Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Technical Mission to the State of Qatar's December 2017 report on the impact of the Gulf Crisis on human rights, particularly with regard to that report's conclusions on the impact of the crisis on (1) freedom of expression, (2) freedom of movement, (3) the separation of families, (4) economic rights, (5) the right to health, (6), the right to education, and (7) other matters.

Both the Minister for the Middle East and I have met the Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee and discussed the contents of the report following the Technical Mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Qatar. This included the impact that the current dispute is having on everyday lives of people in the region, as outlined in the report’s conclusions. Our assessment is that the best way of resolving the issues raised is for a resolution to the current dispute. We have repeatedly called on the Gulf States to find a way of de-escalating the situation and lifting the restrictions.

The UK will carefully consider any case and evidence presented at the UNHRC, as we do for all other issues. It is important that all states ensure they comply with international human rights obligations.