Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will undertake an audit of the UK assets owned by Hong Kong and Chinese officials who have been linked to human rights violations.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We are deeply concerned about the appalling human rights violations in China and the deterioration of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review, guided by the objectives of the relevant sanctions regime. It is not appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent diplomatic steps he has taken in response to human rights abuses against (a) the Uyghurs and (b) other minorities in China.
Answered by Nigel Adams
On 22 March, under the UK’s Global Human Rights sanctions regime, the Foreign Secretary announced asset freezes and travel bans against four senior Chinese government officials and one entity responsible for the gross violations of human rights of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.
On 22 February, the Foreign Secretary delivered a Ministerial Statement at the UN Human Rights Council – the first time a UK Foreign Secretary has done so since 2010. He highlighted our deep concerns about the human rights violations being perpetrated against Tibetans, Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in China, and underlined the need for urgent and unfettered access to Xinjiang for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The UK also led the first two joint statements on the persecution of the Uyghurs and other minorities at the UN, and we have worked tirelessly with partners to raise the issue up the international agenda.
On 12 January, the Foreign Secretary announced robust domestic measures in respect of UK supply chains to help ensure that British businesses are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang.
The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on a number of occasions.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
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 progress on UN Human Rights Commission resolution L30/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK continues to encourage and support Sri Lanka to deliver the commitments it made to the UN Human Rights Council through Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. We firmly believe that this is the best framework for establishing truth and to achieve justice and lasting reconciliation. I have made these points personally to Sri Lankan Ministers, most recently in October 2018, and we look forward to continued engagement by Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council session that has just opened in Geneva.
The UK welcomed the Annual Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 21 March 2018, which assessed progress made by the Sri Lankan government in the implementation of UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 and 34/1, which found that the Government of Sri Lanka has taken some steps to address human rights concerns and to introduce more democratic and accountable government.
These include the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances. However, as I made clear to a range of senior Ministers on my visit to Colombo in October, more needs to be done. I have urged further progress on these issues, and encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to deliver meaningful devolution through constitutional reform, and to establish credible mechanisms for transitional justice.
The UK has made a long-term commitment to improving human rights in Sri Lanka, and is dedicated to supporting the rebuilding of the country after three decades of conflict. The British High Commission in Colombo is in regular contact with the Government of Sri Lanka and other key stakeholders to encourage and support the implementation of Resolution 30/1.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to refer the Government of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court for their actions towards the Rohingya.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary has made clear that referring the situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an option the UN Security Council (UNSC) should consider. To allow this discussion to happen the UK is calling for the UNSC to debate the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission.
However, our assessment remains that there is insufficient support amongst Security Council members for an ICC referral at this time. It will not advance the cause of accountability for an ICC referral to fail to win Security Council support or to be vetoed; such a result would only give comfort to the Burmese military and reduce the pressure they currently face.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
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 help (a) prevent further violence towards and (b) resolve the causes of the Rohingya crisis.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK supported the establishment and activity of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, which in August 2017 delivered a set of recommendations to address the causes of the Rohingya crisis. The UK continues to press the Burmese authorities to implement these recommendations in full. The UK secured a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 6 November 2017 which emphasised that call, and called on Burma to refrain from the excessive use of military force in Rakhine State. Since then the UK has ensured a clear international message to the Burmese military through continued UN Security Council attention, including its visit to Burma of April/May 2018, and through the UN Human Rights Council resolution of 27 September. The Foreign Secretary told State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi that accountability for human rights violations was critical to the future safety of Rohingya in Rakhine when they met on 20 September.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made on securing compensation for the victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA bombings.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Foreign Secretary most recently raised the issue of compensation for victims of IRA terrorism during his meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Serraj on 31 October. The Government will continue to press this issue at every opportunity. However, the current instability in Libya means that there is unlikely to be a swift resolution of legacy issues.
Eligible UK victims of terrorism can apply for compensation under the domestic criminal injuries compensation scheme.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 October 2015, Official Report, column 813, what discussions he has had with ministers in the Turkish government on ensuring that freedom of the press is upheld in that country as it relates to citizens of any country.
Answered by David Lidington
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials regularly encourage Turkey to continue to work towards the full protection of fundamental rights, including the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the press. I discussed these issues, in the context of Turkey’s accession to the EU, when I last met my Turkish counterpart in August this year.