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760086

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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: Christianity
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 Chinese counterpart on the harassment and surveillance faced by the growing Chinese Protestant population in that country.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	10352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China and have raised this issue regularly, including at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 27-28 June 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:38:06 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

760087

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Nepal: 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 assessment he has made of the state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	10378
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nepali Constitution of September 2015, however we are concerned that provisions around changing religion are open to interpretation. Freedom of religion or belief – particularly conversion - remains a sensitive issue. Our Embassy in Kathmandu monitors the human rights situation closely and has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal's parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, this includes freedom of religion or belief, and we will continue to do so. I also raise these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:35:15 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760088

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Nepal: Freedom of Expression
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 Nepal on the state of freedom of expression in that country following the arrest of eight Christians in Charikot in June 2016.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	10379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, including freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:24:38 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760089

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Nepal: United Nations
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 take steps to encourage the Government of Nepal to extend standing invitations to UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	10380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​Our officials in Kathmandu have encouraged the Government of Nepal to implement the recommendations made by the UN Working Group on Universal Periodic Review: Nepal which includes extending an invitation to the UN special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We will continue to encourage the Government of Nepal to meet its international human rights obligations.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:16:22 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760090

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Nepal: 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 assessment he has made of the effect of the Criminal Code Bill 2014, passed on 8 August 2017 by the Nepali Government, on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	10381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Whilst the final legislation is not yet public the draft version of the Criminal code criminalised religious conversion and the hurting of religious sentiment, which could be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>During drafting our officials in Nepal met with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to discuss the bill and raise the need for compliance with international human rights standards. This includes ensuring the protection of the right to change religion.</p><p>I have also raised this matter in my most recent meeting with the Nepalese Ambassador to London on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:21:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760091

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Nepal: 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 assessment he has made of the effect of Article 26(3) of the Nepalese Constitution on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	10382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 under article 26 (1) guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right. Sub-article 3 states that in exercise of the right conferred by this article, one cannot do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality, breach public peace, convert another person from one religion to another or any other act or conduct that may jeopardize another’s religion. These subsequent provisions may be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations. This includes ensuring freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:25:36 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760238

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Kem Sokha
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 the Cambodian Government on the imprisonment of Kem Sokkha in Cambodia; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
uin	105006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​On 21 September, I met the Cambodian Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, at the UN General Assembly. I raised our concerns regarding the political situation in the country, including Kem Sokha's arrest. The UK urges the Government of Cambodia to take immediate steps to ensure free, fair and credible elections next year. We call for Kem Sokha to be released so that fully participatory legitimate elections can take place.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:41:00 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

760240

registered interest
date	13/09/2017
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	Cambodia: Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what programmes his Department supports to promote human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
uin	105007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The FCO supports a number of programmes in these important areas. We are working with a range of Cambodian and international organisations to help strengthen the impact of their human rights work in Cambodia and are improving the capacity of regional networks in Cambodia to enhance their cooperation with the relevant authorities on governance and accountability.</p><p>Gender equality runs through all programmes supported by the FCO. In Cambodia we have focussed in particular on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), freedom of expression and women's involvement in politics. In line with our foreign policy priority to be a global leader in the fight against modern slavery, we are also supporting the development of a toolkit on how to properly collect and handle data for modern slavery cases which will be used by front line practitioners in government and civil society in Cambodia.</p><p>Additionally, the UK has for some years been one of the most active countries in supporting the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) which is prosecuting the senior and most responsible Khmer Rouge leaders. This is being done through the UK's voluntary monetary contributions to the court and also through supporting awareness raising programmes across Cambodia to demonstrate the importance of the rule of law.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:46:18 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson

759708

registered interest
date	12/09/2017
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	Kenya: 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 assessment he has made of the work of Kenya's Electoral Commission since the presidential election held in that country on 8 August 2017; and if he will take steps to ensure that concerns on the work of that commission are resolved in advance of the upcoming repeat of Kenya's presidential election.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	10201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The UK recognises the crucial role of Kenya’s Electoral Commission in managing the presidential elections, as mandated by Kenya’s Constitution. We welcome steps the Electoral Commission has taken to address concerns set out by the Supreme Court, and continue to support the Commission and other Kenyan institutions in preparing for the upcoming elections.</p> answering member constituency Uxbridge and South Ruislip answering member printed Boris Johnson question first answered 09/10/2017 15:22:36 answering member 1423 label Biography information for Boris Johnson
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

759710

registered interest
date	12/09/2017
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	Kenya: 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 support his Department plans to give to ensure that the Kenyan elections due to be held on 17 October 2017 are conducted in a free, fair and democratic manner.
tabling member constituency	Heywood and Middleton
tabling member printed	Liz McInnes
uin	10138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to supporting the electoral process in Kenya to help ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. The UK has provided non-partisan technical assistance, working with international partners to support election management, legal reforms and efforts to resolve disputes and reduce violence.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 09/10/2017 14:58:58 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4342 label Biography information for Liz McInnes