Lord Curry of Kirkharle

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Having secure and growing trading relationships can increase UK influence and help us to have open conversations with partners on a range of issues, including human rights.

Trade agreements are just one lever in our trade policy toolkit and are generally not the most effective mechanism for promoting human rights.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network across India track human rights across the country. We engage Indian stakeholders on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society.

We are concerned by ?intercommunal violence in Nigeria, which has had a devastating impact on many communities. We engage regularly with NGOs and a wide range of stakeholders working to address this violence. For example, in December 2019, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria visited Plateau State to meet with NGOs working on reconciliation. In February of this year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Wilton Park hosted a joint conference on 'Fostering Social Cohesion in Nigeria' with participation from NGOs and civil society. The discussion focused on the complex causes of conflict and explored solutions: a full report from the conference has now been published.

The UK Government has provided technical support to the Nigerian Government for the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan aims to promote cattle-rearing in one place, rather than the traditional nomadic practice, to limit competition over land and resources leading to violence.We are also designing our own programmes to address the high incidence of intercommunal violence in Nigeria. For example, a DFID programme to help address natural resource conflicts between farmers and herders, referred to in answer HL5836, is currently in development.

The UK Government has repeatedly called for the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, including Leah Sharibu. We welcomed President Buhari's statement in February, reiterating his Government's commitment to bring Leah home safely. We will continue to engage with the Government of Nigeria in support of urgent action to secure the return of Leah Sharibu and all abductees.

We regularly raise the issues of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria and at the highest levels of the Nigerian Government. The Prime Minister discussed UK support for fighting terrorism in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Rehman Chishti MP, met with the then Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria in January 2020 to discuss FoRB matters covering Nigeria, which had been raised with him by parliamentarians, and NGOs. In February, Rehman Chishti MP also met Leah's mother to express the UK's continued commitment to help Nigeria secure the release of all abductees.