Feb. 14 2024
Source Page: Living in AlgeriaFound: Living in Algeria
May. 15 2024
Source Page: Algeria: Knowledge Base profileFound: Algeria: Knowledge Base profile
Nov. 16 2023
Source Page: Algeria-UK Strategic Dialogue November 2023: joint statementFound: Algeria-UK Strategic Dialogue November 2023: joint statement
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of recent developments in human and civil rights in (1) Tunisia, and (2) Algeria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Through our annual Human Rights and Democracy Report we recognise where countries make progress but also where there is a decline in human and civil rights standards. Neither Tunisia nor Algeria are human rights priority countries but we continue to engage both countries on civil and human rights issues. At the UK-Tunisia Association Council meeting on 12 October 2023, the UK emphasised the importance of political participation, democratic freedoms and human rights. With Algeria, we engage directly with government officials and through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) universal periodic review process and follow-up recommendations. We welcome the recent visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the ACAPS Briefing Note: Algeria: Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf, published on 9 January 2022, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help ensure (a) independent and (b) continuous human rights monitoring in the Tindouf camps in Algeria.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, as we regularly make clear to the parties. We have consistently supported language in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions which encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara. The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards and to avoid any action that may endanger human life. We regularly discuss migration and treatment of refugees with partners, including through our embassies, and we remain committed to supporting them to manage this effectively.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether officials from (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments have visited the Tindouf camps in Algeria to examine allegations of the embezzlement of aid in those camps in the last five years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Officials have visited the Tindouf refugee camps as part of the UN-organised bi-annual Sponsor Programme visits, not specifically to examine any such allegations, during which they have observed the humanitarian effort by NGOs and UN Agencies. The most recent visit took place in November 2022.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to UN Security Council resolution 2703, adopted on 30 October 2023, whether his Department plans to take steps to help ensure that UNHCR is able to undertake unrestricted census activities in the Tindouf camps in Algeria.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 2703 on 30 October, which renewed the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate for 12 months. The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visit to Western Sahara. We will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process.
Mentions:
1: Daniel Kawczynski (Con - Shrewsbury and Atcham) Its influence is extending to north Africa, Libya and Algeria through its support of the Polisario movement.In - Speech Link
2: Daniel Kawczynski (Con - Shrewsbury and Atcham) I have not been, as yet, to the Tindouf camp in Algeria where the Polisario are, but I have received - Speech Link
3: Jeremy Corbyn (Ind - Islington North) I have had the good fortune to visit the refugee camps in Algeria on two occasions and to visit the part - Speech Link
4: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Most of them reside in refugee camps on the border between Morocco and Algeria, according to the Algerian - Speech Link
5: Lyn Brown (Lab - West Ham) The Opposition strongly value our relationships with Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. My right hon. - Speech Link
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UNSC resolution 2703, what steps his Department plans to take to encourage Algeria to allow UNHCR to freely conduct a census in the Tindouf camps.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 2703 on 30 October, which renewed the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO's) mandate for 12 months. The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visit to Western Sahara. We will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process.
Mentions:
1: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) United Kingdom led negotiations at the UN Security Council, alongside Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Algeria - Speech Link
2: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) the UN special envoy, whom I know extremely well from his former position as the Foreign Minister of Algeria - Speech Link