Oral Answers to Questions

Graeme Morrice Excerpts

Tuesday 19th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Bellingham]

The Nigerian economy is growing rapidly, but most of the growth is concentrated in the south, around Lagos, which is expanding to about 15 million people. The tragedy of the communal killings and lack of security in the north is harming growth in a big way, which will lead to a great deal of poverty, youth unemployment and other problems. That is why it is so important that communities are reconciled so that the economy can grow and wealth can be created.

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan.

[Gemma Doyle (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab/Co-op)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

At the Chicago NATO summit in May, I discussed with NATO colleagues our continuing support for the fundamental human rights of all Afghan citizens and full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. The final summit communiqué reaffirmed our commitments in these areas.

[Graeme Morrice]

How do the Government plan to ensure that violence against women is addressed at the upcoming Tokyo meeting on Afghanistan?

[Mr Hague]

We have encouraged the Afghan Government to implement the elimination of violence against women law that has been agreed in principle, and to bring into practice the UN convention on the elimination of all forms of violence against women. We bring these matters up with the Afghan Government regularly and work with many people in the Afghan Parliament to encourage that agenda. I am pleased to say that women now hold 69 of the 249 seats in the lower House of the Afghan Parliament, which bears favourable comparison with some European countries.