Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 19 Dec 2018
Yemen
"Given accusations that gratuitous war crimes have been perpetrated by both Saudi Arabia and Iran, as the key regional proxies in this conflict, and their failure to honestly and openly investigate those accusations, why will the Secretary of State not support an independent UN-backed inquiry into allegations of war crimes …..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Yemen
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Dec 2018
Institute for Statecraft: Integrity Initiative
"Will the Minister tell us a bit more about the Foreign Office’s counter-disinformation and media development team—what its objectives, resourcing and budget are and whether it has operational interface with the integrity initiative?..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Institute for Statecraft: Integrity Initiative
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 21 Nov 2018
Yemen
"The Foreign Secretary talks about the need for robust oversight of humanitarian obligations in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A report by The Sunday Post revealed that 366 war crimes allegations in Yemen have been tabled, but only 79 investigations have been undertaken by the Saudi-led joint incident assessment team. That …..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Yemen
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Oct 2018
Death of Jamal Khashoggi
"The Foreign Secretary is correct to say that the full facts of this barbaric murder have not emerged yet, but key facts have emerged. It seems utterly implausible that the top forensic pathologist from Saudi Arabia is dispatched, equipped with a bone saw, when this is something to do with …..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Death of Jamal Khashoggi
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 26 Jun 2018
Gaza: Humanitarian Situation
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. To improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, what must happen is self-evident but, unfortunately, intractably difficult to achieve. There are steps that the UK Government can take to help. They must take the long-overdue action they know is required …..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Gaza: Humanitarian Situation
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Jun 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"1. What recent assessment he has made of UK diplomatic relations with the US. ..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Jun 2018
Oral Answers to Questions
"I must say that the Foreign Secretary is looking rather sprightly this morning after his overnight flight. I hope that the jet lag was not too severe.
When the Prime Minister was asked about Donald Trump's policy of ripping toddlers from their mothers and holding them in cages, she would …..."Paul Sweeney - View Speech
View all Paul Sweeney (LAB - Glasgow North East) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Wednesday 6th June 2018
Asked by:
Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to maintain the level of funding that is given to the EU to support human rights defenders after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mark Field
Supporting human rights defenders, especially where they face persecution and repression, is (and will remain) a key element in the Government's policy of promoting universal human rights. The Foreign Secretary issued revised guidance on this to British Embassies and High Commissions in December, 2017. How best to pursue this policy after Brexit and with which international partners will depend on future circumstances.
Written Question
Wednesday 6th June 2018
Asked by:
Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to respond to the reported surge in the repression of human rights defenders worldwide; and whether the Government plans to commit to a renewed strategy of support and protection.
Answered by Mark Field
In light of the increasing level of intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders in many parts of the world, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has worked with several civil society organisations to update its internal guidance on working with human rights defenders. The Foreign Secretary issued this updated guidance to all Embassies and High Commissions in December 2017. The guidance tasks the FCO's network of Embassies and High Commissions to find practical ways to support human rights defenders. The FCO keeps the implementation of the guidance under constant review.
The FCO supports the work of human rights defenders through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, most of which is allocated for implementation of projects by human rights defenders and civil society organisations. The FCO also highlights repression of human rights defenders in its Annual Human Rights Report.
Written Question
Wednesday 6th June 2018
Asked by:
Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support and protect media workers in Turkey.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We have long encouraged Turkey to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights, particularly in the area of freedom of expression. The Prime Minister raised media freedom with President Erdogan during his visit to the UK in May. Our Embassy in Turkey also monitors high profile media trials. We will continue to engage the Turkish government on these issues and to urge respect for freedom of media, which is essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy.