Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of President Gustavo Petro's decision to release around 230 young activists from prison after they were detained for their participation in the protests that took place in Colombia in 2021.

At the time of the protests, we raised our concerns with the relevant state actors in Colombia. We are clear that we support the right of all Colombians to protest peacefully, and that the right to peaceful assembly and association must be guaranteed. We continue to work closely with the UN Verification Mission and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, as well as the wider international community, in support of their efforts to reduce tensions and promote dialogue.