Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Peruvian counterpart on protections for (a) indigenous, (b) land, (c) human rights and (d) environmental activists.

I [Minister Rutley] visited Peru in October and held discussions with senior representatives of the Peruvian Government on a range of issues, such as the importance of protecting human rights, including those of minority and indigenous groups. The British Embassy in Lima closely monitors the situation of human rights and environmental defenders in Peru and has regular discussions with representatives of these groups. We will continue to work with the Peruvian Government and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Peru to help Peru make progress towards sustainable and inclusive development with respect for human rights.