Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has received from diplomatic representatives in the UK of states where the trade of dog meat for consumption is active subsequent to the debate in the House on the dog meat trade of 5 November 2015.
Answered by Lord Swire
Since the debate on 5 November my Department has not received any representations from any diplomatic missions in the UK on the dog meat trade, nor have Ministers made representations to their counterparts abroad. As highlighted during the debate by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), I am contacting our Ambassadors in the countries concerned to review our activities in this area.
The Government is committed to raising the standards of animal welfare at home and abroad. I raised animal welfare issues during my visit to the region in February and will continue to make representations when appropriate.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Ministers have made to their counterparts abroad or to their diplomatic representatives in the UK on the practice of consuming and selling dog meat for consumption subsequent to the debate in the House on the dog meat trade of 5 November 2015.
Answered by Lord Swire
Since the debate on 5 November my Department has not received any representations from any diplomatic missions in the UK on the dog meat trade, nor have Ministers made representations to their counterparts abroad. As highlighted during the debate by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), I am contacting our Ambassadors in the countries concerned to review our activities in this area.
The Government is committed to raising the standards of animal welfare at home and abroad. I raised animal welfare issues during my visit to the region in February and will continue to make representations when appropriate.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken or plans to take on the practice of consuming and selling dog meat for consumption in addition to the steps he set out in the debate in the House on the dog meat trade of 5 November 2015.
Answered by Lord Swire
Since the debate on 5 November my Department has not received any representations from any diplomatic missions in the UK on the dog meat trade, nor have Ministers made representations to their counterparts abroad. As highlighted during the debate by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), I am contacting our Ambassadors in the countries concerned to review our activities in this area.
The Government is committed to raising the standards of animal welfare at home and abroad. I raised animal welfare issues during my visit to the region in February and will continue to make representations when appropriate.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on (a) the shooting dead in Buenaventura, Colombia, on 20 July 2015, of two boys by paramilitary gangs and (b) how it was possible for those shootings to take place in a street heavily supervised by the Colombian armed forces; and if he will make representations to the Colombian authorities on that matter.
Answered by Lord Swire
Our Embassy in Bogotá has received reports on this tragic incident in Buenaventura from seven UK and international civil society organisations.
On 3 August, the UK and other Member States represented in Colombia wrote collectively to the Presidential Adviser on Human Rights, Guillermo Rivera, urging the government to investigate the events thoroughly, uphold their duty to protect the humanitarian zone and ensure that victims are adequately protected.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Colombian government to request that due process is observed in proceedings following the arrests of social activists (a) Esmer Montilla, (b) Samuel Rojas, (c) Ramiro Ateortua and (d) Ingrid Pinilla on 15 and 16 July 2015.
Answered by Lord Swire
On 29 July, our officials from our Embassy in Bogotá met the Colombian non-governmental organisation DHOC (la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y el Derecho Internacional Humanitario del Oriente y Centro de Colombia), to which Esmer Montilla, Samuel Rojas, Ramiro Ateortua and Ingrid Pinilla all belong. Our officials agreed to monitor the case, to meet periodically with DHOC and to send a letter to the National Ombudsman to ask them to meet DHOC about the case and to ensure that due process is followed.
Subsequently, our Ambassador in Bogotá met the Minister of the Interior on 5 August and raised this case and protection for human rights activists. He urged the government to ensure due process is observed.
We cannot interfere in the judicial process of another country but we will continue to monitor proceedings.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on whether the Colombian government has recently taken steps to ensure that human rights activists in that country are given full legal protection and are not arrested as a result of their work.
Answered by Lord Swire
I regularly receive reports on the human rights situation in Colombia, most recently the update from the Colombian non-governmental organisation, Somos Defensores (“We are defenders”) on 18 August. This gives figures on the situation for human rights defenders in the first half of 2015 and raises concerns regarding the protection of human rights activists. The Colombian government continues to take steps to address human rights issues, most recently reactivating its “Table of Guarantees”, an initiative led by the Ministry of Interior to provide a high level dialogue with civil society and human rights organisations. Given our commitment to human rights in the country, our Embassy in Bogotá was recently invited to join as an observer. We will continue to raise issues such as the legal treatment of human rights activists in this, and other, fora.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart to request that the Colombian government investigates and ensures appropriate action against the perpetrators of death threats towards (a) Senator Ivan Cepeda, (b) members of the organisation CPDH and (c) David Florez.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are concerned about recent threats made on 9-10 March against Congressman Ivan Cepeda, David Florez, members of the CPDH, and other prominent journalists, civil servants, human rights leaders and politicians, allegedly by the criminal group Las Aguilas Negras. Our Embassy in Bogota is following the developments in these cases closely. Colombian Minister of Interior Juan Fernando Cristo issued a public statement on 10 March ordering a police investigation, building on the investigation opened by the Attorney-General Office in January.
Following similar threats in January, our officials in Bogota met with Presidential Office for Human Rights to urge the Colombian government to take measures to prevent threats against human rights defenders, trade unionists, civil society and politicians. Officials also met the Ministry of the Interior on 19 February 2015 and raised the issue of threats to human rights defenders.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make further representations to the Colombian government on the security of (a) Senator Ivan Cepeda, (b) members of the organisation CPDH and (c) David Florez.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are concerned about recent threats made on 9-10 March against Congressman Ivan Cepeda, David Florez, members of the CPDH, and other prominent journalists, civil servants, human rights leaders and politicians, allegedly by the criminal group Las Aguilas Negras. Our Embassy in Bogota is following the developments in these cases closely. Colombian Minister of Interior Juan Fernando Cristo issued a public statement on 10 March ordering a police investigation, building on the investigation opened by the Attorney-General Office in January.
Following similar threats in January, our officials in Bogota met with Presidential Office for Human Rights to urge the Colombian government to take measures to prevent threats against human rights defenders, trade unionists, civil society and politicians. Officials also met the Ministry of the Interior on 19 February 2015 and raised the issue of threats to human rights defenders.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Colombia urging action on recent death threats to former Colombian Senator, Piedad Cordoba.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are aware of death threats to former Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba made on 12 January, Mrs Córdoba and other members of congress have since met President Santos, to request an investigation. As a result the Attorney General announced the creation of inter-agency groups in charge of investigating the threats.
Our Ambassador in Bogota met the President’s Minister-Counsellor for post conflict and human rights, Oscar Naranjo, on 15 January where they discussed the case of Piedad Córdoba and the importance of security for human rights defenders in general. Our Ambassador received assurances that the necessary security measures were already in place in order to mitigate any risk to former Senator Cordoba.
Asked by: Robert Flello (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on recent death threats to former Colombian Senator, Piedad Cordoba.
Answered by Lord Swire
We are aware of death threats to former Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba made on 12 January. Mrs Córdoba and other members of congress have since met President Santos, to request an investigation. As a result the Attorney General announced the creation of inter-agency groups in charge of investigating the threats.
Our Ambassador in Bogota met the President’s Minister-Counsellor for post conflict and human rights, Oscar Naranjo, on 15 January where they discussed the case of Piedad Córdoba and the importance of security for human rights defenders in general. Our Ambassador received assurances that the necessary security measures were already in place in order to mitigate any risk to former Senator Cordoba.