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 human rights situation in Venezuela.

The British Government is concerned by the latest developments in Venezuela, in particular the political, economic and security challenges, which are having a serious impact on the human rights of ordinary Venezuelans. I discussed those concerns with Venezuelan Minister for Europe, Samuel Moncada, on 26 October and urged the Venezuela Government to respect the human rights of its citizens.

The United Kingdom co-signed a Joint Statement at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 29 September, expressing international community concern over developments in Venezuela. This Joint Statement was supported by 28 other countries. We have played an active role in preparations for Venezuela's upcoming Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council, submitting a statement of recommendations and posing questions to the Venezuelan Government regarding their human rights record.

Venezuela has been designated a Foreign and Commonwealth Office 'Human Rights Priority Country' for 2016/17. Designation allows us expand our work on human rights and democracy in Venezuela, through bilateral projects supporting political dialogue, women's rights and good governance.