Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with members of (1) the EU, or (2) the Human Rights Council, regarding including the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Rakhine State, Burma, in the next Human Rights Council Resolution on Burma.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
A UN Commission of Inquiry can be authorised by the Security Council, the Human Rights Council or the UN Secretary General personally. Of the first two, we assess it is unlikely there would be sufficient international support for such a commission on the situation in Rakhine at this time. There are a number of countries that routinely oppose such commissions as a matter of principle, and have done so in the past. Nor do we assess there would be support for this among our likeminded partners, including the EU.
However, we continue to discuss human rights issues in Burma with our EU partners, both locally, in Rangoon and through the UK's Representation to the European Union in Brussels.
We support the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which does have the support of Burma's democratically elected government and the international community. The Commission's interim recommendations are expected in the spring and its final recommendations in the summer.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the official visit of the Foreign Secretary to Burma, what representations they have made to the government of Burma to ensure humanitarian aid, the provision of political and civil rights and effective security for Rohingya people.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
During his visit to Burma on 20 January, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), raised the issue of the Rohingya in person with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as with the Minister for Home Affairs and the National Security Adviser. In these representations, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need for a restrained security response to the situation in Rakhine, full humanitarian access, and the need to end discrimination against the Rohingya people.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 6 December 2016 (HL3575), what are the results of their monitoring of the government of Burma’s commitment to restoring humanitarian access to the Rohingya people; and what action will be taken to support the delivery of such access if the government of Burma fails to honour its commitment.
Answered by Lord Bates
Humanitarian access to northern townships of Rakhine State has partially improved but remains a serious concern. Access to many areas did improve in December and January and some humanitarian assistance was able to resume. However, the most affected areas remain without substantive humanitarian access and restrictions continue to be imposed in all areas. The ability of affected people to travel in order to access assistance also remains limited. We continue to monitor this closely and continue to raise the issue of humanitarian access with authorities at local, state and national level.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the open letter from a number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in December 2016 calling for the UN to encourage the government of Burma to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid for the Rohingya people; and whether they will take action to support that end.
Answered by Lord Bates
We noted the open letter from a number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in December 2016, and share the concern over access for humanitarian assistance. DFID and Foreign Office officials have been in close contact with UN agencies monitoring humanitarian access.
The UK Government has repeatedly urged the Government of Burma to allow full unrestricted humanitarian access. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson MP, the Minister of State Rory Stewart MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Alok Sharma MP and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Baroness Anelay have all raised the issue personally with Burmese ministers in recent meetings in Burma or London. DFID and Foreign Office officials have visited Northern Rakhine together with international counterparts and lobbied Burmese Ministers on this issue. The UK also discussed the issue at the UN Security Council on 17 November, where we raised our concerns about the lack of humanitarian access. The Government of Burma has committed to restoring humanitarian access and we are pressing for, and stand ready to support, the delivery of this commitment.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s undertakings following the EU referendum result, what policies they will pursue to sustain relationships with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Commonwealth nations that have treaty associations with the EU.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK will continue to maintain strong trading relationships with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries once we leave the European Union. As part of our ongoing work we are examining EU-ACP third country agreements, including on trade and preferences. In March, the UK will co-host with Malta the inaugural Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting in London at which a number of ACP countries will be represented.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK armed forces personnel who are (1) women, and (2) men, will be deployed in the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 13 December 2016 to Question HL3805.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many gender focal points there are in (1) the UK armed forces, (2) the Ministry of Defence, and (3) the UK armed forces personnel deployed in the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I gave her on 13 December 2016 to Question HL3806.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many gender focal points exist in (1) the UK's armed forces, (2) the Ministry of Defence, and (3) the UK's peacekeeping force in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
There are now over 40 Gender Focal Points (GFPs) within the ranks of the UK Armed Forces, including in the Ministry of Defence, four of whom are awaiting deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of (1) women, and (2) men, who will be deployed in the UK peacekeeping office in South Sudan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK intends to deploy up to 400 troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of whom, approximately 6%, are expected to be female. This would be double the UN average, with women making up about 3% of UN peacekeepers worldwide. In addition, the UK has four male personnel at the UN mission's headquarters in Juba, including the Chief of Staff.
Asked by: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to reports that Burma has denied basic rights to the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma to citizenship, marriage, worship, and education.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain deeply concerned about the human rights of the Rohingya community in Burma. The Rohingya continue to suffer from severe restrictions on their access to schools and places of worship. We have previously put on record our concerns about the 1982 Citizenship Law, and the so-called protection of race and religion laws putting restrictions on interfaith marriage. The Government of Burma has taken steps to address the underlying problems in Rakhine State, including by establishing a hybrid Burmese/international Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by Kofi Annan, to provide independent advice on resolving inter-communal tensions.