| answer text |
<p>I visited Colombia in February this year and discussed business and human rights
in my meetings with President Santos, and in meetings with the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs, Finance and Trade, and with civil society. I welcomed the development of
the Colombian national policy on business and human rights during these meetings and
raised the importance of protecting Trade Unionists and human rights defenders. We
have a strong partnership with the government of Colombia on implementation of the
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in the context of the November
2011 Joint Declaration on Human Rights by the Prime Minister and President Santos.</p><p>In
addition, British Embassy officials in Bogota have had several meetings with the Colombian
government, civil society and businesses in Colombia to discuss the UK Action plan
on business and human rights in line with our commitment to working for widespread
international uptake of the UN Guiding Principles and to developing partnerships with
other countries to progress this.</p><p>Last year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
funded a project to assist Colombia in drafting its national policy. The Colombian
public policy on business and human rights has been formed as a result of consultation
across 33 regions and involving over 19,000 people.</p>
|
|
