Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-Indonesia Economic Growth Partnership on (a) indigenous peoples’ human rights and (b) tropical forests.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We raise issues affecting indigenous people through ongoing diplomatic engagement on international human rights commitments. The Economic Growth Partnership with Indonesia reaffirms commitments to protect and restore primary forests, peatlands, and related ecosystems, reduce deforestation, and respect the rights of workers, local communities and customary law communities.

Growing trading relationships help enable open conversations, including on human rights. As signatories to the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, the UK and Indonesia are committed to working to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.