Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of evidence suggesting that between 60,000 and 100,000 transplants are performed annually throughout China predominately from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of reports that allege that a process of involuntary organ removal may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The British Government fully supports the Declaration of Istanbul (May 2008), which encourages all countries to draw up legal and professional frameworks to govern organ donation and transplantation activities.
As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, said in a Westminster Hall debate in October 2016: "Although I do not doubt the need to maintain close scrutiny of organ transplant practices in China, we believe that the evidence base is not sufficiently strong to substantiate claims about the systematic harvesting of organs from minority groups. Indeed, based on all the evidence available to us, we cannot conclude that this practice of "organ harvesting" is definitely happening in China."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) collates global data on organ donations and works with China. The WHO view is that China is implementing an ethical, voluntary organ transplant system in accordance with international standards, although the WHO does have concerns about overall transparency.
We have not discussed the role of Dr Jiefu Huang with the WHO.
We will continue to review any new evidence that is presented to us.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have conducted any investigations into the origin of the plastinated bodies from China exhibited in the Real Bodies exhibition displayed in Birmingham in 2018; if so, whether they were satisfied with the documentation presented to them; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government is aware of the technique to plastinate human bodies exported from China for exhibition and for medical research. We have not made inquiries with the Chinese or other governments on this matter but continue to monitor media coverage.
In the case of the exhibition in Birmingham, the UK Human Tissue Authority ensured that it met licensing standards, and licensed the exhibition in line with the law. We have no evidence to suggest that the exhibition contained the cadavers of political or other prisoners from China.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about the issue of female genital mutilation.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK is working closely with the Nigerian government to eradicate the abusive practice of female genital mutilation in Nigeria.
Nigeria is one of 17 countries targeted by the Department for International Development's £35 million programme working towards ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Africa.
The programme focuses on three areas: building the evidence base for tackling FGM, working with the UN on challenging social norms and with governments on policy measures, as well as support for Africa-led campaigns.
Our broader development programme in Nigeria also includes initiatives that tackle violence against women and girls. This includes UK support for implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which criminalizes female genital mutilation.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of Zimbabwean citizens by the government of Zimbabwe.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
In recent weeks we have noted with increasing concern the heavy-handed response of the authorities to peaceful and lawful demonstrators, and violence against opposition parties and social activists. We regularly call upon the Zimbabwean Government to end human rights abuses and restore internationally accepted standards. On 18 November our Ambassador and EU Heads of Mission in Harare issued a statement expressing concern at the increase in incidents, in violation of the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution.