Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the Honourable Member to the answers of 11 June 2019 (PQ 259251) and 17 June (PQ 263167).
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will make the eradication of torture in detention settings a priority for the Government's engagement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of the use of torture against political activists by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
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 evidence of torture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo submitted to his Department by the Freedom From Torture charity.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.
The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) diplomatic relations between Somalia and Guinea, and (b) the effect of those relations are having on Somaliland.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK is aware of the reported tensions between Somalia and Guinea. The two countries are responsible for their bilateral relationship. We are not aware of those relations having an effect on Somaliland. UK policy remains that it is for Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to decide on a sustainable solution regarding their future. We continue to support and encourage plans for a peaceful dialogue between the two.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the power-sharing agreement between military leaders and the opposition alliance in Sudan on the long-term stability of that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The agreement in principle between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change, which sets out the plan for the transition to civilian led government in Sudan, is a historic opportunity for the people of Sudan to secure freedom from repression, instability and economic hardship. The UK commends the role of the African Union (AU) and Ethiopia in their efforts to support the mediation that has helped to deliver this agreement. We look forward to it being formally signed. On 5 July the Foreign Secretary welcomed the agreement. This was reiterated by the UK at the UN Human Rights Council on 9 July.
There is a challenging path ahead. Sudan has faced decades of autocratic rule and peaceful protesters have been killed whilst demonstrating for change. Sudan needs to see swift implementation of the agreement, broad-based reform and economic adjustment, and will require sustained international support.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the strength of Sudan’s rapid support forces.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The UK does not routinely engage with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). There are not officially published figures of the number of personnel within the RSF, although there have been publically reported graduation ceremonies for over 9,000 RSF members between May 2017 and April 2019. In a public address in Khartoum on 22 June, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo (known as Hemetti), Commander of the RSF and Deputy Chair of the Transitional Military Council, stated that there are 30,000 Sudanese soldiers are in Yemen. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information nor can we assess how much of this deployment is RSF. In light of this statement and given recent recruitment it is likely that the total numbers of RSF are above 30,000.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of (a) China’s influence in sub-Saharan Africa and (b) the extent of Chinese investment in ports in sub-Saharan Africa.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
China is Sub-Saharan Africa's largest trading partner and a significant source of investment and development finance. Decisions about the extent of Chinese invements in ports are for the respective countries to decide. The UK want to work with China and our African partners to ensure all investments are economically viable and sustainable for the debtor.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the restrictions on the independent media in Burundi.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We are very concerned by restrictions on the media in Burundi. Freedom of the media is essential in any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to debate issues freely, to challenge their governments, and to be informed by a strong and robust media. We condemn the decision made by the Government of Burundi to revoke the BBC's operating license, suspend the Voice of America, and the recent decisions to restrict the reporting activities of local media. These decisions are particularly concerning in light of the 2020 elections for which a free and independent media is vital.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many international trade unions affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists have been invited to (a) speak, and (b) attend the Global Media Freedom Conference being held by his Department in July 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Global Conference to Defend Media Freedom conference aims to bring together governments, multilateral organisations, media and civil society from across the globe onto one platform to discuss ways to defend and promote media freedom. At least 15 organisations affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), as well as members of the IFJ itself, have been invited to attend the Global Conference to Defend Media Freedom. The speakers at the conference will reflect the diversity of interest in media freedom and ensure a balanced exchange of views on how to proceed.