Human Rights and Press Freedom: Coronavirus

(asked on 5th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) human rights defenders, and (2) journalists, in relation to work to document international responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 18th May 2020

The UK is committed to protecting and promoting human rights throughout the world through both bilateral and multilateral engagement. We work with and support human rights defenders, who play an essential role in upholding and promoting respect for human rights, democratic freedoms and civil society. The UK published the document 'UK Support for Human Rights Defenders' in July 2019, making it available in all six UN languages to ensure its widest reach. It sets out our ongoing dedication to supporting and protecting human rights defenders worldwide. Our diplomatic network will always take into account the local context and regularly engages with NGO representatives and human rights defenders to address the challenges which human rights defenders face and how the UK can help overcome them. The UK will continue to give strong support to human rights defenders worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable them to carry out their work safely and without fear, and we regularly assess how we can enhance our ability to make a positive difference.

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