Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (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 India about the imprisonment of Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We regularly raise Mr Johal's case directly with the Government of India, including his allegations of torture, his right to a fair trial, and concerns about delays to legal proceedings against him. We have emphasised to the Government of India the need for Mr Johal's torture allegations to be fully investigated. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on 15 December 2020. The Secretary of State for International Trade raised the case with the Indian Minister for Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, on 5 February. As the Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon last raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian High Commissioner on 16 April 2021. He also raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kishan Reddy, and with Minister Prasad on 15 March.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Mexico about (1) the whereabouts of Claudia Uruchurtu, and (2) the steps it is taking to find her.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are concerned about the disappearance of Claudia Uruchurtu, a Mexican national who has been missing since 26 March. Our Ambassador has raised the disappearance with the Mexican authorities at both state and federal levels, and is continuing to do so in support of Claudia's British dual-national family. The Mexican authorities have committed to carrying out an investigation into Claudia's disappearance.
We are aware that the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has issued an urgent action request to the Mexican state to locate Claudia. As Claudia is a Mexican national, and is in Mexico, our authority and responsibility for engaging in this case is limited. However, our Embassy staff in Mexico City are in contact with Claudia's sisters, who are in Mexico helping with the search, and our Embassy team is helping the family access assistance from human rights groups in the area, and from the local UN human rights office.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about Loujain al-Hathloul, in particular about her access to family visits.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers, our Ambassador and Embassy in Riyadh have raised concern over the continued detention of Women's Rights Defenders, including Loujain al-Hathloul, at senior levels with the Saudi authorities. This was also raised by the Foreign Secretary during his recent trip to Saudi Arabia. We have consistently pressed for due process, raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement, lack of family contact and allegations of torture. The UK, along with other embassies in Saudi Arabia, consistently attempt to attend all trials of Women's Rights Defenders, but have been denied access since October 2018. The UK signed a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 15 September, calling for the release of Women's Rights Defenders. I raised Women's Rights Defenders during my call with Dr Awwad al-Awwad, the President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, in June.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about women’s rights in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our close relationship with Saudi Arabia allows us to raise our concerns about human rights, including women's rights, in private and in public, including during the most recent visit of the Foreign Secretary to Saudi Arabia. The UK has consistently called for women in Saudi Arabia to be able to participate fully in society. We welcome recent positive developments, including the reforms meaning that women no longer require a male guardian's permission to attend university, leave the country, get a job, or register divorce. The World Bank's "Women, Business, and the Law 2020" report recognises Saudi Arabia's efforts to advance women's economic participation within the Kingdom. However, women's rights still fall short of international standards. We will continue to raise the issue with Saudi Arabia, and work to promote and support further progress.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Naijah Yusuf has been detained and tortured by the government of Bahrain.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are not aware of any recent reports regarding Najah Yusuf. Najah Yusuf was pardoned and released from prison in August 2019.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what technical assistance his Department has provided to the government of Bahrain in addition to the support and training already provided to the Ombudsman Office, the Special Investigations Unit and the judiciary.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
There has been progress in the reform programme being put in place in Bahrain. The UK Government has been and will continue to support the Government of Bahrain in implementing its human rights and political reform programme through the provision of technical assistance, training, and sharing best practice sharing. In addition to the support that we are already providing to the Ombudsman Office, the Special Investigations Unit and the judiciary, we are engaged on a number of projects including capacity building engagement with youth Non-Governmental Organisations and working on reform of the security sector and the youth justice system.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to include Bahrain as a country of concern in his Department's next Human Rights and Democracy Report.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Bahrain has been designated as a country case study in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2014 Human Rights and Democracy Report, as such we will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Bahrain and issue a biannual assessment. There has been progress with the reforms put in place in Bahrain and the UK will continue to assist the Court of Bahrain in areas such judicial reforms. We assess every country, where we have human rights concerns, before the end of each calendar year for possible inclusion as a country of concern in the annual human rights report. The next global assessment will therefore take place shortly before the end of 2015.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent conviction of Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are following Mr Rajab’s case closely. Our Ambassador has raised the case with the Government of Bahrain and encouraged the Bahraini authorities to ensure due process is followed and international norms of justice are upheld. British embassy officials have attended Mr Rajab’s court appearances to underline the UK’s interest in the case.
The UK government is supporting the government of Bahrain in its reform programme, including work to help Bahrain strengthen its human rights and justice sector. We are clear that more needs to be done and we raise these issues frequently and at senior levels.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the detention of Roya Saberinejad Nobakht.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have raised our concerns over the detention and welfare of Roya Nobakht with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, including most recently on 15 December. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing consular assistance to Mrs Nobakht’s family.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the International Finance Corporation World Bank Loans to Honduran company DINANT.
Answered by Lord Swire
I am aware of the International Finance Corporation’s loan to palm oil company Dinant. I am also aware of the subsequent review carried out by the World Bank. The British Government is committed to advancing respect for human rights and our officials are promoting the importance of business and human rights around the world. We will continue to monitor this case closely.