconditional humanitarian access, and return to political talks. All parties to the conflict must do all they can to prevent any further loss of life, including by respecting their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, and evacuating those at risk to safety. The UK has announced a contribution of £1 million to the UN Flash Appeal. This includes: funding to the World Health Organisation to deliver life-saving medical care; and funding to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to improve humanitarian access for agencies on the ground. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released $2 million to provide life-saving assistance to civilians caught up in the fighting, including vulnerable migrants and refugees. The UK was the biggest donor to the CERF in 2018, providing £114.3 million.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 910174, Climate Change: International Cooperation, what policy objectives his Department has for discussions with international partners on tackling climate change.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Priority Outcomes for 2019/20 now include a specific objective on Climate Change: 'tackle the global threat of Climate Change by: galvanising international action; promoting the role and impact of COP26, including bidding to host it; and taking a global leadership role'.
The objectives for discussions vary widely depending on the international partners concerned but focus on: increasing global ambition to bring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into line with Paris Agreement goals; delivering policy and regulatory reform that supports sustainable growth and transition to a low carbon economy; and supporting effective measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the most vulnerable countries. We are well placed in these areas. We have proved that it is possible to reduce carbon emissions and grow the economy and are one of the first G7 countries formally exploring a more ambitious GHG emissions' target. With our Clean Growth Strategy and Grand Challenges we are continuing our delivery of the world-leading 2008 Climate Change Act and have committed to leading the resilience strand at the UN Secretary General's Climate Summit. We are also discussing COP26 in 2020 and our offer to host. Given that it will be a critical summit, marking the full adoption of the Paris Treaty and the date by which countries should provide strengthened national action plans, we are committed to ensuring that it is a success.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 910174 on Climate Change: International Cooperation, what progress his Department has made on the UK’s bid to host COP26 in 2020.
Answered by Mark Field
We are currently engaging at Ministerial and Official level with interested countries and the Western European and Others Group of the United Nations, as part of a cross-Government effort. We expect that a final decision will be adopted at COP25 in Chile in December 2019.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment he has made of progress through international co-operation on tackling climate change.
Answered by Mark Field
The current level of global ambition is frankly out of keeping with the magnitude of the problem. More greenhouse gases are in our atmosphere, and the climate is changing faster than at any time in human history. This requires unprecedented, rapid action to reduce emissions and build resilience and adaptation strategies. The UK is committed to promoting further international co-operation to achieve this.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Zimbabwean Government on human rights issues since the recent election in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I released statements on 4 and 9 August highlighting our concern at the violence and human rights violations which took place after the elections, particularly the deaths of at least six people on 1 August. I spoke to Foreign Minister Moyo and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on 10 August to urge calm, and for all sides uphold the rule of law and the Constitution.
We welcome President Mangagwa's creation of the Commission of Inquiry into the violence and human rights abuses after the elections. We are pressing for this to be conducted quickly, credibly and in a transparent manner.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 Cameroonian counterpart on the civil rights of members of the Anglophone community in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The promotion of human rights in Cameroon remains an important priority of the British Government. Human rights violations and abuses lead to unstable, less prosperous and undemocratic societies.
During my visit in February I met the Prime Minister and the Ministers of External Relations where I reinforced the necessity of adhering to international human rights standards in a challenging security environment. During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London this year, I and Ministerial colleagues pressed our Cameroon counterparts for urgent action to resolve the dispute and associated violence. The High Commissioner to Cameroon has raised our concerns with the authorities and has met with opposition groups and human rights defenders.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 Bahraini Government to remove restrictions on the activities of civil society and to end politically motivated prosecutions.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK enjoys a close relationship with the Government of Bahrain which allows us to speak honestly about a range of issues, including human rights. Where we have concerns we continue to raise them at a senior level.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report, Nicaragua: Shoot to kill: Nicaragua's strategy to repress protest, published by Amnesty International in May 2018.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The May 2018 Amnesty International report on Nicaragua is alarming. We continue to follow developments closely, including through contacts with EU and US partners and local stakeholders in the country. We have expressed our deep concern about the violence to the Nicaraguan government and urged them to take responsibility for ending the repression against their own citizens.
We welcome the work of international institutions in Nicaragua, such as the UN and Organisation of American States (OAS) and I welcome the government's invitations to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, the UN, and the EU to support the resolution of the crisis and urge the authorities to allow them to carry out their work fully without hindrance.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 Sri Lankan Government on violence and intimidation perpetrated against Muslims in Digana and Teldeniya.
Answered by Mark Field
I was concerned by the violent incidents against Sri Lanka's Muslim minority in Digana and Teldeniya, and in Ampara earlier this year. I wrote to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana in the aftermath of the incidents around Kandy to raise our concerns. The UK also made a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2018, calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to hold the perpetrators to account.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 Azerbaijani Government on human rights abuses in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The Government raises human rights issues with Azerbaijan both bilaterally and multilaterally through the EU, OSCE (Organisation for Security Co-Operation in Europe) and the Council of Europe. The UK’s strong relationship with Azerbaijan facilitates this engagement and enables us to maintain a regular dialogue on human rights and other issues at the most senior levels. The Prime Minister recently raised human rights with President Aliyev in London on 26 April.