Human Rights Violations

Ian C. Lucas Excerpts

Wednesday 12th September 2012 Westminster Hall

[Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Howarth. It has also been a pleasure to listen to the hon. Member for South Swindon (Mr Buckland). He has given us a comprehensive account of human rights issues that relate to the professions. In a sense, the account was depressing because of the number of cases to which he referred and which exist. I commend him, however, on the quite unusual achievement of making me read a Conservative policy document—something that does not always occur—and it was of great interest. It is positive that the hon. Gentleman secured the debate and that it was instigated by the report. In all the contributions to the debate we have heard a broad commitment to the principles of human rights, which we share.

We are fortunate in the United Kingdom to be able to speak out in Parliament, and outside Parliament, on these issues. However, we must always be cautious about suggesting that we are in a state of grace. The Minister has visited countries in north Africa on many occasions, and one challenge when visiting such countries is the suggestion from individuals that perhaps our own record bears closer scrutiny. We need to bear that in mind when we talk to other countries, because they can quote examples to us that show that we have not behaved—sometimes in the not too recent past—in the way that perhaps we should.

The debate is about human rights in relation to professionals, and I thought about that focus. Overnight, I heard the dreadful news about the death of a US State Department official in Benghazi in Libya, and that brings home to us the dangers that exist for professionals who are working in a representative capacity. What is distinct about the people in the group that we are discussing today is that they put themselves in a position of danger for the benefit of others, and it is a fundamental part of a developing democracy to acknowledge and accept that someone in a representative capacity may or may not share the political views of those whom they represent. It is important to communicate that concept. The hon. Gentleman is nodding. As a barrister, he will be familiar with that idea, but individuals from other jurisdictions do not always recognise it.

There have been a large number of high-profile cases, some of which have already been referred to. On business, the country that crops up is Russia. We have heard reference to Mr Gordievsky, Platon Lebedev and the Magnitsky case and the profound impact such cases have on democratic culture in Russia. The perception of British business of the inadequacies in the jurisdiction and the courts in Russia is a real issue that crops up in the conversations that I have with British companies that invest in Russia. The Russian Government should recognise that these cases are important and profoundly affect the perception of Russia in the United Kingdom.

A free press is fundamental and central to a democracy. Journalists throughout the world pay a high price to secure information about wars and corruption. Organisations such as Reporters Without Borders document the human rights abuses that journalists face globally. Although there is some variation in the figures presented by the UN and the International Federation of Journalists, it is clear that globally journalists, as we have heard today, are still coming under repeated attack and being censored, kidnapped, threatened, arrested, jailed, forced to flee and even killed.

The hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) referred to the crucial role of the BBC World Service, which I take every opportunity to commend. It has done tremendous work in Arab spring countries and has a real impact in creating a culture of democracy that we all need to continue to support.

In March 2012, UNESCO drafted an action plan on the safety of journalists and the danger of impunity. The report notes that there has been little improvement in the safety of journalists in the past few years. The draft action plan emphasises the need to extend UNESCO’s work to assist countries to develop laws and mechanisms to support freedom of expression and information and to implement the rules and principles set out in its 1997 general conference resolution on violence against journalists. I ask the Minister for an update. When will the five aims of the plan be implemented and what resources will the UK devote to them?

The Arab spring has shown the huge importance of citizen journalism, with the impact of tweeting, blogging and video footage. Such journalists often have a wider impact than official journalism, so we need to be conscious that those individuals need to be included in any consideration of the protection of journalists. It is important for us to support them in every way we can.

The hon. Member for South Swindon made an interesting suggestion about the legal profession: UK lawyers taking a more active individual role in developing democracies. I would be interested to hear what the Minister has to say on that and to discuss it. When individuals are having difficulties in finding jobs, engaging with such organisations as the Bar Council and the Law Society, developing contacts with developing democracies and stressing the importance of the rule of law, perhaps through the use of young lawyers, would be a useful way forward. We have heard of the threat to young lawyers in places such as Columbia and Nepal. The situation is extremely concerning, and those lawyers always face pressure and attacks. What action is the UK taking to develop and maintain relationships with lawyers in countries where we know they are at risk and to ensure that embassy staff visit lawyers and provide support to them? Do the UK Government have any plans to provide support and technical expertise to Governments and lawyers, to increase the understanding of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and to investigate human rights violations?

Health professionals are important and have been mentioned. In Bahrain, about which we have heard, doctors and nurses were accused of criminal activity. What began with the denial of access to medical treatment for injured protesters in February 2011 ended with security forces attacking hospitals, including the largest public hospital in Bahrain. How are the Government working with the International Committee of the Red Cross to support its project, “Health care in danger”, to help ensure the safety of health care workers during armed conflict?

The hon. Gentleman’s report mentions progress made in Bahrain. I am afraid that this week’s news of the rejection of appeals by individuals such as Mahdi Abu Deeb, the former president of the Bahrain Teachers Association, is a serious setback to hopes of reform. The UK Government have, to my knowledge, been quiet on the issue. What steps is the Minister taking in connection with the rejections of those appeals this week?

The National Union of Teachers in the UK does much work to raise awareness of the challenges faced by teachers, as hon. Members have mentioned. According to the NUT, the situation for teachers in Colombia, Ethiopia and Iran is of special concern. In 2011, the Iranian authorities attempted, as we have also heard, to shut down the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education. What action are the UK Government taking to protect the human rights of teachers?

I should like to ask the Minister about Government policy relating to human rights more generally. I am pleased that the Government have carried on the previous Government’s initiative and published an annual human rights report, and I welcome their words on human rights. But the hon. Member for South Swindon mentioned lip service, which registered in my mind. We must avoid paying lip service to these issues. Difficult decisions and questions arise.

We learned in a Foreign Affairs Committee report earlier this year and from other corners, including Human Rights Watch, that there is a developing perception that, in some instances, the UK Government deem commercial relationships more important than dealing with human rights issues. As a former Business Minister, I am aware of the conflicts that can arise, as mentioned by the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, the hon. Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne) in evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, when he recognised that, although there is no inherent contradiction between business and human rights, short-term tensions can arise. One example of that is the UK Government’s decision to take no stance on the Bahrain grand prix—Bahrain has been mentioned a number of times today—in stark contrast to the Leader of the Opposition who saw the event adding to instability and conflict in Bahrain. Will the Minister update us on how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is managing those short-term tensions between commercial interests and human rights? Does he think that the UK Government’s stance on the Bahrain grand prix helped progress on human rights in Bahrain?

In its report, the Foreign Affairs Committee emphasised the need for human rights to feature more significantly across the Government. Will the Minister give hon. Members an update of the progress the Foreign Office is making to ensure that UK Trade and Investment, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and UK Export Finance in particular take full account of human rights in their dealings?

British embassies are rightly placing the emphasis on trade, investment and business abroad. What emphasis are they placing on important human rights issues, such as those raised today? I do not expect a full breakdown from the Minister now of the number of individuals in embassies who are dedicated to working on human rights, but, as we have heard today, this is an important issue, not just for Her Majesty’s Opposition, but for UK Government parties. Such important matters weigh prominently on the minds of parliamentarians.

The UK has a great tradition in such areas, and we want to go out there and speak clearly and authoritatively on human rights issues. To do that, we must ensure that when difficult issues arise, we take a principled and correct decision, although at times doing so may be difficult, and make it clear that we will not accept the suppression of human rights to commercial interests.

This has been a useful, timely debate. I thank the hon. Member for South Swindon again for initiating it and look forward to the Minister’s reply.