Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and (2) the outgoing and incoming chairs of ASEAN, namely the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines, regarding the human rights situation in Burma, and the forthcoming elections proposed by the government of Burma.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based
Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.
We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the forthcoming elections in Burma, in particular whether they will be free or fair.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based
Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.
We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Nigeria on ensuring protection of Christians, especially in the middle belt and north of Nigeria; what response they have received; and whether they plan to review extant UK arms export licences to Nigeria.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 November to Question HL11756.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they provide to civil-society and faith-based organisations in Nigeria working to address religiously-targeted violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 November to Question HL11756.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will continue to support the mandate and recommendations of the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and what action they are taking to ensure the renewal of that mandate, and the implementation of the recommendations.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur and welcomes their report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened three meetings so far this year (2025) to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We also co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Myanmar in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.
The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition stakeholders, including the National Unity Government, Myanmar diaspora, and civil society organisations. Since the coup, the UK has provided over £190 million in humanitarian aid, including education and support for civil society in Myanmar. The UK continues to lead efforts to keep Myanmar on the international agenda and advocate for human rights.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will continue to support the existing credentials of the representatives of the National Unity Government of Myanmar at the United Nations, and what steps they are taking to support the renewal of those credentials.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur and welcomes their report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened three meetings so far this year (2025) to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We also co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Myanmar in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.
The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition stakeholders, including the National Unity Government, Myanmar diaspora, and civil society organisations. Since the coup, the UK has provided over £190 million in humanitarian aid, including education and support for civil society in Myanmar. The UK continues to lead efforts to keep Myanmar on the international agenda and advocate for human rights.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that a BBC journalist in Vietnam has had her passport and identity card withheld and been subject to questioning, and whether they will raise that case with the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam during his visit to the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We remain concerned by the reported harassment of non-governmental organisations (NGO), journalists, and rights activists and communities in Vietnam and continue to raise these concerns directly with our Vietnamese counterparts. The Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised this case with Vice Foreign Minister Hang on 13 October, as did the Prime Minister with General Secretary To Lam of Vietnam on 29 October, and the Foreign Secretary with Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Le Hoai Trung on 30 October.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to the people of Sudan, in particular those in Darfur, following the fall of El Fasher, and what estimate they have made of the number of people who are benefitting from that assistance.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I gave in response to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians, heard in the House of Lords on 4 November.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they last conducted a joint analysis of conflict and stability assessment for Sudan, and what steps they have taken as a result of the findings of that assessment.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The last Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) assessment for Sudan was completed in 2019. Regular and ongoing analysis, from across the UK Government and from external experts, covering all aspects of the situation in Sudan forms a crucial part of the policy making process.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what involvement the Mass Atrocity Assessment Hub has in assessing the scale and nature of atrocity crimes in Sudan, and how that analysis is shaping the response to those atrocities.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Mass Atrocity Hub is now part of The Conflict and Atrocity Prevention Department, which has been working closely with the Africa Directorate on Sudan since April 2023. Support has included assessing the risk of atrocities in Sudan, providing analytical capabilities to collect, verify and preserve open-source data relating to potential atrocity crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, as well as technical advisory support on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's atrocity prevention and response workstreams.