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1228093

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Hagia Sophia
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) the decision to convert the Hagia Sofia into a mosque, and (2) the impact of that decision on marginalised religious minorities in Turkey and the Middle East; and what steps they are planning to take to ensure that the rights of religious minorities in the region are safeguarded.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>While we note the concern that President Erdoğan's decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque has caused internationally, the Government regards this as a sovereign matter for Turkey. However, we would expect that Hagia Sophia - part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - remains accessible to all, as testament to its global cultural and religious significance and Turkey's rich and diverse historical and cultural legacy, and that its precious artefacts are preserved. We therefore welcome the public statements by Turkish leaders that this historic building will continue to be accessible to people of all faiths and nationalities, which would be consistent with the Turkish constitution's provisions for freedom of conscience and religion for all. We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights.</p><p>The Government is firmly committed to protecting religious minorities in the Middle East region and providing assistance on the basis of need, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate for respect among different religious and racial groups, is to encourage states to uphold their human rights obligations. The UK is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 05/08/2020 14:41:50 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1228106

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Colombia: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of International Development, they plan to fund projects to help combat sexual violence in Colombia on a longer-term basis than the annual funding cycle has permitted to date.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL7446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia, which the FCO has designated a Human Rights Priority Country. Since 2016, UK support to a network of survivors of sexual violence has helped document 1200 new cases which are now before the transitional justice system. The UK has also funded work to train rural medical professionals in how to attend cases of sexual violence, including with a view to preserving evidence to facilitate convictions. More broadly, the UK has led efforts to strengthen action on conflict-related sexual violence through UN Security Council Peacekeeping Mandates and Resolutions. In April 2019, we advocated and voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2467 on sexual violence in conflict. This specified the importance of a survivor-centric approach in response to conflict-related sexual violence, which is the approach that underpins our programme work in Colombia. The UK remains committed to providing support to help Colombia tackle the legacy of sexual violence from its long conflict, and, as part of the FCO-DFID merger discussions, we will take the opportunity to review, refresh, and build on all existing strategies, as well as developing new approaches where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg grouped question UIN HL7447 question first answered 05/08/2020 14:33:21 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1228107

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Colombia: Development Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include greater involvement of survivors of sexual violence in the programme design of funded projects in Colombia.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL7447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia, which the FCO has designated a Human Rights Priority Country. Since 2016, UK support to a network of survivors of sexual violence has helped document 1200 new cases which are now before the transitional justice system. The UK has also funded work to train rural medical professionals in how to attend cases of sexual violence, including with a view to preserving evidence to facilitate convictions. More broadly, the UK has led efforts to strengthen action on conflict-related sexual violence through UN Security Council Peacekeeping Mandates and Resolutions. In April 2019, we advocated and voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2467 on sexual violence in conflict. This specified the importance of a survivor-centric approach in response to conflict-related sexual violence, which is the approach that underpins our programme work in Colombia. The UK remains committed to providing support to help Colombia tackle the legacy of sexual violence from its long conflict, and, as part of the FCO-DFID merger discussions, we will take the opportunity to review, refresh, and build on all existing strategies, as well as developing new approaches where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg grouped question UIN HL7446 question first answered 05/08/2020 14:33:21 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1228108

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	UN Interim Force in Lebanon
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of efforts by Hezbollah and the government of Lebanon to impede the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from carrying out its mandate; and what steps they have taken to raise this at the UN Security Council.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL7448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains concerned by Hizballah's activities within Lebanon which are in clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701. We regularly raise our concerns at the UN Security Council, and call on all parties to abide by the provisions of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 11:46:45 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1228109

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Israel: Lebanon
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of increased tensions along the Israel–Lebanon border and the readiness of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to mediate effectively between the governments of Israel and Lebanon as well as to diffuse any increase in hostilities.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL7449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of reports of increased tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The UK condemns all violations of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701, and call for all sides to adhere to the relevant resolutions. We welcome United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's efforts to mediate between parties and decrease tensions.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 11:47:08 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1228136

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Israeli Settlements
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 reports of the construction of (1) a new settlement near Asira a-Shamaliya on land owned by Palestinians, and (2) earthworks by Israeli armed forces preventing Palestinians from reaching their farmland.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL7479
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including settlement expansion and restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem. The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten they physical viability of a two-state solution. We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion immediately. We continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the damage that their restrictions on movement, access and trade are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians. We are encouraging both sides to maintain calm and avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 11:47:46 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1228137

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Israel: Coronavirus
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 the Supreme Court of Israel's ruling that prisoners in Gilboa prison have no right to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL7480
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>We remain concerned by the impact that COVID-19 could have on prisoners and detainees. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. This includes the increased risk due to lack of hygiene, proper ventilation, population density and issues of due process. We continue to call for steps to be taken that will reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in prisons whilst simultaneously respecting fundamental human rights.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 11:45:33 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1228008

registered interest
date	27/07/2020
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	Hopewell Chin'ono
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 Zimbabwe about the detention of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Oates
uin	HL7381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/08/2020 answer text <p>The UK is deeply worried by the arrest of Hopewell Chin'ono on 20 July, and by his continued detention. The Minister for Africa tweeted on 23 July to express his concern at the treatment of Mr Chin'ono and to urge the Zimbabwean authorities to uphold the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Zimbabwe's constitution. The British Ambassador to Harare has sought a meeting with the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, to discuss our concerns, and officials at the British Embassy in Harare are closely following developments on his case. When the Minister for Africa spoke to the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister on 8 June, he urged him to ensure the Government of Zimbabwe makes concrete progress on human rights and respects the rule of law.</p><p>The UK is committed to the promotion of media freedom and the protection of journalists. Media freedom is an essential quality of any open society. People must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely, to challenge their governments, and to make decisions informed by a strong and robust media. Zimbabwe is one of the UK's Media Freedom Focus Countries: we have called on the Government of Zimbabwe to commit to the Global Pledge on Media Freedom and to end the harassment of journalists, improve legislation and work with the international community to protect media freedom.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 03/08/2020 13:51:14 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

1228023

registered interest
date	27/07/2020
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	Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Expenditure
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are (1) the sources, and (2) the amounts, of funding received by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in the latest financial year for which figures are available; what steps they plan to take to ensure that funding is made available through that Foundation to promote democratic engagement in Hong Kong; what plans they to support through (1) that Foundation, and (2) other means, (a) the costs of the legal defence of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong, and (b) where appropriate, the cost of their travel to seek refuge in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7315
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>The Westminster Foundation for Democracy's (WFD) funding comes from a combination of grants provided by institutional donors, such as the DFID Accountable Grant, and the FCO. Details are set out in the WFD's Annual Report and Accounts, which can be found online. The UK remains fully committed to upholding Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and assembly which are guaranteed under the Joint Declaration and 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 15:15:26 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1228024

registered interest
date	27/07/2020
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	Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Directors
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that members of the board of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy are not compromised in that role by association with states whose governments (1) are undemocratic, and (2) fail to adhere to legally-binding international treaties to which they are party.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7316
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>The Government already has measures in place to ensure that members of the board of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) are not compromised in the work that they do as board members. The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. WFD Board members must also abide by the terms and conditions set out in the FCO-WFD Framework Agreement, which includes the need to comply at all times with the Code of Conduct. They are asked to disclose any relevant interests on an annual basis and any conflicts of interest at each board meeting. Additionally, to ensure there are no conflicts of interest when appointing members to an arms-length body listed on the Public Appointments Order in Council, such as the WFD, all government departments must follow the processes set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 05/08/2020 14:25:23 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool