Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has to respond to the publication of the UN Human Rights Office report on business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory published in February 2020.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK, along with a number of other European countries, opposed the creation of the UN Human Rights Office's database. We neither encourage nor offer support to individuals or companies who operate in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, published on 8 June 2016, what assessment he has made of the effect on human rights of indefinite national service in that country.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK continues to call for reform of Eritrea’s use of a system of universal and compulsory national service. Roles are both military and civilian. Whilst the Government of Eritrea has justified this service on grounds of the security threat posed by Ethiopia we have yet to see a concrete proposal for reform following the July 2018 peace agreement. In July 2019, the Eritrean Government said that it would undertake a review of national service, but they gave no deadline for the review’s completion.
At the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in July 2019, the UK renewed calls for Eritrea to reform the national service system, recognising that sustainable reform of national service needs to happen in tandem with an improved economic situation and job creation. We also raise human rights in Eritrea, both directly with the Government, as the former Minister for Africa did with the Eritrean President's senior adviser when she saw him in July 2019, and when our Ambassador in Asmara saw the same advisor in August 2019.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the Reconnecting Eritrea and Ethiopia through rehabilitation of the main arterial roads in Eritrea project which is supported by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following the historic agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in July 2018, reconnecting the two countries and providing Ethiopia access to Eritrea’s ports is a priority. This will help to boost both countries’ economies, and generate job opportunities.
The UK welcomes reconciliation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Our support for the project under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, to reconnect Eritrea and Ethiopia through the rehabilitation of the main roads, was conditional on the EU working with the UN to monitor the treatment of national service workers implementing the project. We are continuing to monitor this. We note increased engagement from Eritrea with the EU on human rights issues since the inception of the project, including two Article 8 dialogues and the visit to Asmara of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights.
The border between Eritrea and Ethiopia remains closed and we are concerned that both sides are yet to agree substantive arrangements on trade and border management given the impact this has on peace agreement. Like our partners in the EU we urge the two countries to ensure the agreement is fully implemented in order to bring stability and prosperity to their countries and the Horn of Africa region.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of atrocity crimes in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
As we made clear in a statement 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: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic and political steps the Government is taking to help tackle the violence in Sudan as part of its atrocity prevention policy.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, members of the protest movement as well as the Transitional Military Council (TMC). The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule. On 29 May our Ambassador delivered this message to Yassir Arman of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and encouraged all armed movements to return to Sudan and take part in the talks to agree a civilian-led transition and achieve peace. We have condemned the way that the opposition leaders have since been treated by the TMC since they returned.
On 4 June in a joint Troika statement, we condemned the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan which left many civilians dead or injured. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. Our Embassy in Khartoum calls on members of the Transitional Military Council both in public and directly the steps that needed to be taken to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees.
On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people. We will continue to engage with all sides to support a settlement that works for all Sudanese people.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to protect the civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows through the port. The UK has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the Yemeni crisis and addressing this is a priority for the Government. The Foreign Secretary discussed humanitarian issues with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on 12 November. I spoke about these issues to the Saudi Foreign Minister on 30 October, and to the Emirati Deputy Foreign Minister on 7 November.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
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 use the UK’s penholder status on Yemen at the UN Security Council to bring a new resolution forward on ending the armed conflict in Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK continues to fulfil its role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council by coordinating sessions with the Security Council President that respond to developments in Yemen and the will of the Council as a whole. On Monday 19 November, the UK circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, steps to improve the humanitarian situation, and support for the work of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have recently visited the Middle East to have constructive discussions with the Saudi-led Coalition on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions. The Foreign Secretary was clear that both sides would need to play their part in confidence-building measures.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Afghanistan Government on protecting Hazaras people in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
Answered by Mark Field
We regularly raise issues concerning freedom of religion with the Government of Afghanistan, underlining, the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution of Afghanistan.
We are concerned about the high number of civilian casualties and displaced persons that have resulted from the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. We urge that all parties to the conflict respect International Humanitarian Law, protecting the civilian population and facilitating the provision of assistance by neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies. We assess that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) are now working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces. We understand that those who have been displaced are receiving assistance from local authorities.
We continue to monitor the impact that fighting may have had on tensions between different communities. Ultimately, we urge all parties to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict, which is causing the tragic death of innocent civilians.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has plans to table a new UN Security Council resolution on the cessation of hostilities in Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
At the UN Security Council meeting on Friday 16 November, the UK announced that we would be bringing forward a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, steps to improve the humanitarian situation, and support for the work of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Attorney-General has provided the Government with advice on the legitimacy of UK arms sales to Saudi and Emirati-led coalition forces.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Government's legal advice is subject to legal professional privilege. The High Court’s judgment of July 2017 confirmed that we have in place a robust and rigorous process for assessing export licensing decisions for Saudi Arabia. We assess all export licensing decisions for Saudi Arabia on a case by case basis against the Consolidated Criteria. Our assessments take into account evidence from a range of sources including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, other government departments, the media and Non - Government Organisations reports.