Found: The UK chaired the Alliance in 2023 and handed over to Colombia for 2024 while remaining as vice-chair

Found: democracy and electoral observation missions, Beijing has sent representatives to elections in Bolivia, Colombia

Found: Lord Filkin: If we want to identify whether somebody from Colombia, in the example we tend to use

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will have discussions with his Venezuelan counterpart on reports that Venezuelan security services used gangs to attack exiled opponents living in exile in Colombia.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK does not accept the legitimacy of the administration put in place by Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. The UK strongly condemns activity which reaches across borders to interfere with individuals' safety and freedom. Our Embassy in Bogota is active in defending the democratic rights of the Venezuelan opposition in Colombia. During my visit to Colombia last month, I [Minister Rutley] met with Vice Foreign Minister Coy and urged Colombia to continue to use its influence to encourage Venezuela to hold fair and competitive elections.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of the expulsion of Argentinian diplomats from the Argentinian Embassy in Bogota.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Diplomatic relations between Colombia and Argentina are a matter for those two countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports of the murder of José Alirio Chochué Molanoin in Colombia on 19 January 2024.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The British Government remains concerned at the worrying rate of murders of, and threats against, peace signatories, including that of José Alirio Chochué. We will continue to support the Colombian Government in its commitment to implement the 2016 Peace Agreement and ensure the protection and safety of peace activists and women's rights campaigners. During my visit to Colombia in March, I raised the human rights situation with Vice Foreign Minister Coy. At the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia earlier this month, we set out our concern over attacks on human rights defenders, communities, women and social leaders, and reiterated our commitment to supporting efforts to tackle the root causes of violence in Colombia.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many requests for consular support were made to each British Embassy or Consulate in 2023; and how many of those were responded to by officials within a period of 24 hours.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our consular staff endeavour to give appropriate and tailored assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, to British nationals overseas and their families in the UK who need support. In 2023, in addition to long running cases, we provided support to around 22,000 British nationals, see breakdown by Post in the table below. The FCDO reports publicly on consular delivery through the FCDO Outcome Delivery Plan [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-commonwealth-development-office-outcome-delivery-plan]. Publishing our transparency data is currently on hold while we embed a new Case Management system.

NB We do not publish data where figures are 5 or below to comply with GDPR

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue with the Colombia–UK Bilateral Investment Treaty after October 2024; and, if it is continued, what plans they have to increase protections for (1) human rights, and (2) the environment.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern with the Colombian Government. The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty plays an important role in supporting the investment relationship between the UK and Colombia by protecting investors from arbitrary, discriminatory, and unfair treatment, as well as expropriation without adequate compensation. The UK is content with the standard of protection that it currently provides to investors of both the UK and Colombia. Colombia is a Human Rights Priority Country for the British Government and we actively engage with civil society through regular channels regarding our human rights concerns.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the high number of Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases against Columbia; and the impact of these cases on (1) the implementation of the Columbian Peace Accord, (2) the UK's role as penholder at the UN Security Council, and (3) human rights and the environment in Columbia.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern with the Colombian Government. The UK Government cannot comment on legal disputes arising from Bilateral Investment Treaties where it is not a party to the dispute. Resolution of any such disputes is a matter for the Government of Colombia and the investors concerned. Colombia is a Human Rights Priority Country for the British Government and we actively engage with civil society through regular channels regarding our human rights concerns.

Found: (a) Afghanistan; (b) Bangladesh; (c) Belarus; (d) Central African Republic; (e) China; (f) Colombia

Found: Energy transition: UK and Colombia joint action plan

Found: Central African Republic 3.9 113.8 Chad 3.9 113.8 Chile 101.3 1,320.7 China 1,312.1 17,374.1 Colombia

Found: The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting broad and lasting peace in Colombia: UK statement

Found: British Pharma and Health Care companies also set to benefit from opportunities unlocked in Colombia,

Found: Visits outside the UK Name of donor: Justice for Colombia
Address of donor: 75 St John St, London

Found: Visits outside the UK Name of donor: Justice for Colombia
Address of donor: 75 St John Stret, London