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1131875

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Darfur: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports by Amnesty International stating that forces of the government of Sudan, including the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, have continued to commit war crimes and other serious human rights violations in Darfur, including (1) the destruction of villages, (2) unlawful killings, and (3) sexual violence, in the last year.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16293
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We continue to support efforts to deliver long-term peace for the people in Darfur, including through development and humanitarian assistance. We condemn the recent looting of the UN mission's West Darfur Headquarters and call for all to respect humanitarian principles. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p><p>On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:39:38 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131876

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Darfur: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of continued reported human rights abuses in Darfur, whether they will oppose (1) the withdrawal of all the remaining United Nations African Union Peacekeepers (UNAMID) from Darfur by June 2020, and (2) the closure of the remaining UNAMID team sites by December 2019, at all forthcoming meetings of the UN Security Council; and whether they will raise at those meetings the failure to hand over closed UNAMID bases for civilian purposes and their current occupation and use by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We will continue to support a gradual, conditions-based review of the conditions for the exit of the UN/Africa Union hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and await the outcome of the UNAMID Strategic Review, which will take account of the current circumstances in Sudan.</p><p>Despite recent reports of violence in areas of Darfur since the removal of Bashir as President and the establishment of the Transitional Military Council, the security situation on the ground has evolved in much of Darfur, and therefore we supported the Security Council's decision in June 2018 to reconfigure UNAMID. However, we recognise that the security situation remains fragile. Our priority is to ensure that changes made to the Mission are sensible, with appropriate review points, and to make sure that a smaller, more flexible UNAMID is still able to fulfil the core components of its mandate.</p><p>At the UN Security Council, we have urged fellow Council members closely to monitor the impact of UNAMID's reconfiguration, and carefully consider whether the situation on the ground remains conducive to further changes. We are in regular contact with UNAMID and are monitoring the reconfiguration of the Mission closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:41:28 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131877

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Sudan: Demonstrations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that paramilitaries from the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carried out more than 70 rapes during an attack on a protest camp in Khartoum; and what assistance they are providing to opposition groups in Sudan to ensure that evidence in relation to such reports is collected to enable those responsible to be brought to justice.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​On 6 June, the Minister of State for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence, including sexual violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities last week. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:43:01 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131878

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
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	Eritrea: Religious Freedom
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Eritrea about the recent arrests and police raids on homes, schools and other facilities operated by people with religious beliefs and of the recent report by Open Doors which identifies a range of measures taken by the Eritrean security services in breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16296
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains committed to promoting and defending freedom of religious belief for individuals of all faiths and beliefs, including in Eritrea. Our Ambassador in Asmara raised the issue of arbitrary detentions of members of the Christian community, including the Pentecostal Church, with the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 20 May. It was also raised with the Minister of Information during the EU/Eritrea Article VIII discussions on 20 March. At the Universal Periodic Review of Eritrea in January we also called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained for political and religious reasons.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 12:43:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131440

registered interest
date	11/06/2019
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	North Korea: Capital Punishment
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 report by Transitional Justice Working Group’s Mapping the Fate of the Dead: Killings and Burials in North Korea, published in June, which identified 318 public execution sites in North Korea.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The report produced by the Transitional Justice Working Group is deeply troubling. While we have no means to verify its specific claims, many North Korean defectors have told consistent stories of having witnessed summary executions and extra-judicial killings, and have described this practice as widespread. We utterly condemn the use of summary executions.</p><p>We will continue to raise with North Korea our concerns over its arbitrary use of the death penalty and the wider human rights situation in the country, in international fora and through our Embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean Embassy in London. Our long standing policy is to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle, and we continue to be a strong supporter of the UN General Assembly Resolution for the moratorium on the use of the death penalty.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 11:56:44 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1131441

registered interest
date	11/06/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	English Language: Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their commitments given to co-ordinate and fund community-based English language provision made in their Integrated Communities Action Plan published in February; whether they intend to respond to Refugee Action’s campaign Let Refugees Learn and the recommendations in its report Turning words into action, published in June; and what assessment they have made of the importance of refugees learning English as a driver for integration and in combatting social exclusion.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>Following the commitments set out in the cross-government Integrated Communities Action Plan (attached), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) established a new Integrated Communities English Language programme, worth £4.5 million, in April 2019. It will deliver community-based English language learning in 2019-20 for over 19,000 learner places. In addition, MHCLG has committed £1.2 million to support 8 local authorities to deliver coordination models through the Integrated Communities English Language Coordination Fund.</p><p>The government recognises that learning English is essential to enabling refugees to rebuild their lives. We are working across government to develop a new strategy for English for speakers of other languages in 2019. This strategy will provide a shared vision for all publicly funded English language provision and this will include addressing the needs of refugees. We will consider the ‘Turning Words into Action’ report as we develop the strategy.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name Integrated_Communities_Action_Plan.pdf title HL16235_report 2 file name Turning_Words_into_Action_report.pdf title HL16235_report question first answered 25/06/2019 14:57:46 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130816

registered interest
date	10/06/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Eritrea: National Service
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 call by the Foundation Human Rights for Eritreans for the EU to cease funding aid projects in Eritrea that involve the use of national service conscripts; and whether any UK aid is directed through those programmes.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government is broadly supportive of the EU’s efforts to engage with Eritrea, and to create opportunities for greater engagement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, including through increasing development assistance where possible. We share concerns about human rights, particularly regarding Eritrea’s use of national service. However, it is clear that key elements of development cooperation in Eritrea, including recent cooperation on road building, will not be taken forward without the use of national service labour. We have therefore pressed the EU for enhanced efforts to ensure safeguards are in place. The EU has confirmed that the project implementer will monitor and assess whether workers are receiving an appropriate salary, and that basic health and safety standards are applied. Alongside those immediate measures, we, and the EU, will continue to encourage reform of the Eritrean national service system.</p><p> </p><p>Around 15% of all EU development funds, including those used for projects in Eritrea, are attributable to UK ODA. We are also providing a €3m direct contribution to the Horn of Africa programmes of the EU Trust Fund for Africa, whose programming includes the EU’s €20m road building project in Eritrea.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 19/06/2019 11:29:36 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130817

registered interest
date	10/06/2019
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	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Emergency Response and Assessment Team has predicted that the repatriation of the Rohingya would be an easy process; what assessment they have made of the (1) dangers faced by, and (2) rights to full citizenship of, the Rohingya during their repatriation; and what steps are being taken to bring justice to those responsible for crimes against the Rohingya.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>​We welcome ASEAN's engagement on this issue through their Humanitarian Assistance Centre. However, we remain deeply concerned that the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns in line with UNHCR principles are not in place. The UK has been clear, as has the UN Security Council, that before repatriations start, Myanmar must create the conditions in Rakhine to allow the Rohingya to return safely, voluntarily and with dignity. Refugees must have full access and independent information about conditions in areas of return and arrangements for repatriation.</p><p>We have publicly called for the removal of restrictions that withhold citizenship from individuals who are not from a community recognised by the Myanmar authorities as a 'national race', such as the Rohingya. The UK has supported the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission's to reform the 1982 Citizenship Law and urges the Myanmar government to fully implement them.</p><p>The UK co-sponsored the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council which set up the Fact Finding Mission in March 2017. This has since found that there may be sufficient grounds for prosecuting senior Myanmar military officials for crimes against humanity. The UK also to secure a resolution which established a mechanism to collect and preserve evidence of atrocities for future prosecutions. We continue to press the Myanmar authorities to ensure its domestic accountability process is independent, credible and results in prosecutions.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/06/2019 11:50:12 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1130818

registered interest
date	10/06/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Pakistan: Schools
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they will provide to the government of Pakistan to help incentivise parents from marginalised religious minorities to send their children to school, following reports that many such parents view school as a waste of time owing to the lack of opportunities in higher education.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL16185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>DFID education programmes support a range of interventions to improve equity and inclusion in education, targeting the most marginalised communities, including religious minorities. This includes providing secondary and higher education scholarships to help incentivise parents from marginalised communities to send their children to school. In Punjab, scholarships have been provided to over 50,000 girls from poor families that reside in the most remote and marginalized districts of Punjab, some with a significant population of minority groups. Since 2010, DFID’s skills Development Programme has trained over 332,000 poor and vulnerable people to improve their employment prospects. This includes more than 3,800 people from religious minorities. The programme aims to provide training to a further 5,000 people from religious minorities by 2021.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 19/06/2019 11:30:27 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool