Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support mining companies headquartered or incorporated in the UK in complying with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in the light of reports of human rights abuses resulting from the mining of key minerals.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports voluntary human rights due diligence by UK businesses across their operations and supply relationships, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises. In mineral supply chains, the Government supports the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which promotes responsible operation in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK is Chair of the multi-stakeholder Voluntary Principles Initiative on Security and Human Rights that guides companies on security operations while respecting human rights. Several UK headquartered and incorporated mining companies are members of the initiative.
The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition whilst promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the work of the Global Tailings Management Institute.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly welcomed the launch of the Global Tailings Management Institute in Johannesburg earlier this year. The Global Tailings Management Institute was established by the International Council on Mining and Metals, the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2019 to make mine tailings facilities safer. We are considering how best to support the Institute as part of our international approach under the new strategy.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, including through their embassies, to support environmental defenders, human rights defenders and indigenous communities who are at risk of violence due to their opposition to mining operations by companies headquartered or incorporated in the UK.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the essential role that civil society and human rights defenders play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Our Embassies and Missions support those at risk, including by monitoring cases, observing trials and raising issues with host governments. We encourage delivery partners to incorporate lived experience into programme design and delivery in an ethical and meaningful way. The UK government works to promote responsible business practices and greater value-addition in developing countries' critical minerals supply chains through several ODA-funded initiatives working with governments, investors and civil society, including support to the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer on 31 July 2024 by Lord Collins of Highbury (HL27), what progress has been made towards a UN Security Council Resolution on the protection of civilian interpreters working with the Armed Forces in conflict zones who may not be classified as conducting humanitarian activities.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise the vital role that interpreters play in conflicts, and the threats they face. The most effective way to protect civilians and safeguard human rights, including those civilians working as interpreters, is by improving implementation of existing UN Security Council resolutions, compliance with International Humanitarian Law and seeking accountability for violations.
The UK takes seriously our duty of care responsibilities for civilian interpreters and other locally employed civilians working with our Armed Forces, as the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme demonstrates. The ARAP scheme, administered by the Ministry of Defence, provides safe resettlement routes for those formerly employed, directly or indirectly, by the UK Government.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have held any discussions with the government of Colombia about the increased conflict in Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria; and, if so, what was the outcome.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We are working with the Colombian Government and others on implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, including the Ethnic Chapter. Through funding to civil society organisations and the OHCHR (UN Human Rights Office), the UK is supporting the protection of the Wiwa indigenous peoples in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with strategic litigation and self-protection mechanisms. Embassy officials visited the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in October and raised their concern about the security situation with local authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, as penholder on the United Nations Security Council for Colombia, of the social-legal dialogue between the government of Colombia and the AGC/Clan del Golfo.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As penholder on Colombia at the UN Security Council, the UK is continuing its long-term support to Colombian efforts to achieve a sustainable and long-lasting peace, via the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. The Government of Colombia has appointed its representatives to the talks with the Gulf Clan (AGC/Clan del Golfo). The UK is monitoring the progress of the talks and its impacts on communities, including in collaboration with the UN.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the government of Colombia about increasing protection for the Wiwa indigenous peoples currently being displaced by high-impact, armed organised crime groups; and, if so, what was the outcome.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Supporting Colombia in its commitment to secure a lasting peace is an important priority of this Government. We continue to urge Colombia to take further steps to protect all vulnerable groups including indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities most affected by conflict. We remain concerned at the violence facing the Wiwa community. Through funding to civil society organisations and the UN Human Rights Office, the UK supports the protection of the Wiwa indigenous peoples with strategic litigation and self-protection mechanisms. In October, Embassy officials visited Wiwa communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and discussed the security situation with local authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of the peace talks between the government of Colombia and the Segunda Marquetalia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supports Colombian efforts to achieve a sustainable and long-lasting peace, including the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and the mandate of the UN Verification Mission. The government of Colombia has concluded the first round of dialogues with the Segunda Marquetalia, agreed on the model for the talks and the progressive implementation on the agreements reached. The UK continues to monitor and assess the progress of the talks in terms of the ceasefire, the security situation, and the impact on communities. The Foreign Secretary met with Foreign Minister Murillo in September, to reiterate the UK's commitment towards the peace processes in Colombia.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision to suspend peace talks between the government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supported the expansion of the UN Verification Mission to include the National Liberation Army (ELN). We are monitoring the impacts of the suspension of the ceasefire, with a particular focus on the impacts on communities. We call upon the ELN to work towards peace, re-commit to dialogue and re-establish a ceasefire. As penholder for Colombia at the UN Security Council, the UK had a key role coordinating international support in expanding the mandate of the UN Verification Mission to verify the ceasefire with the ELN.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made towards a UN Security Council Resolution on the protection of civilian interpreters working in conflict zones.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted during protection of civilians week in May 2024 which reaffirms parties' obligations under international law to protect all humanitarian personnel as well as humanitarian premises and assets. This includes civilian interpreters working in conflict zones.
The resolution highlights the critical role of national and locally recruited humanitarian personnel in conducting humanitarian activities during armed conflict and the risks they face. It also establishes a regular reporting mechanism to highlight the safety and security of all humanitarian personnel at the Security Council and provide recommendations on measures to protect and enhance the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and ensure accountability.