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1227130

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Press Freedom: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to protect global press freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7103
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>Media freedom is vital to open societies, and journalists must be able to investigate and report without undue interference. We must oppose all attempts by any state to use the COVID-19 pandemic to restrict press freedom, silence debate, abuse journalists, or spread misinformation.</p><p>As the Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, I addressed the Alliance for Multilateralism on 16 April, and highlighted the UK's commitment to human rights and media freedom, particularly during the crisis. To mark World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 2 May with his German, French and Dutch colleagues, calling on governments to defend media freedom, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK also signed a statement issued by the Media Freedom Coalition on WPFD and supported a Dutch social media campaign publicly highlighting cases of journalists who have been killed or imprisoned.</p><p>On 13 July at the inaugural meeting of the UK National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, I talked about the opportunity we had to lead internationally, developing an effective National Action Plan and thus setting an example for other countries in best practice.</p><p>We are determined not to allow the pandemic disrupt global efforts to protect media freedom. On 23 July, I called the Canadian High Commissioner to maintian momentum towards the next conference of the Media Freedom Coalition, which we hope will be held later this year. We remain committed to broadening this coalition of like-minded states to ensure that journalists are able to work freely without interference.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 16:15:35 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1226160

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	China: Uyghurs
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 authenticity of the drone footage reported to show shackled and blindfolded Uighur Muslims being led from trains in China. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of the footage, which was initially published online in September 2019. Open source analysis indicates the people shown in the footage are Uyghur or other minorities in Xinjiang. We judge this analysis to be credible. The footage adds to the growing body of evidence on the disturbing situation that Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in Xinjiang.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/07/2020 12:39:20 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1226165

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Iraq: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist religious minorities in Iraq, in particular those who have (1) been victims of genocidal acts, and (2) who are at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and what assistance they have provided to the government of Iraq to assist with the prosecution of Daesh fighters in that country.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL6995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK is working to support the rights of religious minorities in Iraq, including those who were the victims of appalling Daesh crimes. To enable the return of internally displaced persons, including minorities, we have contributed £28 million to the UNDP Funding Facility for Stabilisation, which is restoring vital infrastructure and basic services in areas liberated from Daesh. Additionally, we have redistributed £9.9 million to support the health response to the spread of Covid-19 in Iraq. In order to support the prosecution of Daesh crimes in Iraq, we have provided £2 million to the UN Investigative Team for the Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD) and are encouraging close co-operation between UNITAD and the Government of Iraq to achieve justice for Daesh's victims.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 10:32:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1226182

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	India: Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the Chief Minister of Haryana that he intends to introduce a freedom of religion law to ensure that anyone involved in "unlawful conversions" will be brought to justice, what plans they have to make urgent representations to the government of (1) India, and (2) Haryana, about the impact such a law would have on (a) the reality of freedom of religion or belief for Indian citizens, and (b) international confidence in the government of India’s willingness to uphold Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>We engage India on the full range of human rights matters. We work with Union and State Governments, as well as NGOs, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. Where we have concerns we raise them directly with the Government of India. Most recently, I discussed the situation for India's minorities with the Acting High Commissioner of India on 22 May. I have previously raised our concerns about the impact of recent legislative and judicial measures on minorities with Indian Government Ministers.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 16:22:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1226193

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Yemen: Ceasefires
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about securing a permanent ceasefire in Yemen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7023
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK continues to support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to secure the parties' agreement to proposals for a nationwide ceasefire and resumption of the UN-led political process. We engage regularly with international partners on Yemen, including through our role as penholder in the UN Security Council. On 1 July, the Foreign Secretary wrote a joint op-ed with his Swedish and German counterparts calling for the international community to back peace efforts. On 18 June, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa spoke with senior Yemeni leaders and the Special Envoy during a &quot;virtual visit&quot; and called for urgent action to secure peace and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 13:23:37 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1226200

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Kashmir: 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 the situation in Ladakh.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India in the House on 24 June. We welcome recent progress between India and China to manage tensions along their disputed border, and the commitment on 5 July by Indian and Chinese Special Representatives on 'the Boundary Question' to disengage troops along the Line of Actual Control and de-escalate the border areas. We encourage both sides to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/07/2020 12:16:29 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1226227

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Khalil Tafakji
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 that Khalil Tafakji was arrested without a stated reason.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL7059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>We have not made representations on this case.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 13:12:21 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1226231

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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: Palestinians
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 that the rights of Palestinian detainees, including children, are being routinely violated in prisons in Israel.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL7063
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK has concerns about the continued reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees, including minors, in Israeli military detention. We remain committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention in Israel and continue to make representations to the Israeli authorities on this issue. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv did so most recently on 18 June, when they raised our concerns about the impact that COVID-19 could have on prisoners and detainees.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 13:12:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1226232

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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: Foreign Relations
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 responses they receive from the government of Israel when they have raised reports of violations of (1) human rights, and (2) international law, by that government with that government; what assessment they have made of the UK Government’s policy of raising concerns directly with that government about such reports; and what steps they are taking, if any, to review that policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
uin	HL7064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a close friend of Israel and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two countries across a range of fields. While we do not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel whenever we feel it necessary, we believe that open and honest discussions best support our efforts to help progress in the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. There is frequent high-level engagement between the UK and Israel and we have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation at all levels. We will continue to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 13:22:27 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1225392

registered interest
date	15/07/2020
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	Syria: Islamic State
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in response to the statement by the Syrian Democratic Forces in May requesting that the international community to take full responsibility for the numbers of ISIS prisoners in Syria and to set up international courts, under UN jurisdiction, and try them in North East Syria.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL6894
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is clear that those individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, whatever their nationality, should face justice through a fair trial in the most appropriate jurisdiction. Any decision in relation to the continued detention, transfer or prosecution of detainees is ultimately a matter for authorities under whose jurisdiction the individuals are detained. The UK will continue to work with international partners, as well as partners in the region in seeking to secure the prosecution of individuals who have committed crimes in the name of Daesh. Any such justice mechanism must respect human rights and the rule of law, as well as ensure fair trials and due process.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/07/2020 12:43:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian