Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they have identified regarding the protection of human rights in Sudan, in the light of their support for the decision taken by the government of the United States to lift sanctions on Sudan.

The UK remains concerned about the human rights situation in Sudan, and Sudan is a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We used the fourth session of the Strategic Dialogue this month to agree steps that the Government of Sudan would take to make further progress on human rights issues. We raised discuss specific issues including sexual and gender based violence, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and the Convention Against Torture.

The UK welcomed the decision made by the United States permanently to lift bilateral economic sanctions on Sudan, following its judgement that progress had been made in five key areas. These included humanitarian access to conflict-affected regions, non-interference in South Sudan, and maintaining the Government’s cessations of hostilities in Darfur and the Two Areas.