Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the potential implications for his policies of allegations of (a) forced disappearances and (b) degrading treatment of female Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, including in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps. We consistently support language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue efforts to enhance human rights in Western Sahara. We support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and welcomed his September visit to the region. We continue to engage key partners to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. We also discuss human rights with the Moroccan authorities including through our bilateral dialogues.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Western Sahara; and what steps he is taking to help promote accountability for assaults against Sahrawi human rights defenders.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, including in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps. We consistently support language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue efforts to enhance human rights in Western Sahara. We support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and welcomed his September visit to the region. We continue to engage key partners to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. We also discuss human rights with the Moroccan authorities including through our bilateral dialogues.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Western Sahara; and what steps he is taking to help promote the need for accountability for assaults against Sahrawi human rights defenders.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to support people whose livelihoods have been affected by climate change in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the potential implications for his policies of allegations of forced disappearances and degrading treatment of women Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his policy to support (a) a renewal of the UN Mission on Western Sahara and (b) the inclusion of a human rights component to that Mission.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help (a) promote self-determination for the Saharawi people in the Western Sahara and (b) secure a referendum with an option for independence.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visit to Western Sahara. We will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the importance of moving the process forward towards resolution with Morocco's Foreign Minister on 9 May.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent breaches of international humanitarian law in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the promotion of respect for International Humanitarian Law worldwide. With regard to Western Sahara, we strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and welcomed his September 2023 visit to the region, including to Western Sahara and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support UN-led efforts to achieve a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and welcomed his September 2023 visit to the region, including to Western Sahara. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visits, and we will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the importance of moving the process forward towards resolution with Morocco's Foreign Minister at the 4th UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue on 9 May.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the conflict in Western Sahara on (a) the right to self-determination and (b) other human rights of people in the region.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and welcomed his September 2023 visit to the region, including to Western Sahara. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visits, and we will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the importance of moving the process forward towards resolution with Morocco's Foreign Minister at the 4th UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue on 9 May.