Asked by: Deirdre Costigan (Labour - Ealing Southall)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Turkey on the freedom of journalists in (a) Turkey and (b) Turkish Kurdistan.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Media freedom is a priority for the FCDO. The UK believes that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and we regularly engage the Turkish government on urging respect for freedom of media, which is essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy. Further high-level engagement is planned in coming months.
Written Evidence May. 21 2024
Inquiry: FCDO and civil societiesFound: influence on aid, media freedom, and international journalism.
Nov. 23 2023
Source Page: Media Freedom remains a vital component of shared security: UK statement to the OSCEFound: Media Freedom remains a vital component of shared security: UK statement to the OSCE
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the government of South Sudan about the death of Christopher Allen in 2017 following the publication in March 2024 of the report by the South Sudan Investigation Committee into his death.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK consistently pressed the Government of South Sudan to conduct a thorough and credible investigation into the death of Christopher Allen which resulted in the formation of the South Sudan Investigative Committee in 2023. We continue to press the Government of South Sudan to ensure protection of journalists and humanitarian workers. We champion the importance of media freedom and civil space, including urging the government to hold to account those who abuse or restrict media freedom.
Sep. 05 2024
Source Page: Social media and listening tool data: FOI releaseFound: Social media and listening tool data: FOI release
Sep. 09 2024
Source Page: Correspondence in relation to the monitoring of direct Twitter/X messages: FOI releaseFound: The number of requests that have been made by the Scottish Government to the social media platform X
Sep. 03 2024
Source Page: Education Scotland and social listening / media monitoring tool: FOI releaseFound: Education Scotland and social listening / media monitoring tool: FOI release
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what estimate he has made of the number of journalists detained in China; and what steps he is taking to support media freedom in that country.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
There are severe restrictions on media freedom in China, and the situation for journalists is deteriorating. The Government notes Reporters Without Borders' credible estimate that 109 journalists and media workers are currently detained by China.
The Government supports media freedom and the right of journalists to do their job. We consistently raise our concerns bilaterally and multilaterally. For example, at China's Universal Periodic Review in January we called on China to cease restrictions on civil society and independent media, and raised the cases of Sophia Huang Xueqin and Zhang Zhan, among others. I raised human rights concerns with my counterparts during my visit to China in April, and the Foreign Secretary did so when he met China's Foreign Minister in February. British diplomats have also attempted to attend trials of civilian journalists and rights activists in China to demonstrate support.
Oct. 17 2024
Source Page: Disclosure Scotland Social Media Management Tools: FOI releaseFound: Disclosure Scotland Social Media Management Tools: FOI release
Jul. 24 2024
Source Page: FOI release: Social media managementFound: FOI release: Social media management