Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the United States authorities about the use of arms by police forces in that country against black citizens and the reform of policing in the United States.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We will not make representations on this issue as it is a matter for the US authorities. President Obama has announced the creation of a taskforce to build trust between communities and police. The President has also said he will issue an Executive Order aimed at tightening controls on where ex-military equipment is sold or given to domestic law enforcement agencies, and has asked Congress for an additional $263 million to increase the use of body-worn video cameras and improve community policing.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which of the 28 member states of the European Union are not members of NATO; and whether they intend to encourage those member states to join NATO.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
There are 6 Member States of the European Union who are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Sweden. Of these, all except Cyprus are official NATO Partners, cooperating both through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace programme.
The UK is committed to NATO’s Open Door policy, as enshrined in Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, which provides that any European state in a position to further the principles of the treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area may apply to join NATO. It is for individual States to consider whether they wish to apply for NATO membership, taking into account their own defence and security considerations.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of a proposed signing later in February 2015 of a military co-operation agreement between the governments in Moscow and Nicosia; whether the United Kingdom, as a guarantor power for Cyprus, was consulted; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any military agreement on a settlement in the island of Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware of recent media reports speculating on the terms of a military agreement between Russia and the Republic of Cyprus (ROC), and the subsequent statements by the ROC government refuting these claims. The UK remains fully engaged on issues of regional security with the ROC, while recognising that it is for the ROC to decide which bilateral agreements to sign. We would not be able to assess the impact on the prospects for a lasting settlement until the details of any such agreements were known.
The EU has sent a united message to Russia that its actions in Ukraine are in flagrant breach of international law, and all member states, including Cyprus, unanimously agreed to impose measures against Russia in response to these actions. It is important that we maintain that EU unity.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the state of freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia; whether they have raised with the government of Saudi Arabia the sentence of 1,000 lashes against Raif Badawi; and whether the European Commission has made any representations in the case of Raif Badawi.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of expression around the world. We believe that people must be allowed to freely discuss and debate issues, peacefully challenge their governments, exercise the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and speak out against violations of human rights wherever they occur. We have raised a range of human rights issues with the Saudi authorities including the right to freedom of expression. We are seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon.Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has raised the matter with the Saudi Ambassador. We have previously raised the case at a senior level with the Saudi authorities. Our embassy in Riyadh has supported two EU demarches on the Saudi government about this case.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the human rights situation of Yazidi women in areas of Iraq controlled by ISIS.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government continues to condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against all communities throughout the areas under its control. We are working closely with the Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can.
The human rights situation for many living in areas under ISIL control is gravely concerning, including for Yezidi women. We have received reports, including a recently published Amnesty International report, of the ordeal faced by these women and others abducted by ISIL including rape, sexual abuse, forced marriage, forced conversion and women being sold as slaves. Through the Department for International Development we are funding activities to protect vulnerable civilians including through legal assistance and support groups for women. We continue to explore what further support we might be able to provide to vulnerable groups and internally displaced persons.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Armenia about the detention and trial of Azerbaijani citizens Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Askerov; and whether they recognise as legitimate Armenian court procedures in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK has not made any representations to the Government of Armenia about the detention of Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Askerov in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, we have discussed this case with the International Committee of the Red Cross who are able to access Nagorno-Karabakh and have visited the detainees several times. The UK does not recognise the so-called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’ and therefore does not recognise the legal framework or Court proceedings in question.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Ukraine about the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine and the role of pro-Kiev volunteers in that region.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is regularly raised by British Ministers and officials. Our Ambassador to Ukraine wrote to Prime Minister Yatseniuk on 14 January 2015 to express the UK’s concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the subsequent unrest in the eastern regions. He underlined UK support towards mitigating the humanitarian impacts of the situation in the Donbas. We are very concerned by reports from organisations such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Amnesty International on the actions of certain pro-Kyiv battalions operating in the eastern regions, who have allegedly been involved in abuses including abductions, unlawful detention and ill-treatment. Embassy officials have raised our concerns with the Ukrainian President’s Office and we will continue to call on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that independent investigations take place into all serious allegations of violations, whether by the pro-Kyiv forces or the separatists.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Pakistan about the proposed resumption of the use of the death penalty in Pakistan; and what is their assessment of the use of the death penalty in Pakistan.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty. It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We fully understand Pakistan’s resolve to protect society from terrorism but there is no conclusive evidence that capital punishment is an effective deterrent. The UK remains opposed to the death penalty in all cases.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the human rights situation in Nigeria; and whether they have offered any assistance to the government of Nigeria in connection with the terrorist threat by Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Over the last year, Boko Haram insurgents have committed widespread human rights abuses across north east Nigeria. These have included bombings, killings, abductions and sexual violence. A number of non-governmental organisations have also reported that human rights violations have been committed by the Nigerian Security Forces during their fight against Boko Haram. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at all levels that, while we support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, we do not condone human rights violations.
We are providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria to help its fight against Boko Haram. This includes training and advice to Nigerian units deploying against Boko Haram, intelligence support and assistance to the Nigerians in bringing increased development and prosperity to the North East.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the electorate in a referendum on a new European Union treaty or an amendment to an existing treaty will include electors registered in Gibraltar.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Electors registered in Gibraltar vote in European Parliament elections and would vote in any referenda held on EU treaty change, whether the adoption of a new treaty or amendments to an existing treaty, where that would affect Gibraltar, as set out by the European Union Act 2011.