Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the forthcoming treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the Chagos Archipelago will include (1) a guaranteed right-of-return to the outer islands for all Chagossians worldwide, and (2) adequate compensation and reparations; and whether any compensation scheme would be established in consultation with Chagossians, and be overseen by an independent body.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Under the terms of the agreement between the UK and Mauritius, Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine. We will also work with Mauritius to start a new programme of visits for Chagossians to the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The UK provided compensation to the Chagossian community in the 1980s that courts have ruled was paid in full and final settlement. As part of the agreement between the UK and Mauritius, we will finance a new trust fund for Mauritius to support Chagossians. We will also increase our support to Chagossians living in the UK and around the world, through new and existing projects.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Human Rights Watch report That’s When the Nightmare Started: UK and US Forced Displacement of the Chagossians and Ongoing Colonial Crimes, published in February 2023, what assessment they have made of the lawfulness and implications of preventing Chagossians from returning to the island of Diego Garcia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine. We will also work with Mauritius to restart visits to the islands, including Diego Garcia, for Chagossians.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the joint statement of 3 October between the governments of Mauritius and the UK announcing that political agreement had been reached on the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, what steps they are taking to ensure that all the Chagossian groups (1) in the UK, and (2) elsewhere, are consulted ahead of signing of the treaty.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers and officials will continue to regularly engage with members of the Chagossian community in the UK, Mauritius and Seychelles on a range of issues, including on the implementation of the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. We recognise the importance of the islands to Chagossians and have worked to ensure this state-to-state agreement reflects their interests.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Gender Apartheid Inquiry report Shattering Women's Rights, Shattering Lives: Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Inquiry Into The Situation Of Women And Girls In Afghanistan And Iran, published by the International Bar Association on 4 March, with particular reference to the forthcoming 79th meeting of the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee in April.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The FCDO is aware of the report. There are complex legal and political questions which arise in considering any new crime of 'gender apartheid'. We are considering these questions and consulting legal advisers and subject matter experts. The situations of women and girls in Afghanistan and Iran are distinct and we will consider the unique circumstances of each country when assessing the recommendations of the Inquiry.
We have repeatedly condemned Taliban and Iranian policies and actions that restrict the rights of women and girls. Officials from the UK Mission to Afghanistan regularly press Taliban acting ministers to reverse their harmful policies on women and girls. Since Iran's mass protests of 2022-23, we have sanctioned 94 individuals or entities for human rights abuses, including senior decision makers responsible for Iran's oppressive hijab law. We will continue to work with the international community to address women and girls' rights issues in Afghanistan and Iran.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - 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 Tunisia concerning the case of Rached Ghannouchi, the former Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, who has been detained in Mornaguia civil prison since his arrest in April 2023.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We monitor the political and human rights situation in Tunisia closely. On 18 April 2023, I [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon] made clear the UK's view that the wave of arrests, including of Rached Ghannouchi and restrictions on political opposition in Tunisia were eroding the space for plurality. I reiterated this message during my meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister on 12 October 2023. The Association Council was also an opportunity for the UK to discuss the principles and benefits of an open and democratic society, of legitimate political opposition, the separation of powers, civil society and an inclusive political process.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Statement by the Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 3 November (HCWS354), what steps they are taking to take account of the views of the Chagossian communities, including those based in the UK, with regard to issues relating to the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago and their descendants.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK and Mauritius have decided to begin negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. We know there are a wide range of views among Chagossian communities about the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago and will ensure we have conversations with communities.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK has played a leading role in responding to the humanitarian crisis, committing over £1 billion in aid since the conflict began. Over the course of our coming financial year, the UK will provide at least £88 million in aid to the people of Yemen. UK funding will be provided through multiple agencies, including the World Food Programme and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. This will help feed at least 200,000 people every month, provide lifesaving health care for 800,000 women and children and treat 85,000 severely malnourished children. We will work with our delivery partners to ensure aid is disbursed quickly and effectively.
The UK is playing a leading role in supporting UN led efforts to sustain, extend and expand the UN brokered truce which came into effect on 2 April. An inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, in response to the petition highlighting the disenfranchisement of around five million Zimbabweans in the diaspora, which was presented at 10 Downing Street by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation on 2 December 2021.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We are aware of the petition submitted by the groups MyRight2Vote, Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation, and Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe. The onus is on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that all citizens have the ability to vote in line with the constitution, section 67 of which states that "Every Zimbabwean citizen above 18 years has the right to vote secretly in elections". However, the UK continues to urge the Zimbabwean Government to fulfil their own constitution and their commitments to reform electoral laws.