Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to consult survivors of human rights violations on his Department's human rights strategy.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Collins, set out their five priorities for promoting and protecting human rights, rule of law and democratic governance. The UK recognises that meaningful engagement with survivors of human rights violations improves the effectiveness of our policies and programmes. We are committed to empowering and engaging survivors, including people with lived experience of modern slavery and business-related human rights abuses for the National Baseline Assessment on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We also engage survivors of conflict-related sexual violence through the Survivor Advisory Group for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to incorporate the UK’s obligation to prevent and prohibit torture into the Government’s human rights strategy.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Upholding the rule of law is central to the strategic approach to human rights and democratic governance, set out by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa on 10 December 2024. We unreservedly condemn the use of torture for any purpose and regularly call on States to ensure that those in detention are treated in line with international human rights law. The UK is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture. The FCDO is proud to work with the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Advocates for International Development to deliver training and advocacy work, globally.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on how many occasions a representative of the Government has raised the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah with the Egyptian government since December 2021.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, most recently during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 8 January. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, raised with the Foreign Minister on 2 January on a visit to Cairo. The UK will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights. Officials and the Ambassador raise this continually with Egyptian counterparts.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Thai counterpart on reported plans to deport 43 Uyghur men to China.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government is seriously concerned about reports that detained Uyghurs in Thailand are at risk of imminent refoulment.
We have raised the issue directly with the Thai Government and continue to work closely with likeminded partners. We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and at a minimum in accordance with refugee law obligations under customary international law not to undertake the refoulment of these individuals to China.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) humanitarian and (b) security situation for (i) Orthodox Christians and (ii) other minority communities in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. We remain focused on pushing for an end to the devastating violence in Gaza, protecting civilians, ensuring the release of all hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza. Officials from the British Consulate General in Jerusalem have regular engagements with the Christian community in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, to understand the impact of the conflict and Israeli occupation on Christian Palestinians. The UK champions, and remains strongly committed to, Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral organisations, our bilateral work and our programme funding.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the (a) national unity government and (b) ethnic revolutionary organisations from Myanmar.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to meet regularly with a range of pro-democracy actors from Myanmar, including senior representatives from the National Unity Government (NUG) and from a number of Ethnic Resistance Organisations (EROs). The UK stands in solidarity with those calling for a return to democracy in Myanmar and we are committed to supporting a plurality of voices. The UK is clear that any future settlement for Myanmar, must be inclusive, and involve a wide range of opposition actors, including the NUG and EROs. The Myanmar military regime must engage with them and all other opposition groups.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Department leads on the International Criminal Court Act 2001.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Policy on the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the ICC Act (2001), is owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he (a) has made an assessment and (b) plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing sanctions on individual members of the Israeli cabinet.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government condemns the unacceptable language that has been used by Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. Israel should condemn this language and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK government does not speculate about possible future sanctions designations, as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential implications for his policies of visa restrictions on international aid workers to (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on improving humanitarian access to those territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During his first visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 14-15 July, the Foreign Secretary pressed Israeli leaders to deliver on their promise to "flood" Gaza with aid. We are concerned at reports of humanitarian agencies being unable to do their jobs because of visa restrictions. We are calling for the full co-operation of Israel with the UN and humanitarian agencies to grant visas and allow for the unfettered access required by humanitarians.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to have discussions with his Israeli counterpart on reports of (a) torture and (b) other ill-treatment of staff members of UNRWA; and whether he plans to review how information received from Israel is used in the future.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to upholding our international obligations and has raised these with Israeli counterparts. The Foreign Secretary discussed International Humanitarian Law compliance in Gaza with Prime Minister Netanyahu directly during his visit to Israel on 14 July. The protection of civilians is a vital part of this.