Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the UK abstained from voting on the motion entitled, Ensuring respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem at the 21st Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) issued a press release on 23 July stating that:
"Today's UN Human Rights Council resolution will not help achieve a lasting ceasefire. It is fundamentally unbalanced and will complicate the process by introducing unnecessary new mechanisms.
The UK could not support this resolution, but recognising the strength of feeling about the loss of life and the desire by a large number of members of the Council to express that feeling in a resolution, the UK joined other EU nations in abstaining in the vote."
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise respect for human rights, the rule of law and the case of Mr Alexander Sodiqov with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojidin Aslov during his upcoming visit to the UK.
Answered by David Lidington
We discuss the importance of respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law with the Government of Tajikistan at both official and ministerial level whenever opportunity allows.
We remain deeply concerned by the continuing detention in Tajikistan of Alexander Sodiqov, an academic researcher working for the University of Exeter. Senior Minister of State Baroness Warsi discussed a number of issues, including human rights, the rule of law and the case of Mr Sodiqov, when she met Foreign Minister Aslov on 1 July.
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UN-led peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic is prepared to protect civilians and is fully operational as soon as possible.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
We are working closely with partners to support UN planning for MINUSCA's deployment as mandated on 15 September, ready to assume immediate responsibility for the protection of civilians. We will continue to provide expertise and resources to ensure a well planned, phased approach that prioritises protection of civilians, and enables a smooth transition of responsibility for security from the African Union led mission, MISCA. We will also continue to support efforts to identify troops and equipment to contribute to MINUSCA's military component.
Asked by: Anas Sarwar (Labour - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he will take to ensure that survivors of sexual violence in the Central African Republic have access to lifesaving services that respond to the specific needs of women and girls.
Answered by Mark Simmonds
The UK remains extremely concerned about the grave humanitarian and security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) and is working closely with international partners and CAR's Transitional Government to bring stability to CAR and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
We welcome the announcement made by the African Union at the 10-13 June Global Summit to Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict about the deployment of a team of experts to CAR to investigate sexual violence abuses. This will be funded by the UK and Japan.
The decision by Transitional President Samba-Panza to refer CAR to the International Criminal Court is a positive step towards tackling impunity and bringing charges against those most responsible for crimes, including sexual violence.