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1175464

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sudan: Politics and Government
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) freedom of religion or belief in Sudan, and (2) security sector reform, since the appointment of Abdalla Hamdok as Prime Minister; and what representations they have made to the government of Sudan about reports that Sudanese nationals have been detained for political reasons when returning to that country.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL1236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK welcomes commitments by the new civilian government to improve human rights but significant issues remain. Sudan remains a priority country in the UK Annual Human Rights Report with promotion of human rights a key aspect of our engagement with Sudan. There are recent signs of progress on Freedom of Religion or Belief, including institutions observing Christian holidays and Christians being able to attend church services on Sundays. However, we remain concerned by ongoing issues and abuses which I raised with the Sudanese Ambassador on 28 January.</p><p>Reforms of the security sector in Sudan were enshrined in the Constitutional Declaration of 17 August 2019. Our Embassy in Khartoum is monitoring developments. Reforms will take time but will form an important part of Sudan's transition to democracy and support of human rights. Progress since the appointment of the civilian-led government includes the disbanding of the operational arm of the General Intelligence Service (formally National Intelligence and Security Services) and reorganisation of the top-level command structures of the Sudanese Armed Forces.</p><p>We are concerned by reports of political detainees, have called for their release, and for all detainees to be treated in accordance with international standards. We will continue to engage the Sudanese authorities and civil society on this issue.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/02/2020 14:46:56 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1175485

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Eritrea: National Service
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the UN Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea's second report, published on 8 June 2016, that conscripts in Eritrea are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
uin	HL1257
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of claims by women who have left Eritrea that they were sexually abused at the National Service Military Training Centre in Sawa, and these concerns were raised during the Universal Periodic Review of Eritrea in January 2019. The UK is committed to tackling the scourge of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and continues to call for reform of Eritrea's use of a system of universal and compulsory national service.</p><p>The Government of Eritrea has justified this service on grounds of the security threat posed by Ethiopia. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia we have yet to see any concrete proposals for reform. In July 2019, the Eritrean Government said that it would undertake a review of national service, but they gave no deadline for the review's completion.</p><p>At the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in July 2019, the UK renewed calls for Eritrea to reform the national service system, recognising that sustainable reform of national service needs to happen in tandem with an improved economic situation and job creation. We also raise human rights in Eritrea, both directly with the Government, as the former Minister for Africa did with the Eritrean President's senior adviser when she saw him in July 2019, and when the Head of East Africa Department, with our Ambassador in Asmara, saw the same advisor in November 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 14:57:41 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

1175486

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Eritrea: National Service
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of national conscripts, reported to be at risk of sexual and gender-based violence, in the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa's programme 'Reconnecting Eritrea and Ethiopia through rehabilitation of the main arterial roads in Eritrea'.
tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
uin	HL1258
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2020 answer text <p>UK support for the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa project, to reconnect Eritrea and Ethiopia through the rehabilitation of the main roads, is conditional on the EU working with the UN to monitor the treatment of national service workers implementing the project. The project, run by the Eritrean state-owned company Segen Engineering, will employ approximately 300 civilian National Service workers who will receive technical and health and safety training.</p><p>We are not aware of any reports of sexual or gender-based violence connected with this project or within the construction industry as a whole. DFID works closely with the European Union on our joint agenda to safeguard against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. We will continue to review these specific concerns relating to Eritrean national service, and work with the EU to put further measures in place where we judge these are required.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/02/2020 14:51:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

1175489

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	USA: Land Mines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of the United States' decision to rescind restrictions on the use of anti-personnel landmines by the United States military; and what discussions they have had with that government about that decision.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL1261
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has noted this change in US policy, is working to understand the implications and will continue to engage closely with the US on the matter.</p><p>While the US is not party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), we note their continued commitment to other relevant international instruments, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and their ongoing support to international mine action.</p><p>The UK remains committed to the APMBC and regularly calls on all states not yet party to accede without delay.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 11:23:10 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1175490

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	USA: Land Mines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the government of the United States' new policy on the use of landmines with the principles of the Ottawa Convention.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL1262
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has noted this change in US policy, is working to understand the implications and will continue to engage closely with the US on the matter.</p><p>While the US is not party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), we note their continued commitment to other relevant international instruments, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and their ongoing support to international mine action.</p><p>The UK remains committed to the APMBC and regularly calls on all states not yet party to accede without delay.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 11:22:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1175491

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	USA: Land Mines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the implications of the new United States policy on the use of landmines in situations where UK armed forces are deployed alongside their American counterparts.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL1263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has noted this change in US policy, is working to understand the implications and will continue to engage closely with the US on the matter.</p><p>While the US is not party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), we note their continued commitment to other relevant international instruments, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and their ongoing support to international mine action.</p><p>The UK remains committed to the APMBC and regularly calls on all states not yet party to accede without delay.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 11:24:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1175492

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	USA: Land Mines
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of the United States about its decision to rescind restrictions on the United States military's use of anti-personnel landmines.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL1264
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has noted this change in US policy, is working to understand the implications and will continue to engage closely with the US on the matter.</p><p>While the US is not party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), we note their continued commitment to other relevant international instruments, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and their ongoing support to international mine action.</p><p>The UK remains committed to the APMBC and regularly calls on all states not yet party to accede without delay.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 11:23:54 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1175498

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	West Bank: Nature Reserves
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about its announcement that it intends to create seven new nature reserves in Area C of the occupied West Bank; and what assessment they have made of who is likely to be affected (1) positively, and (2) negatively, as a result.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL1270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett's announcement on 15 January. We would be concerned by any measures taken that would damage the Palestinian presence and development in Area C. We are encouraging both sides to maintain calm and avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/02/2020 11:31:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1175499

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	BBC: Iran
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of harassment experienced by BBC personnel in Iran; and what action they are taking in response.
tabling member printed	Lord Judd
uin	HL1271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2020 answer text <p>We condemn the judicial persecution of family members of employees and ex-employees of BBC Persian, and are deeply concerned by the reports of any threats against journalists in the UK. The British Government is committed to the promotion of media freedom, which is vital to functioning societies, and the principle that journalists must be able to investigate and report as they see fit. We regularly raise human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues including restrictions on media freedom. On 29 January, the UK alongside Canada co-hosted the first official meeting of the Media Freedom Coalition in Geneva, a partnership of 35 countries working together to advocate the safety of journalists worldwide and to defend media freedom.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/02/2020 10:27:43 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	1660 label Biography information for Lord Judd

1175500

registered interest
date	03/02/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Visas: EU Countries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK students intending to travel in the EU in 2021 will be able to remain in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180 day period.
tabling member printed	Lord Mawson
uin	HL1272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The EU has already legislated such that British nationals will not need a visa when travelling to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in every 180-day period. This will apply from the end of the transition period to all British nationals travelling to and within the Schengen area for tourism, to visit friends or family, to attend cultural or sports events or exchanges, to attend business meetings, for journalistic or media purposes, medical treatment, for short-term studies or training and any similar activities.</p><p>Provisions for British nationals, including students, intending to stay in the Schengen area for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period will depend on the approach taken by the EU or by the relevant Member State(s). British nationals intending to stay in the Schengen Area for longer may need a visa or permit to do so. Member State rules vary and British nationals should check entry requirements with the Embassy of the relevant Member State.</p><p>Further information for British nationals currently studying or travelling, or intending to study or travel, in the EU is available on gov.uk.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 11/02/2020 17:09:39 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3830 label Biography information for Lord Mawson