Brendan O'Hara

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is aware of the assault on Professor Lovemore Madhuku and other National Constitutional Assembly activists. Freedom of expression is an essential quality of any functioning democracy. Political parties, civil society and journalists in Zimbabwe should be able to operate without harassment. Embassy officials remain in contact with the Government of Zimbabwe on these issues as part of our regular engagement.

The UK's commitment to international law, including the Genocide Convention, is unwavering and we have always acted consistently with our obligations. In relation to the Provisional Measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024, the UK has been clear that Israel has an obligation to implement these measures.

The UK's commitment to international law, including the Genocide Convention, is unwavering and we have always acted consistently with our obligations. In relation to the Provisional Measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024, the UK has been clear that Israel has an obligation to implement these measures.

The UK's commitment to international law, including the Genocide Convention, is unwavering and we have always acted consistently with our obligations. In relation to the Provisional Measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024, the UK has been clear that Israel has an obligation to implement these measures.

The UK remains concerned about human rights abuses in China, including in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities remain subject to arbitrary detention and persecution. We also condemn the use of transnational repression, including the intimidation or harassment by foreign governments of their critics overseas. We continue to raise our concerns with China at the highest levels, most recently in the Prime Minister's meeting with President Xi Jinping in January.

We regularly engage with the Government of Malaysia on a range of international matters, including human rights and humanitarian issues. We continue to encourage all countries to ensure that the rights and safety of vulnerable populations, including the Rohingya, are respected and protected. In July 2025, the previous Foreign Secretary raised Myanmar with the Malaysian Prime Minister.

On 12 January, the Foreign Secretary told Foreign Minister Araghchi directly that the Iranian Government must immediately end the violence carried out against peaceful protestors in Iran, and uphold fundamental rights and freedoms.

We subsequently led the call, alongside international partners, for a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 23 January to address the ongoing abuses in Iran, and we were pleased that the Council voted to extend the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to collect evidence of the authorities' human rights violations, including in relation to religion or belief.

At the Council, UK Human Rights Ambassador Eleanor Sanders, highlighted the bravery of protesters, especially women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, who faced severe repression in their daily lives. We will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account for its repression of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

For further background, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 August 2025 to Question 67802.

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 5 November and the statement on Sudan made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November, when these issues were discussed at length.

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 5 November and the statement on Sudan made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November, when these issues were discussed at length.

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 5 November and the statement on Sudan made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November, when these issues were discussed at length.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 November in response to Question 83589.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 November in response to Question 83589.

Further to the answer I gave on 29 October to Question 83265, we are concerned by the reported case of Teymur Hosseini, and we continue to monitor the situation for Christians in Iran.

The Foreign Secretary raised human rights including freedom of religion and belief with Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on 30 October, building on my own discussions with the Vice Foreign Minister on 13 October. Our new UK-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reaffirms our shared commitment to continue sincere, frank and constructive dialogue on human rights issues, including through the UN Human Rights Council and Universal Periodic Reviews. The UK will continue to raise specific cases of concern including through the work of the UK envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief, David Smith MP.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on the Middle East on 18 November, where support for Palestinian institutions was discussed. We will update the House in due course on any further developments.

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem has had a special role working to promote and protect UK interests in Jerusalem for almost 150 years. The future status of the British Consulate General, and the Consul General, in Jerusalem will be determined in due course.

The UK follows the standard diplomatic process of agrément and presentation of credentials, as set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We recognise Palestinian statehood over provisional borders, based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, to be finalised as part of future negotiations.

We remain deeply concerned about incidents of violence in Syria, including the reports of Dr Shaheen's murder. We continue to advocate for an inclusive political transition, a greater focus in social cohesion, and protection of the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background. When I met the Foreign Minister and Justice Minister in Damascus in August and during their inward visit in November, I underlined the need for the Syrian Government to ensure that the justice system serves all Syrians.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on the Middle East on 18 November, where support for Palestinian institutions was discussed. We will update the House in due course on any further developments.

The UK is monitoring the situation between the Armenian Government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. We expect all actions to comply with Armenia's constitutional and legal framework, allowing due process to take its course and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly under the law, with judicial proceedings remaining transparent and impartial. The UK Government remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

The UK Government continues to monitor reports of human rights concerns in Vietnam. We regularly raise these issues with the Vietnamese authorities - including at the highest levels - through bilateral engagement and in multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Our Embassy in Bangkok is following the arrests of Montagnard Protestants in Thailand. This includes liaising with the relevant authorities to understand potential next steps. We continue to urge all governments to uphold their international human rights obligations, including the non-refoulement principle.

The UK Government continues to monitor reports of human rights concerns in Vietnam. We regularly raise these issues with the Vietnamese authorities - including at the highest levels - through bilateral engagement and in multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Our Embassy in Bangkok is following the arrests of Montagnard Protestants in Thailand. This includes liaising with the relevant authorities to understand potential next steps. We continue to urge all governments to uphold their international human rights obligations, including the non-refoulement principle.

No special immunity was given in this case.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 18 September to question 74935.

The UK Government is aware of reports concerning the detention of Zion Church members in China. We continue to follow developments closely and regularly raise human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. The UK remains committed to promoting human rights and the rule of law globally.

The Government regularly raises its concerns about media freedom with the Chinese authorities, including the case of Zhang Zhan, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues have all raised human rights with their Chinese counterparts.

British diplomats attempted to attend Zhang Zhan's trial on 19 September but were declined entry to court. On 13 October, the Media Freedom Coalition issued a joint statement expressing our strong concern about the detention of Zhang Zhan and calling for her release.

The Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and we continue to engage with Chinese counterparts on the restriction of those freedoms, including the arbitrary arrest of Christians for practicing their faith.

The UK Government can confirm that President Isaac Herzog's visit to the UK was conducted under the protections afforded to Heads of State under international law. Special Mission Status was not requested for this visit.

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), for all. The Egyptian Government has stated its commitment to protecting the rights and freedom of worship as well as the protections enshrined in the Egyptian constitution. We continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities.

The UK condemns the killing of Juan Lopez in September 2024. Human rights defenders working on environmental issues should be able to work without fear of reprisal, wherever they are. Our Embassy in Guatemala City, which maintains our relations with Honduras, issued a statement following Mr Lopez's death urging the authorities in Honduras to urgently investigate this case. Officials at our Embassy in Guatemala City and in the UK are in regular contact with civil society organisations regarding human rights in Honduras.

Our 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations reflect the first step as we begin to pivot to a lower ODA budget, the ministerial line-by-line strategic review of our ODA programming, and our commitment to protect planned humanitarian spend and live contract agreements. An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) - which considers impacts on women and girls - was an essential part of how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) made these decisions. The EIA also tracks spend in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations were published in the Annual Report & Accounts on 22 July alongside the EIA. As confirmed by the EIA, the allocations process for 2025/26 has protected against disproportionate impacts on equalities.

The FCDO is committed to empowering women and girls globally and remaining a world leader on championing safe, inclusive education, including in the Global South.

The UK has been clear that Israel's approach to aid delivery in Gaza is inhumane, fosters desperation and endangers civilians. We are appalled at repeated mass casualty incidents in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites. Desperate civilians who have endured 20 months of war should never face the risk of death or injury to simply feed themselves and their families. We co-called a United Nations Security Council meeting on 16 July where we reiterated that Israel must lift restrictions on aid entering Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 July to raise these issues, press Israel to restore humanitarian access and agree to a ceasefire. We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations and United States, to push for improved humanitarian access, a ceasefire and a lasting peace in the region.

The UK stands firmly against Israel's inhumane approach to aid delivery in Gaza. We are appalled at repeated mass casualty incidents in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites, with hundreds of desperate civilians killed whilst trying to get food for their families. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 July to raise these issues, press Israel to restore humanitarian access and agree to a ceasefire. We continue to work with partners, including the United States, to push for improved humanitarian access, a ceasefire and a lasting peace in the region.

The UK Government have arranged six flights from Israel since 24 June. At this time, no further flights are planned. Commercial flights are now available. This remains a fast-moving and fragile situation, and plans will be kept under constant review.

Criterion 1 of the UK's Strategic Export Licensing Criteria requires respect for the UK's international obligations and commitments. We have carefully collated, reviewed and assessed relevant evidence concerning the Gaza conflict. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with all our legal obligations, including those under the Arms Trade Treaty and Genocide Convention, and we remain wholly committed to international law.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has carried out regular International Humanitarian Law assessments since the beginning of the conflict on 7 October 2023. Our assessments are continuous and the latest is due to be finalised before the end of the month.