Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of whether Sudan is meeting its international human rights obligations.

We continue to be concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan, including restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and sexual and gender based violence, especially in the conflict areas of Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Priority Country. Improving human rights is a key objective in our engagement with Sudan. The launching of a Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Sudan in March 2016 has provided a means of discussing human rights issues and encouraging Sudan to meet their international obligations. The third session of the Dialogue (in March 2017) included a significant human rights element, with the FCO's Head of Human Rights and Democracy representing the UK.