Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department took to mark International Men's Day on 19 November 2020.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO recognises that men and boys, as well as women and girls, suffer from harmful social norms and violence. International Men's Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how outcomes for men and boys can be improved, as well as how men and boys can play a key role in advancing gender equality.
FCDO's policy and programmes look to support men and boys as survivors and victims of violence as well as responding to violence against women and girls. Last year we appointed male and female survivor champions to support our work on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. We work with whole communities to challenge the acceptability of violence and bring about social change. For example, in Pakistan we supported an intervention which achieved significant reductions in corporal punishment at school and peer violence for boys as well as girls.
Men and boys can also be powerful change agents in their communities and positive role models. Many of our Girls' Education Challenge projects include activities to target boys and engage them as champions of gender equality. For example, in Mozambique and Nepal, marginalised boys as well as girls will be trained in peer education, life and vocational skills, and business initiatives.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) people who have been convicted of murder and (b) victims of murder who were transgender around the world.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO does not collect statistics for the number of people convicted of murder, or victims of murder who were transgender, around the world.
The Government firmly believes that the chance to live with dignity, free from violence or discrimination, should not depend on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. We directly challenge governments that criminalise homosexuality, at the highest possible level. The UK is currently co-chair and a founder-member of the Equal Rights Coalition, a grouping of 42 countries committed to working together to promote LGBTI equality globally. We work with partner countries and through international organisations, including the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, to promote inclusion.
We believe that the strongest, safest and most prosperous societies are those in which all citizens can live freely without fear of violence or discrimination. The international community must uphold the universality of human rights.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the biggest pay rise given to someone in his Department was in (a) percentage and (b) cash terms in the last 12 months.
Answered by Nigel Adams
FCDO cannot provide the data requested as it has the potential to identify an individual's personal information.
Information on the salaries of our Senior Board members are already published on an annual basis in our annual reports. Information on salaries and roles for all staff, highlighting those at Director and above is published as Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries on Gov.UK; this information is updated every six months. Our annual pay awards are aligned to the Cabinet Office pay remits for delegated grades and SCS.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will include imports of coal from Russia in the list of sanctions against that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to playing a leading role in sanctions against Russia. Sanctions are one of a range of measures we have taken, in concert with others, to defend our security and enhance our capabilities against Russian malign activity. During the transition period, EU sanctions on Russia will continue to apply in the UK. These measures do not currently include sanctions on the import of coal.