Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Togo on the state of human rights in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The British Government strongly supports the delivery and upholding of human rights for all. During the UN Universal Periodic Review for Togo in October 2016, the UK welcomed its accession to the Second Operational Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty as well as its election to the Human Rights Council. The UK raised concerns on: child trafficking, prison policies, prison overcrowding and the treatment of detainees. We recommended that allegations of arbitrary arrest and detention and allegations of torture should be investigated thoroughly.
Togo has subsequently made welcome progress on human rights, taking steps to prevent torture and other human rights violations by the security forces. The continued resistance to ensure the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people remains deeply troubling and we urge the Government of Togo to implement laws that protect all individuals
Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
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 ensure that the Togo Government respects the right of the Togolese to peaceful protest and demonstrations.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We encourage all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue with a view to adopting political reforms that will strengthen democracy in Togo. The British Government is engaging with the Government of Togo and partners in the region to urge a peaceful solution to the protests in the country.
Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
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 encourage the Togo Government to accept recommendations made by the UN for it to (a) repeal laws which target human rights defenders and (b) implement laws which protect LGBTI people in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The British Government strongly supports the delivery and upholding of human rights for all. During the UN Universal Periodic Review for Togo in October 2016, the UK welcomed its accession to the Second Operational Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the abolition of the death penalty as well as its election to the Human Rights Council. The UK raised concerns on: child trafficking, prison policies, prison overcrowding and the treatment of detainees. We recommended that allegations of arbitrary arrest and detention and allegations of torture should be investigated thoroughly.
Togo has subsequently made welcome progress on human rights, taking steps to prevent torture and other human rights violations by the security forces. The continued resistance to ensure the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people remains deeply troubling and we urge the Government of Togo to implement laws that protect all individuals.
Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
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 merits of the ECOWAS political roadmap for Togo; and what plans the Government has to help that country to carry out reforms to ensure a fair election free from violence.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK has supported the President of Ghana, under the auspices of ECOWAS, in his mediation efforts on political dialogue which we hope will lead to free and fair elections in Togo on 20 December. The mediation recommended that all parties refrain from protest in the country in the lead up to the elections. We encourage both the Government and the opposition parties to continue with their efforts to reach an agreed political solution and ensure elections are free and fair and avoid violence.