Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent any breaches of human rights by the Palestinian Authority; and what further steps they are taking to support the right of freedom to protest in the areas administered by that Authority.

Human Rights is a crucial element underpinning the UK's foreign policy. We continue to urge the Palestinian Authority (PA) to respect human rights, Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem regularly raise the need for key legislative and security sector reform to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We encourage the PA to ensure the harmonisation of Palestinian laws with International Human Rights conventions to which it has acceded. As we mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we are again urging the PA at the highest levels to adopt legislation to ensure the protection and progression of women's rights.