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1124850

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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: Minority Groups
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 letter sent by 50 members of the European Parliament to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 30 April warning that continued violation of the UN Treaty on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in respect of the treatment of Pakistan’s minorities may compel the EU Parliament to call on the European Commission to suspend all subsidies and trade preferences to Pakistan; and whether they are considering taking similar action.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>​We are aware of the open letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in which EU Parliamentarians express concerns about the persecution of minorities and highlight the link to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).</p><p>The British Government urges Pakistan to make human rights reforms in line with the relevant UN conventions, and to fully cooperate with the EU in the GSP+ process. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Human Rights Minister during my visit to Pakistan in February 2019. At the UN Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan in November 2017, the UK pressed Pakistan to strengthen the protection of minorities and to explain the steps being taken to tackle the abuse of the blasphemy laws.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/05/2019 13:03:37 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124851

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Sri Lanka: Minority Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to assist Pakistani Ahmadi and Christian refugees, fleeing persecution in Pakistan and awaiting determination of their asylum cases in Sri Lanka, who are seeking refuge in police stations and elsewhere due to fear of targeted attacks on minorities.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15526
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government has agreed with Sri Lankan counterparts the need for inclusivity and respect for human rights in their response to the Easter Sunday attacks and underlined the importance of Sri Lankans working together to reduce intercommunal tensions. Minister for Security and Economic Crime Ben Wallace visited Sri Lanka on 2-3 May and reiterated these points.</p><p>We have raised concerns with the Sri Lankan Government at reports of incidents of violence and intimidation against Muslims, refugees and asylum seekers since the Easter Sunday attacks. We have also raised concerns specifically about the situation in Negombo, where approximately 1,050 refugees were displaced from their ordinary places of residence and are now being temporarily housed.</p><p>The British High Commission in Colombo is in regular contact with the Sri Lankan Government, UN agencies and civil society organisations who are working towards a sustainable solution, including to identify secure relocation options to ensure protection of both refugees and asylum seekers.</p><p>The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific and I have both met the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in recent weeks to raise concerns about refugees and minority rights in Sri Lanka. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific also addressed this issue in the House of Commons on 9 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:37:24 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124853

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Sri Lanka: Minority Groups
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 role of school textbooks in promoting a negative view of religious and ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka; what discussions they have had with the government of Sri Lanka and UN agencies about this; and what were the outcomes of any such discussions.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15528
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK has not made such an assessment. The UK regularly discuses human rights, reconciliation and the importance of social inclusion with the government of Sri Lanka, including through encouraging the implementation of UNHRC resolution 30/1. The UK has supported civil society organisations that have engaged children and youth across the country through social media, youth exchange programmes and the arts in breaking racial stereotypes and creating better ethnic and religious understanding and relations between communities. The British Council has initiated research on school culture in Sri Lanka that will look at issues including equality, rights, attitudes and community engagement to foster social inclusion. Through its Active Citizens programme the British Council brings together youth from different communities to work together on projects that address issues at the community level.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:38:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124854

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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: Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they welcome the decision of the Pakistan Senate to pass a bill to amend the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 1929 to set the minimum marriage age at 18 years in Pakistan; and whether they will consider ways in which UK aid to Pakistan could be used to facilitate the effective enforcement of that legislation.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15529
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK welcomes the decision by the Pakistan Senate to pass the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2019.</p><p>The UK provided £282 million to Pakistan for the financial year 2018-19 under the AAWAZ I: Voice and Accountability Programme to promote the rights of children, youth and women. Of this, around £400,000 was spent on preventing forced and early marriages. The Department For International Development (DFID) is considering ways in which UK aid could be used to facilitate the effective implementation of the legislation once the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill is passed by the National Assembly, working with government institutions and communities to help end child marriage. DFID has set aside funding for interventions in support of ending child marriage under its AAWAZ II programme.</p><p>We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including women and girls, and to uphold the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 13:09:16 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124855

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 2 May (HL15272), what was the most recent response they received from the government of Pakistan about the right of Asia Bibi to join her family in Canada; and when they anticipate that this will take place.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL15530
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government welcomes reports that Asia Bibi has been able to travel freely out of Pakistan and is now able to make decisions about her future.</p><p>We also welcome the Pakistan Government’s commitment to the rule of law, following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision in January to uphold her acquittal of blasphemy charges.</p><p>Our primary concern has always been Asia Bibi’s safety and security. Since Asia Bibi’s sentencing in 2010, we have been in close and extensive contact with a range of international partners to support a positive outcome for her.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/05/2019 14:40:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1124857

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Burundi: Sanctions
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 impact of financial sanctions relating to Burundi.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL15532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The EU adopted restrictive measures, including the use of sanctions, against Burundi on 1 October 2015 following violence during the Presidential elections in 2015. These measures are a means of holding the perpetrators of human rights violations to account and encouraging both positive change in relation to political freedoms and inclusive political dialogue ahead of elections in 2020. Working with our international partners, the UK designs sanctions regimes, provides evidence for designations, and encourages cooperation to ensure that sanctions are used to achieve shared political goals, and that sanctions are properly implemented and enforced to secure maximum impact. The Office for Financial Sanctions implementation works to ensure that financial sanctions are properly understood, implemented and enforced in the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/05/2019 13:42:57 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1124858

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Burundi: Sanctions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with other EU member states on the (1) imposition, and (2) maintenance of, sanctions against named individuals in Burundi.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL15533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The EU Heads of Mission last met in Brussels in November 2018 to discuss the EU's approach to Burundi. However, EU Burundi sanctions will be formally reviewed later this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/05/2019 13:49:56 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1124859

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Burundi: Sanctions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue financial sanctions on named individuals in Burundi after the UK has exited the EU.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL15534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>​It is our intention to continue to deliver the same policy effect as existing EU sanctions after the UK has left the EU, including asset freezes imposed on named individuals under the current EU Burundi sanctions regime.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/05/2019 13:50:20 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1124864

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Daphne Caruana Galizia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Maltese Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government about the progress of the investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL15539
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Secretary raised the issue with his counterpart last November and it was raised again by our High Commissioner with both the Home Affairs and Justice Ministers in March this year. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed the case with the Maltese Foreign Minister on 13 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/05/2019 13:16:04 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

1124865

registered interest
date	07/05/2019
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	Daphne Caruana Galizia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Government ministers have met the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia to offer support to efforts to achieve justice in her case.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL15540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>​No British Government ministers have met with the family but we have made clear, both in public and with the Maltese Government, our support for justice to be served. We would consider any written request for a meeting if received.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/05/2019 13:16:38 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic