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114784

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2014
	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	Iran
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to encourage the Iranian government to fulfil its obligations to uphold religious freedoms under Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	213479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text We remain deeply concerned by the detention and ill treatment of all prisoners of conscience in Iran, and the ongoing discrimination against Christians and other minority religious groups. We have called for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith, most recently during our representations to the United Nations Human Rights Council during the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Iran on 31 October. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/11/2014 15:06:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

147547

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	Iran
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions officials in his Department have had with the Iranian government on Iran's compliance with Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (a) in general and (b) with reference to the reported comments on 6 October 2014 by Ali Yamesi, the adviser to President Rouhani on religious and ethnic minorities, on the illegality of religious conversion in Iran.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	214045
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2014 answer text The right to freedom of religion or belief, including the right to change one’s faith or beliefs, is a right which is enshrined in international human rights law. The UK government has consistently urged the Iranian government to respect the rights of all minority religious groups, in line with their international commitments. The UK last raised our concerns about freedom of religion in Iran during our inputs in Iran’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council on 31 October. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires to Iran also raised the issue of freedom of religion with Iranian human rights officials during a visit to Iran in March 2014. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 19/11/2014 14:22:17 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

147508

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2014
	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	North Korea
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions HM Embassy in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea has had with the government of that country on the compatibility of international human rights law with domestic North Korean law.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	214139
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2014 answer text <p>We take every opportunity to ensure the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) government is aware of our serious concern about the human rights situation in the DPRK, and we do specifically raise the incompatibility of its domestic law with international human rights law. On 9 October, the British Ambassador met the Deputy Director of the International Organisations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Han Tae Sung, and underlined the strength of UK concern on this issue. In July, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director for Asia Pacific visited Pyongyang and, during meetings with the DPRK government and the Workers’ Party of Korea, called for serious progress to be made in improving the human rights situation in accordance with international law. On 28 August, the British Chargé d’Affaires in Pyongyang, together with other EU heads of mission, met DPRK Foreign Minister, Ri Su Yong, who indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with the EU on human rights, which is being pursued.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 19/11/2014 16:02:21 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

91020

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2014
	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	North Korea: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has requested the EU to implement targeted sanctions against people and organisations named in the UN Commission of Inquiry report on North Korea as being responsible for human rights violations in North Korea; and if he will discuss with his ministerial colleagues implementing sanctions in the event that the EU does not do so.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	208489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>We meet regularly with other EU member states to discuss how we can collectively press for substantial change in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In June, I personally met representatives from the EU, France, United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea to discuss ways in which accountability toward the DPRK can be improved. An EU imposed targeted sanctions regime against individuals and organisations named in the UN Commission of Inquiry report has not been requested as it is not clear this will lead to improvements in the human rights situation. However, the UK will continue to work closely with the EU and other partners to ensure focus is maintained on improving the human rights situation in the DPRK. We intend to work for a strong, well supported resolution in the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 13/10/2014 14:22:04 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

64747

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2014
	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	Burma
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential consequences of the proposed religious conversion bill in Burma and the situation for religious minorities in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	203060
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p>We have voiced our strong concerns over proposed legislation on inter-faith marriage and religious conversion to members of the Burmese government and parliamentarians. If enacted, these laws would harm religious tolerance and respect for diversity in Burma, and contravene international standards and treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which Burma is a signatory. During my visit to Burma in January, I delivered a speech which called for greater religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, and we continue to make clear that respect for freedom of religion and belief must be guaranteed.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 03/07/2014 10:48:21 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

60754

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2014
	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	North Korea
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations on supporting the broadcasting of accessible information in to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea in paragraph 1224 of the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	199759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>We have taken note of the UN Commission of Inquiry recommendation that civil society be supported to broadcast accessible information. We have helped to facilitate contact between BBC Worldwide and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) broadcasting authorities, to explore the possibility of the BBC supplying a range of programmes to the DPRK.</p><p>Through our Embassy in Pyongyang, the UK is also one of the few countries which is able to engage directly with the DPRK. This complements the efforts of others who are already broadcasting into North Korea. The recent report of the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in North Korea recognised the importance of both approaches.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 16/06/2014 13:42:59 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

114782

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2014
	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	Iran
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have raised the cases of Farshid Fathi, Behnam Irani, Shahin Lahouti and other Christians imprisoned for their faith in Iran when in conversations with representatives of the Iranian government.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	213478
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>We have not raised these cases directly with the Iranian Government, however we remain deeply concerned by the detention and ill treatment of all prisoners of conscience in Iran, and the ongoing discrimination against Christians and other minority religious groups. We have called for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith, most recently during our representations to the United Nations Human Rights Council during the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Iran on 31 October.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/11/2014 14:58:36 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

164153

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2014
	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	North Korea
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement its objective of improving human rights in North Korea in addition to talks with counterparts in the North Korean government.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	215563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2014 answer text <p>We are maintaining pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) human rights record through international fora such as the UN Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Most recently this has involved working with EU colleagues and Japan to sponsor a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee and lobbying to ensure it was adopted by a significant majority, sending an important signal that the systematic and widespread human rights violations in the DPRK will no longer be ignored by the international community.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 27/11/2014 14:28:50 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

164152

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2014
	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	North Korea
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of radio broadcasts to North Korea as a means of engagement with ordinary North Koreans on issues such as human rights.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	215562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2014 answer text <p>The best available source of information on access to media devices in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a survey conducted by InterMedia as part of its 2012 report ‘A Quiet Opening: North Koreans in a Changing Media Environment’. http://audiencescapes.org/sites/default/files/A_Quiet_Opening_FINAL_InterMedia.pdf. The report includes a section on the effectiveness of radio broadcasts which is best read in context and taking into account the authors’ caveats about the report’s findings. It is clear that, for those North Koreans willing and able to take the risk of listening, cross-border radio broadcasts can provide access to information that is otherwise not available within the DPRK. There are a number of radio stations that broadcast into the DPRK for this reason. Without further information, it is difficult to quantify the effectiveness of these stations.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 28/11/2014 15:26:57 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

155470

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	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	Central African Republic
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) technical and (b) financial assistance the UK plans to provide to the Central African Republic for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	214361
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>The UN Mission to the Central African Republic (CAR), MINUSCA, assumed responsibility for peacekeeping in CAR on 15 September. MINUSCA is funded from the UN’s Peacekeeping Budget, to which the UK is a significant contributor.</p><p>The mission’s mandate specifies that it should provide “support for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former armed elements, with specific attention to children, and the repatriation of foreign elements, as well as community violence-reduction programmes”. However, the Mission remains in its early stages and has faced operational challenges due to high levels of violence across the country. Once security improves, and staff numbers increase, the UN will, with the support of the international community, begin to take forward work aimed at disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of rebel fighters.</p><p>We remain in regular contact with the MINUSCA leadership. An experienced Foreign and Commonwealth diplomat, Diane Corner, started as the UN Secretary General’s Deputy Special Representative to MINUSCA on 1 September.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge grouped question UIN 214362 question first answered 18/11/2014 16:15:31 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce