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643888

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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	Djibouti: Female Genital Mutilation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2016 to Question 52971, if he will instruct the UK Ambassador with responsibility for Djibouti to make representations on the practice of female genital mutilation to the government of Djibouti.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	54686
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2016 answer text <p>Female Genital Mutilation is a high priority for the UK and we will continue to work with governments and partners to end the abusive practice. DFID leads our international efforts on FGM and it is raised by our Heads of Missions, officials and visiting Ministers. We will continue to do this, including in the countries raised.</p><p>We also work closely with international partners, including the EU and UN, especially in countries where we do not have an Embassy, to press governments to prevent FGM. Supported by UK funding, the UN Joint Programme on FGM and cutting has led coordinated efforts to influence national policy and legislation in 17 high prevalence countries.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 54938 54939 54940 54942 54943 54944 54945 54946 54947 54948 54950 question first answered 01/12/2016 14:35:01 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

643892

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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: Trials
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 Sudanese counterpart on the trial of members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	54661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2016 answer text <p>We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.</p><p>In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 01/12/2016 14:16:30 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

643893

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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: Trials
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 fairness of the trial relating to members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development in Sudan.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	54662
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2016 answer text <p>We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.</p><p>In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 01/12/2016 14:18:40 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

643894

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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: Detainees
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 Sudanese counterpart on the six-month detention of Khalafalla Al-Afif Mukhtar, Midhat Afif Al-Deen Hamdan and Mustafa Adam on charges relating to their work and affiliation with the Centre for Training and Human Development.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	54663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2016 answer text <p>We continue to raise our concerns about the trial of members of the human rights NGO TRACKs directly with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue, most recently during the visit of the Sudanese Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on 10 October. I also made our wider human rights concerns clear to the Sudanese delegation during the same visit.</p><p>In coordination with our international partners we have ensured that there is a diplomatic presence at each stage of the trial of the members and affiliates of the Centre for Training and Human Development. Officials from our Embassy last attended on 30 August, and US officials attended the most recent hearing on 22 November.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 01/12/2016 14:21:37 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

643912

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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	Egypt: Press Freedom
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 Egypt on the imprisonment of journalists and curtailment of the free press in that country.
tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
uin	54851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2016 answer text <p>​Egypt is one of the FCO's 30 Human Rights Priority Countries. In the FCO's Human Rights and Democracy Report published in April, we raised concerns about the detention of journalists and restrictions on freedom of expression in Egypt. FCO ministers and officials regularly raise human rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities, including the detention of journalists. For example, we raised the arrests of journalists Amr Badr and Mohamed el Sakka in May with the Egyptian Ambassador to London.</p><p>The UK has also raised its concerns about human rights in Egypt at the UN, most recently at the Human Rights Council in September. We also supported an EU statement at the same session which specifically expressed concerns about the arrests of journalists in Egypt. When the Prime Minister met President Sisi in September, she noted the importance of human rights. The UK wants to see more political progress and better protection of human rights in Egypt. That includes implementation of the rights guaranteed by Egypt's constitution, more freedom of expression, and more space for NGOs and civil society. These rights and freedoms are key for Egypt's long-term stability and we will continue to raise our concerns with the Egyptian authorities.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 01/12/2016 14:38:23 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

643914

registered interest
date	24/11/2016
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	Democratic Republic of Congo: 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 reports he has received on the decision by President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo to delay elections due to take place in November 2016 until April 2018; and whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the funding made available by the EU for those elections.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	54774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2016 answer text <p>DFID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Mr Wharton visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the 18-20 November. He met the Prime Minister, the Minister for Interior/Security, the main opposition leader, the speaker of the lower house of Parliament and leader of President Kabila's political grouping. Mr Wharton discussed elections with all interlocutors and pressed them to show the flexibility necessary to reach an inclusive deal on timely elections and transition.</p><p>I visited the DRC in August where I discussed elections with the DRC government and pressed them to make more progress towards holding timely elections. I also met opposition figures, and emphasised the importance of elections to the DRC's continuing development. The embassy in Kinshasa maintains a regular dialogue with the Government of the DRC about the postponement of the elections to April 2018.</p><p>EU funding for elections is dependent on the DRC government meeting conditions set out in UN Security Council resolution 2277. The conditions include a transparent election process based on an inclusive political agreement and a clear timetable approved by stakeholders. We are working closely with EU partners in support of this.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 29/11/2016 17:45:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

643047

registered interest
date	23/11/2016
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: War Crimes
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 his international counterparts on potential investigations by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes committed in Syria.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	54551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2016 answer text <p>The UK has publicly expressed its support for referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC). In May 2014, the UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution to refer all those responsible for war-crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, regardless of affiliation, to the ICC. Russia and China chose to veto this resolution. Russia has since vetoed five resolutions on Syria.</p><p>The UK has a long-standing commitment to accountability and this will not alter. The UK continues to believe that those responsible for war crimes must be held accountable, that any process of justice must primarily benefit Syrians and Syria as a country, and that the exact nature of the process is for Syrians to agree.</p><p>We fully support the work of the independent UN Commission of Inquiry and have stressed our support for their work in recent discussions with partners, including at recent sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. In support of a future process of justice, we have also supported with partners the compilation of case files of evidence of atrocities approximating to ICC standards, which may form an important part of a future process to hold those responsible to account.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 30/11/2016 16:24:32 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

643049

registered interest
date	23/11/2016
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	Islamic State: Military Intervention
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 discussions his Department has had with governments of the Gulf states on their contribution to the campaign against Daesh.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	54548
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2016 answer text <p>Ministers and officials from both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other Government Departments frequently discuss the counter-Daesh campaign, and Gulf states' contributions to it, with our Gulf partners. Looking just at the last month: on 27 October, I discussed these issues with our Gulf partners at the Global Coalition's Communications Working Group in Abu Dhabi, which I co-chaired with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and US; I had addressed the subject on 19-20 November at the 2016 Sir Bani Yas security forum in the UAE; and on 16-17 November, FCO officials discussed these issues with Gulf partners at the Global Coalition's Co-Leads and Small Group meetings in Berlin.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 30/11/2016 16:31:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

643055

registered interest
date	23/11/2016
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: Baha'i Faith
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the forced closure of over 100 Baha'i shops in Iran during the first week of November 2016; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Tyneside
tabling member printed	Mary Glindon
uin	54493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2016 answer text <p>The UK regularly raises human rights concerns with the Iranian government including the continued persecution of religious minorities and treatment of the Baha'i community. We are aware that the Iranian authorities have closed down a number of Baha'i businesses in response to them temporarily closing to observe Baha'i holy days on 1 and 2 November. This forms part of a worrying trend of persecution of the Baha'i faith in Iran. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 28/11/2016 15:28:57 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon

643056

registered interest
date	23/11/2016
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	Somalia: 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 discussions he has had with his Somali counterpart on the level of voter participation in elections in that country.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	54452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2016 answer text <p>​I discussed the electoral process with the President of Somalia when we met in Mogadishu on 2 August. Our Ambassador in Mogadishu maintains a regular dialogue with key players across the Somali leadership on this subject.</p><p>Somalia is in transition and partway through an electoral process due to culminate with the election of a new President by the end of the year. It is vital that the process is transparent, credible and safe; and that commitments to make the process more inclusive, including increasing female representation, are fully respected. With electoral colleges voting in regional states as well as Mogadishu comprising a total of over 14,000 voters, the 2016 process is a stepping stone to one person one vote elections scheduled for 2020, and builds on the 2012 process when only 135 elders voted. This is a big step forward, and presents a significant logistical and security challenge, but clearly the Government's ambition of universal suffrage remains.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 28/11/2016 15:26:09 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah