Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to address alleged crimes against humanity in Sednaya prison in Syria.

We are appalled by the human rights situation in Syria, especially Sednaya. We are committed to highlighting this issue. Since 2012 we have contributed over £14 million in support to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. The UK is the penholder for the Syria Human Rights Council Resolution, which was adopted in September. We also use our position at the UN Security Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Syria, including within prisons. At the Security Council this month, we will call for the release of detainees and condemn these violations.