Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department had with the Colombian government on human rights in that country before it took the decision to provide military assistance in that country.

Military assistance in Colombia has been provided over many years and the issue of human rights is closely examined before any military assistance to Colombia is approved. The UK has provided expertise and advice to the Colombian Armed Forces on the subjects of international humanitarian law and human rights during military operations at a number of seminars and conferences.

My right hon. Friend the previous Foreign Secretary (William Hague) raised the issue of human rights with President Santos and Defence Minister Pinzon in February. He welcomed the Colombian Government’s commitment to zero tolerance of human rights abuses and underlined the importance of taking action on threats to human rights defenders and trade unionists. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Latin America Affairs, (Hugo Swire) also raised human rights with the Colombian Government during his visit to Colombia in June.