Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Mexican counterpart on religious freedom in Mexico; and what assessment he has made of the attitude in that country towards repeat perpetrators of violence against religious freedom in the communities of (a) Cuamontax del Huazalingo and (b) Mesa Limuntitla in the state of Hidalgo and (c) other parts of Mexico.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Officials in the British Embassy in Mexico City have regular contact with the Government of Mexico and civil society groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to help inform our understanding of the human rights situation on the ground, including in matters of Freedom of Religion or Relief (FoRB). We work closely with the Government of Mexico to support a broad human rights agenda. The Foreign Secretary's visit to Mexico in August 2019 offered the opportunity to discuss human rights with his Mexican counterpart and we welcomed their commitment to address the challenges. Baroness Williams raised FoRB with Mexican Interior Minister in September 2019. I have also spoken to my counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Ventura. The Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office and local civil society organisations assess that FORB violations are not widespread or endemic, although they do accept there are local incidences of people being affected because of their religious belief.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to the Government of Pakistan in response to Pakistan’s Supreme Court Judgment of 2014 to establish a National Council on the safeguarding and protection of the rights of religious minorities.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
At the UN Periodic Review of Pakistan's human rights record in November 2017, the UK called on Pakistan to strengthen protection of minorities and establish an independent National Commission for Minorities. We regularly raise our concerns about discrimination against minority communities with the Pakistan Government at a senior level. Lord Ahmad raised our concerns about protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, during his visit to Islamabad in February 2019. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. We will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.
Through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, the UK has supported projects in Pakistan to combat intolerance and encourage respect amongst individuals of different faiths and beliefs through education. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic support his Department has provided to the Federal Government of Pakistan to (a) establish a taskforce to develop a strategy to promote religious tolerance and (b) develop a curricula at schools and colleges that promotes a culture of religious and social tolerance.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department for International Development (DFID)'s AAWAZ II Accountability, Inclusion and Reducing Modern Slavery Programme works with communities in Pakistan to promote rights of children, women, youth and religious minorities, protect them from exploitation, prevent discrimination and intolerance. This £39.5m programme, due to run from 2018 to 2024, will build on AAWAZ I. It will also build capacity of targeted government institutions.
Since 2008, responsibility to develop curriculum and textbooks has been devolved to provinces in Pakistan (with the Federal Government having some oversight but very little role in implementation). DFID has assisted the provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to revise specific textbooks to align them with the 2006 national curriculum, which is a substantial improvement in terms of inclusion and tolerance from the previous curriculum. DFID technical assistance provided to both provincial governments is increasing the capability and capacity of the Curriculum and Textbook Boards to review textbooks, including on the systems and standards necessary to identify and remove discriminatory content. We are also supporting education for children from minority communities and funding training for 100,000 teachers on inclusion.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure the implementation of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Judgement of 19 June 2014 to protect the rights of religious minorities in the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
At the UN Periodic Review of Pakistan's human rights record in November 2017, the UK called on Pakistan to strengthen protection of minorities and establish an independent National Commission for Minorities. We regularly raise our concerns about discrimination against minority communities with the Pakistan Government at a senior level. Lord Ahmad raised our concerns about protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, during his visit to Islamabad in February 2019. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. We will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.
Through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, the UK has supported projects in Pakistan to combat intolerance and encourage respect amongst individuals of different faiths and beliefs through education. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department supports calls for the UN High Commissioner to publicly and regularly report on the human rights situation in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK's commitment and respect for human rights and accountability, including through the UN Security Council, is steadfast. The UK, through the UN Security Council issued a statement on 13 June that called for the immediate cessation of violence against civilians and emphasised the importance of human rights, protection of civilians, accountability and justice.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent human rights violations being committed against peaceful demonstrators in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
As we made clear alongside Troika partners (US and Norway) on 4 June, we condemn the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan, which left many civilians dead or injured. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this in his statement on 6 June, which also called for the full restoration of the internet and freedom of the media. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected and for the resumption of the political process with the protestors and the opposition, and an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people, in a swift, orderly and peaceful manner. On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express the grave concerns of the United Kingdom at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. Also, the UK, through the UN Security Council issued a statement on 13 June that called for the violence to stop and emphasised the importance of human rights, protection of civilians, accountability and justice.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the emergence of a democratic, civilian-led government in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Since the removal of Bashir as President and the establishment of a Transitional Military Council the UK has engaged with international counterparts bilaterally and in multilateral fora to shape an international response that supports the demands of the people of Sudan to deliver a swift and inclusive move to civilian rule. The Foreign Secretary spoke with Kenyan Cabinet secretary for Foreign Affairs on 3 May and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 25 April on the importance of international partners' engagement to support a swift transition to civilian rule.
The UK has ensured that the situation in Sudan has been discussed at the highest levels, including in the UN Security Council, most recently on 4 June, and in the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 17 June. The UK also continues to promote comprehensive peace negotiations through our role in the Troika. Alongside the US and Norway we engage regularly with the African Union (AU) building on long standing support to the AU's mediation efforts to encourage peace and security in Sudan. The UK welcomes the leadership of the AU in calling for a swift move to civilian rule including the suspension of Sudan from all AU activities on 6 June, to ensure a resumption of dialogue to deliver a swift move to civilian-led government; it is vital that the transition credibly delivers the demands of the people of Sudan.
The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected and for the resumption of the political process with the protestors and the opposition, and an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people, in a swift, orderly and peaceful manner.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the recent bombings in Sri Lanka, what steps the Government is taking to promote religious tolerance in (a) Sri Lanka and (b) throughout South Asia.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is committed to supporting government and civil society efforts to improve human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in Sri Lanka. We fund a range of projects in support of this through £8.3 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding. We support projects that promote interfaith dialogue and that increase awareness; encourage greater public debate and advocacy on issues concerning Fredom of Religon or Belief in Sri Lanka; and that counter the youth radicalisation in areas prone to inter-religious violence.
The Prime Minister is committed to 'stand up for the freedom of people of all religions to practice their beliefs in peace and safety'. On 30 January the Foreign Secretary commissioned an external review examining the persecution of Christians in key countries around the world, including South Asia. It will provide an objective assessment of the impact and levels of FCO support, and make recommendations to the Foreign Secretary. The interim Report will be published early May, with the final Report in the summer.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to tackle religious intolerance in Sri Lanka in the last six months.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK is committed to supporting government and civil society efforts to improve human rights, including freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka. We fund a range of projects in support of this through £8.3 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding. This includes projects that promote interfaith dialogue and increase awareness; encourage greater public debate and advocacy on issues concerning Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sri Lanka; and that counter youth radicalisation in areas prone to inter-religious conflict. Tackling inter-communal tensions will continue to remain among our priorities this year.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Mexican counterpart on religious freedom in that country; and what representations he has made to the Mexican Government on impunity for repeat perpetrators of violations of religious freedom in that country.
Answered by Alan Duncan
In October 2018 the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief in Mexico with the former Mexican Ambassador to the UK, now Deputy Foreign Minister. We work closely with the Government of Mexico to support a broad human rights agenda. Through the Prosperity Fund, we support the consolidation of Mexico's new criminal justice and anti-corruption systems, by providing technical support to strengthen investigative capacities. In November 2018, during Mexico's Universal Periodic Review, the UK made recommendations to Mexico about accountability for human rights violations, independence of the National Prosecutor's Office and on addressing impunity for violence against human rights defenders.
Officials in our Embassy in Mexico City and ministers have contact with Civil Society Groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to help inform our understanding of the situation on the ground. Mexico has close to universal access to basic education. We will continue to work with civil society to identify when rare cases preventing this do occur and engage with the Mexican authorities as part of our frequent conversations.