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76343

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Pakistan
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 steps he has taken to encourage the repeal of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	204618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>We regularly raise the blasphemy laws and their misuse against those of all faiths at the highest levels in Pakistan. During the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif in April, the Prime Minister, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised our concerns as well as the need for reforms. We will continue to press the Pakistani government to make progress in this area.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 14/07/2014 11:29:54 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

76344

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Terrorism
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 his Department has had with the European Commission's Radicalisation Awareness Network and its Working Group on Voices of Victims of Terrorism in the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	204620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not had discussions with the European Commission's Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and its working group on Voices of Victims of Terrorism in the last three years, but did send a representative to a RAN working group meeting in 2013 on a separate issue.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 14/07/2014 11:33:38 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

76345

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	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, what steps he is taking to emphasise adherence to fundamental freedoms of religion and association as part of the UK's foreign policy.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	204616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>Promoting and protecting the freedom of religion or belief is a priority for UK foreign policy. We pursue it in our bilateral work and lobbying of other Governments, and through our human rights programme funding. We have also stepped up training in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the influence of faith, in many parts of the world, on governments, communities and individuals.</p><p>Our work is based on the full definition of freedom of religion or belief as set out in article 18 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the right to manifest your faith, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, through teaching, practice, worship and observance.</p><p>The FCO Minister responsible for freedom of religion or belief, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, has convened meetings of international leaders to generate support for practical steps to promote freedom of religion or belief and to fight religious intolerance. At the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Warsi chaired a dialogue between political and faith leaders, and supported a separate non-governmental organization (NGO)-led event, to explore the role faith groups play, and to enlist their support for the objectives of the summit.</p><p>Freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, enshrined in both the Universal Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, are fundamental for democratic societies, where people must be able to gather (formally or informally), to express themselves, and to have a meaningful say in issues that affect them. Though these rights are not among the FCO's six thematic human rights priorities, they feature prominently in our dialogue with individual countries and in international fora about governance, the rule of law and human rights in general.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 14/07/2014 15:07:27 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

76346

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Middle East
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his Israeli counterpart to discuss the political situation in Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
tabling member printed	Iain McKenzie
uin	204601
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>On 3 July, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) discussed the political situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli Foreign Minister.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Hugh Robertson question first answered 14/07/2014 08:05:04 answering member 1415 label Biography information for Sir Hugh Robertson
tabling member	4246 label Biography information for Iain McKenzie

76347

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Zimbabwe
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 relations with the government of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	204528
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>We remain committed to supporting the Zimbabwean people in achieving a prosperous and democratic future, including through engagement with the Government of Zimbabwe. The UK continues to hold regular high-level meetings with the government and others across the political spectrum to promote democracy and good governance and discuss a range of issues.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Mark Simmonds question first answered 14/07/2014 17:21:31 answering member 1393 label Biography information for Mark Simmonds
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

76348

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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 work has been done by experts from the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative on the reported use of sexual violence by the military in Burma.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Fiona O'Donnell
uin	204537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>We have not deployed a Team of Experts (ToE) to Burma to date, but are currently considering ways in which a ToE or other international or local actors might best assist in the delivery of PSVI objectives in Burma. We continue to lobby the Burmese Government on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict, and to support projects in Burma to that end. Most recently in June, I discussed this issue with Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire grouped question UIN 204480 question first answered 14/07/2014 08:49:34 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	3964 label Biography information for Fiona O'Donnell

76349

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Colombia
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 make representations to his Colombian counterpart drawing his attention to public support for human rights activists in Colombia.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	204546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>Human rights continue to be an integral part of our dialogue and relationship with Colombia. The Embassy continues to publicly support human rights work. I raised human rights with the Colombian government during my visit to Colombia last month. This followed visits by both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg), who each raised the issue of human rights with President Santos in February.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/07/2014 11:02:59 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

76350

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Colombia
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 make representations to his Colombian counterpart about ensuring that British businesses and investors do not buy illegally obtained Colombian land before it is restored to its rightful owners.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	204547
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The UK continues to work closely with the Colombian government on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in line with our commitment to working for widespread international uptake.</p><p>British Embassy officials in Bogota have met with the government, civil society and business in Colombia on various occasions to discuss the UK Action plan on business and human rights. Last year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded a project to assist Colombia in drafting its own national policy on Human Rights. This contributed to the Colombian public policy on Business and Human Rights which has been formed as a result of consulattion across 33 regions and involving over 19,000 people.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/07/2014 11:16:42 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

76351

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Colombia
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 prevalence of Colombian paramilitary involvement with the police and the armed forces of that country.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	204552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>The British Embassy in Bogota receives regular reporting on the security and human rights situation in Colombia from a range of sources. This includes allegations of links between paramilitaries and the public forces but not information on the prevalence of the problem.</p><p>President Santos' government is making a genuine effort to improve respect for human rights in Colombia. Since 2008 the Colombian armed forces have introduced a widespread programme to promote respect for human rights. The UN has helped the Colombian Ministry of Defence to introduce reforms in the army for the last five years and all soldiers receive mandatory training on human rights.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/07/2014 14:57:48 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello

76352

registered interest
date	08/07/2014
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	Colombia
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 make representations to his Colombian counterpart about guarantees for the safety of Colombian land restitution claimants.
tabling member constituency	Stoke-on-Trent South
tabling member printed	Robert Flello
uin	204550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2014 answer text <p>During my recent visit to Colombia from 25 to 27 June, I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of the Colombian government's major human rights agencies. This included the National Protection Unit. I raised the safety of Colombian land restitution claimants. Prior to, and during my visit, I was briefed on this issue by leading international and Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs).</p><p>Whilst security for claimants and those returning to their land remains a key concern, our 2013 Human Rights Report (released on 10 April 2014) notes that progress has been made on the issue of land restitution. Between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013, over 200,000 victims received reparations under the Victims and Land Restitution law. By the end of 2013, there were 54,063 registered land restitution claims.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 14/07/2014 11:20:35 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1569 label Biography information for Robert Flello