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226695

registered interest
date	11/03/2015
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 reports he has received on the security situation in Myanmar following the arrest of protestors on 10 March 2015; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Pendle
tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
uin	227201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2015 answer text <p>We are concerned by the violence which took place in Letpadan Burma, on 10 March. This follows the use of force, and the use of irregular security groups, to break up a peaceful protest in Rangoon on 5 March. These events have overshadowed the long period of disciplined policing in relation to these protests. <br><br>The exact circumstances leading to these clashes remain unclear, and the UK supports the EU’s call for a formal investigation to be initiated swiftly. The government of Burma has announced an investigation into the events of 5 March. <br><br>The development of a professional police force that respects and upholds human rights and the rule of law is fundamental to Burma’s transition to full democracy.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 17/03/2015 15:23:09 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

226284

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
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	Commonwealth Day
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 success of Commonwealth Day.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Dr William McCrea
uin	227120
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2015 answer text <p>Commonwealth Day was marked successfully by a range of activities in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. There were celebratory messages from Her Majesty The Queen, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond). I represented Her Majesty's Government at the multi-faith Observance at Westminster Abbey attended by Her Majesty The Queen, members of the Royal family, and over 2,000 participants including High Commissioners, dignitaries from around the Commonwealth and 1,000 young people from schools across the UK. Our High Commissions across the world also actively promoted and celebrated Commonwealth Week. <br><br>The Commonwealth theme for 2015 ‘A Young Commonwealth’ was promoted across the Commonwealth with an increased use of social media. The hashtag #commonwealthday reached over 2.5 million followers on twitter accounts with over 1,400 tweets published to date.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 17/03/2015 15:19:10 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	655 label Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

226288

registered interest
date	10/03/2015
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
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 raised with the Colombian government the further threats to the life of Irreal Aguilar Solano; and what steps the Colombian government has informed the Government it is taking.
tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
tabling member printed	Martin Horwood
uin	227010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>Our Ambassador in Bogota raised the case of Irrael Aguilar Solano on 3 February 2015 during a meeting with the Presidential High Adviser for Human Rights, Guillermo Rivera. Mr Rivera informed the Ambassador that they will engage with the Colombian Authorities to ensure that full protection measures are afforded. <br><br>More than 1300 Human Rights Defenders have received protection measures from the Colombian Government, 300 of them at the highest level. The Presidential High Adviser for Human Rights also informed our Ambassador that as a result of the improvement in protection measures, deaths of Human Rights Defenders are decreasing.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 16/03/2015 17:10:07 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1499 label Biography information for Martin Horwood

225904

registered interest
date	09/03/2015
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	Maldives
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 counterpart in the Maldives on the trial of former President Mohammed Nasheed.
tabling member constituency	The Cotswolds
tabling member printed	Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
uin	226639
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>We have a number of serious concerns about increasing political tensions in the Maldives and the arrest of former President Nasheed, who has now been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for forceful abduction. As I said in my statement of 13 March, despite calls from the international community for due process to be followed, we are concerned that the former President's trial has not been conducted in a transparent and impartial manner nor in accordance with due legal process. <br><br>I made my concerns very clear when I discussed this issue with the Foreign Minister of the Maldives, Dunya Maumoon, on 6 March. As I also said in my statement of 13 March, should Mr Nasheed decide to appeal, we will watch that process closely and hope that Mr Nasheed will be properly and transparently accorded the rights that every citizen of the Maldives is entitled to.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 16/03/2015 17:11:35 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	249 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

225185

registered interest
date	04/03/2015
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
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 Chinese counterpart on (a) real name registration on online platforms such as Weibo and (b) other aspects of internet freedom.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Sir Menzies Campbell
uin	226374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>We continue to be concerned by restrictions to internet freedoms in China, particularly in relation to freedom of expression. We are aware of new laws requiring real name registration on online platforms such as Weibo, and are concerned that increasing numbers of foreign websites are being blocked. We believe that the internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for communication between governments and citizens, and is vital for creativity and the development of a knowledge-driven economy. <br><br>We highlighted the issues of real name registration in our September 2014 update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy. The report and its updates record the range of our concerns. We last raised our detailed concerns about internet freedoms with Chinese authorities during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in May 2014.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 10/03/2015 16:21:42 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	627 label Biography information for Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

224447

registered interest
date	02/03/2015
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	Mexico
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 reports he has received on the monitoring of human rights in Mexico; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Islington North
tabling member printed	Jeremy Corbyn
uin	225917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>I would like to thank the hon. Member for his efforts to promote discussion of human rights in Mexico via the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mexico and the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group. The promotion and protection of human rights are a key priority for this Government and I receive regular reports from my officials on the human rights situation in Mexico, including the recent tragic events in Iguala and Tlatlaya. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Mexican government on human rights as part of our strong bilateral relationship. We also work with non-government organisations (NGOs) and human rights defenders both here and in Mexico on these issues.</p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s human rights work in Mexico has focused on tackling impunity as a way of improving human rights across the country. These include projects to:</p><ul><li>support the move to adversarial trials in the state of Chiapas and in Mexico City;</li><li>build the capacity of police to investigate crimes under this new system in the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California and San Luis Potosí;</li><li>work with Mexican human rights NGO Centro Prodh on enforced disappearances, and protections for journalists and human rights defenders.</li></ul> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/03/2015 16:44:06 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	185 label Biography information for Jeremy Corbyn

224448

registered interest
date	02/03/2015
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	Mexico
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 had on human rights in Mexico with President Peña Nieto during his visit to London in March 2015.
tabling member constituency	Islington North
tabling member printed	Jeremy Corbyn
uin	225915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The UK and Mexico share an excellent – and rapidly developing – bilateral relationship, which has been further strengthened by the State Visit of President Enrique Peña Nieto. As the Joint Declaration, signed on 4 march by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and the Mexican Foreign Minister makes clear, finding ways to work together to improve the lives of people in both countries and to build respect for human rights is central to our bilateral relationship. During their meeting on Wednesday, the Prime Minister and President Pena Nieto discussed a wide range of issues, including on human rights and rule of law. They also agreed on the importance of accountability, transparency and open government. The President also held discussions with both the Deputy Prime Minster and the Leader of the Opposition.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/03/2015 16:42:07 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	185 label Biography information for Jeremy Corbyn

224450

registered interest
date	02/03/2015
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	Mexico
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 raise the issue of human rights in Mexico at the current session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
tabling member constituency	Islington North
tabling member printed	Jeremy Corbyn
uin	225916
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) to the House on 3 March, Official Report, column 803, in which he said &quot;We have a strong relationship with Mexico. We use that to seek improvements to Mexico’s human rights record and to give Mexico practical help in trying to improve its judicial and police systems in particular&quot;.</p><p>UK priorities at the current session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva are: the renewal of UN mandates on Syria, Burma and Iran; increasing international attention on Libya, Ukraine and DPRK; responding to UN reports on Gaza and ISIL activity in Iraq; and thematic resolutions on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Combating Religious Intolerance and Privacy.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/03/2015 16:42:59 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	185 label Biography information for Jeremy Corbyn

223575

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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
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 28 October 2014 to Question 211346, what response the Colombian government provided to the Minister for Latin American Affairs when human rights were raised during the Minister's visit in June 2014; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	225466
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>During my visit to Colombia in June 2014 I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Heads of the Colombian government’s major human rights agencies. I set out the UK’s concerns regarding attacks against human rights defenders and cases of impunity for those responsible. I also handed over a list of specific cases that our Embassy in Bogotá has been monitoring. <br><br>The Director of the National Protection Unit explained that Colombia has the largest protection system for human rights defenders anywhere in the world. The Attorney-General’s office confirmed that sentences for those attacking human rights defenders were rising (including sentences against servicemen). <br><br>Improving the respect for human rights in Colombia remains a top priority for the government of President Santos, and the UK welcomes the progress they have made, while noting that there is, of course, still more that can be done. I am delighted to be co-hosting a Members–only ‘Dialogue on Colombia’ on 10 March, which His Excellency Mr Néstor Osorio is kindly holding at the Colombian Embassy in London. This highlights the willingness of both our governments to engage with parliamentarians on human rights issues.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 02/03/2015 14:45:05 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

223613

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Maldives
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 security situation in the Maldives.
tabling member constituency	Hereford and South Herefordshire
tabling member printed	Jesse Norman
uin	225391
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>We are concerned with the increasing political tensions in the Maldives and the arrest on 22 February 2015 of former President Mohamed Nasheed on charges of terrorism. I issued a statement on 26 February urging calm across the Maldives and calling for all political parties to act with moderation and restraint. I also expressed concern at the continued detention of former President Nasheed, and that it is made clear the importance for international confidence in the Maldives that Mr Nasheed, like all other citizens, is seen to be enjoying due legal process and respect for his fundamental rights. I have also raised these concerns directly with the Maldives Foreign Minister. <br><br>The UK continues to coordinate with the US, Commonwealth, EU and others.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 02/03/2015 14:27:00 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman