Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the widespread global lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19, what assessment they have made of reports that some governments, particularly those in North Africa and the Middle East, are using the opportunity to prevent freedom of expression, crackdown on dissent and curb civil society; how they are monitoring such reports and in which countries; and what steps they intend to take in response.

We are concerned by reports that some governments are using the current crisis to curb freedom of expression and civil society. The UK supports freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, which must be respected at all times. We are closely monitoring the human rights situation in Middle East and North African countries. On 9 April, the UK participated in the UN Human Rights Council's first ever virtual conversation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Discussion focused on the human rights implications of the COVID-19 crisis which included concerns about restrictions being imposed on freedom of expression. In his statement to the Council, our Ambassador to the UN in Geneva stressed the importance of ensuring that parliaments, media and civil society all play their role to scrutinise the actions of governments and international agencies, and that we make use of the international human rights frameworks. The British Government remains committed to standing up for human rights and the rule of law in all circumstances.