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1005728

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Philippines: 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, what recent assessment he has made of the protection of human rights in the Philippines.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	190341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>The UK is fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, and reports of human rights abuses in the Philippines remain troubling. We are concerned by the high death toll associated with the 'war on drugs', the situation of land rights and human rights defenders, developments on media freedom, and moves to reintroduce the death penalty.</p><p>Our Embassy in Manila has made these concerns clear with senior officials and government figures and it is in regular contact with human rights groups and relevant UN bodies on a range of human rights issues. We also work closely with the wider international community, including our EU partners, to press for investigations into instances of abuse and to encourage the protection of human rights defenders.</p><p>I raised these issues with a number of Philippine Ministers during my trip to Manila in August 2018 and with the Philippine Ambassador in April 2018. In the UK item 2 statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 11 September 2018, we urged the Philippines to investigate killings associated with the &quot;war on drugs&quot; and to ensure the safety of Land Rights defenders.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/11/2018 14:13:32 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1005829

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Asia Bibi
	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 he has had with (a) the Home Secretary and (b) his counterpart in Pakistan on offering asylum in the UK to Asia Bibi and her family.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
	tabling member printed	Layla Moran
	uin	190550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>It is the long standing position of the Government not to comment on individual immigration issues.</p><p>Asia Bibi’s acquittal will be very welcome news to her family and those who have campaigned in Pakistan and around the world for her release. The UK continues to follow developments on this case very closely.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/11/2018 14:15:14 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran

1006034

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Bangladesh: Elections
	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 ensure (a) international oversight by observers and (b) the accuracy of the voter registration database in relation to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
	uin	190837
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>​The British Government has been clear that we want to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh and I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without interference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:05:28 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1006035

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Bangladesh: Elections
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Bangladesh Government on ensuring freedom to (a) campaign and (b) assemble in advance of the parliamentary elections in that country.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
	uin	190838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>The British Government has been consistently clear that we wish to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh. I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without inteference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:06:43 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1006084

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Bangladesh: Rohingya
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made tho his Bangladeshi counterpart on the proposed forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees from that country.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Helen Jones
	uin	190783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>On 14 November I released a public statement expressing deep concern at reports that returns of Rohingya refugees to Burma were imminent. I called on Bangladesh and Burma not to return any refugees until the conditions were in place for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns that uphold human rights. I am pleased that no repatriations began on 15 November, but I remain concerned that such repatriations might commence before appropriate conditions are in place. I agree with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. Neither is the access in Burma required for necessary independent monitoring by UN agencies in place.</p><p>I contacted Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Ali on 15 November to welcome the fact that repatriations had not taken place and received his assurance that the Government of Bangladesh remained committed to the principle of voluntary returns with UNHCR monitoring.</p><p>Previously, I spoke to Bangladesh Minister of State Shahriar Alam and Burmese Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin on 1 November and stressed the UK's assessment that conditions in Rakhine State were not currently suitable for refugee returns.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:25:49 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

1006085

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Bangladesh: Rohingya
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to protect women Rohingya refugees that are repatriated from gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Helen Jones
	uin	190784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The UK is deeply concerned at Bangladesh and Burma's announcement that the repatriation of refugees will begin in mid-November. I have registered our concerns with ministers from both governments, and issued a statement expressing concerns on 14 November. The UK shares the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' assessment that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. The UK supports the UN High Commissioner's call for his agency to be given unfettered access to northern Rakhine, which would enable it to monitor the safety, including from gender-based violence, of any refugees that do return.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:35:05 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

1006172

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Jagtar Singh Johal
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Indian Government on the continuing imprisonment of Jagtar Singh Johal.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	190760
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>​We continue to press the Indian Government at official and Ministerial level to address concerns raised with them on behalf of Jagtar Singh Johal, including allegations of torture and mistreatment. Baroness Williams and I raised the case with the Minister of State for External Affairs, on 11 June and 7 May respectively, and most recently I raised Mr Johal’s case with the outgoing Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Y K Sinha, on 23 October 2018. Our consular staff in India continue to visit Mr Johal regularly.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:33:30 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1006176

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Pakistan: Blasphemy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan on ensuring the security and protection of (a) lawyers and judges in Pakistan who are involved in blasphemy cases and (b) (i) Asia Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook and (ii) the three Supreme Court judges involved in Asia Bibi’s case.
	tabling member constituency	Mitcham and Morden
	tabling member printed	Siobhain McDonagh
	uin	190748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>In August, the Prime Minister raised with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan the importance of Pakistan delivering on its commitments to strengthen institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. As the Prime Minister recognised in Parliament on 14 November, Imran Khan has publicly supported the Supreme Court and promised to uphold the rule of law, while providing continued protection for Asia Bibi.</p><p>The UK is helping improve the justice system in Pakistan. Our Rule of Law programme aims to strengthen the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:02:21 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	193 label Biography information for Dame Siobhain McDonagh

1006189

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	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	Afghanistan: Hazara
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Afghanistan Government on protecting Hazaras people in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	190970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>We regularly raise issues concerning freedom of religion with the Government of Afghanistan, underlining, the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution of Afghanistan.</p><p>We are concerned about the high number of civilian casualties and displaced persons that have resulted from the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. We urge that all parties to the conflict respect International Humanitarian Law, protecting the civilian population and facilitating the provision of assistance by neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies. We assess that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) are now working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces. We understand that those who have been displaced are receiving assistance from local authorities.</p><p>We continue to monitor the impact that fighting may have had on tensions between different communities. Ultimately, we urge all parties to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict, which is causing the tragic death of innocent civilians.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 21/11/2018 12:08:54 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1006874

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	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	Middle East: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will undertake a review of the Magna Carta Fund to assess the potential merits of expanding the teaching of religious tolerance in Middle Eastern countries.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	191319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>​The Magna Carta fund has recently extended its support for Hardwired, a project which promotes Freedom of Religion or Belief in curricula in the Middle East and North Africa. More broadly, 'Respect in Education' is a key part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's strategy to promote Freedom of Relgion or Belief. Projects within the Magna Carta Fund are routinely reviewed and assessed.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 19/11/2018 15:51:09 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell