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1175645

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	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	The Gambia: Offences against Children
	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 his Department is taking with the Gambian Government to tackle child abuse by Western tourists.
	tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
	tabling member printed	Mrs Andrea Jenkyns
	uin	11614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>We are engaging with Gambian officials, the tourism sector and international partners to ensure that the Government of The Gambia's zero tolerance on child abuse is understood and implemented. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs in The Gambia, established in 2019, is leading work on strengthening child protection arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 11/02/2020 16:07:51 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1175777

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	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	South Sudan and Sudan: Christianity
	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 assessment he has made of the level of security of Christians in (a) Sudan and (b) South Sudan.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	11480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>Sudan and South Sudan are priority countries in the UK Annual Human Rights Report. Improvements in human rights is an important part of our engagement in both countries. There are wide ranging security and human rights concerns in South Sudan, but these are not specific to Christianity which is the most widely practiced religion in the country. On Sudan the UK welcomes signs of progress on Freedom of Religion or Belief under the civilian-led government, including institutions observing Christian holidays and Christians being able to attend church services on Sundays. However, we remain concerned by ongoing issues and abuses. The Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad, registered the importance of increasing Freedom of Religion of Belief with the Sudanese Ambassador on 28 January. He raised concern at recent cases of churches being attacked.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 11/02/2020 16:10:12 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1175783

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	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	Nigeria: Christianity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic support his Department provides to the Nigerian Government to help tackle the persecution of Christians in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	11544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world. We are a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious communities, and human rights for all Nigerians.</p><p>Increasing insecurity in Nigeria is affecting communities of all faiths. Intercommunal violence across multiple states has had a devastating impact on communities. In North East Nigeria, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa seek to undermine the Nigerian constitutional right to freedom of religion by deliberately attacking both Christian and Muslim communities and religious leaders.</p><p>We regularly raise our concerns about increasing levels of violence with the Nigerian Government, including most recently by the Prime Minister during his meeting with President Buhari at the UK-Africa Investment Summit on 20 January. We also engage closely with the federal government, state government, international partners and the National Economic Council to help address the root causes of intercommunal violence and to maintain the right to freedom of religion. We continue to push for solutions that meet the needs of all communities affected.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 11/02/2020 16:01:52 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1174215

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	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: National Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, published on 8 June 2016, what assessment he has made of the effect on human rights of indefinite national service in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	9741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK continues to call for reform of Eritrea’s use of a system of universal and compulsory national service. Roles are both military and civilian. Whilst the Government of Eritrea has justified this service on grounds of the security threat posed by Ethiopia we have yet to see a concrete proposal for reform following the July 2018 peace agreement. In July 2019, the Eritrean Government said that it would undertake a review of national service, but they gave no deadline for the review’s completion.</p><p>At the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in July 2019, the UK renewed calls for Eritrea to reform the national service system, recognising that sustainable reform of national service needs to happen in tandem with an improved economic situation and job creation. We also raise human rights in Eritrea, both directly with the Government, as the former Minister for Africa did with the Eritrean President's senior adviser when she saw him in July 2019, and when our Ambassador in Asmara saw the same advisor in August 2019.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 07/02/2020 14:18:01 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1174216

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	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: Ethiopia
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the Reconnecting Eritrea and Ethiopia through rehabilitation of the main arterial roads in Eritrea project which is supported by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	9742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2020 answer text <p>Following the historic agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in July 2018, reconnecting the two countries and providing Ethiopia access to Eritrea’s ports is a priority. This will help to boost both countries’ economies, and generate job opportunities.</p><p>The UK welcomes reconciliation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Our support for the project under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, to reconnect Eritrea and Ethiopia through the rehabilitation of the main roads, was conditional on the EU working with the UN to monitor the treatment of national service workers implementing the project. We are continuing to monitor this. We note increased engagement from Eritrea with the EU on human rights issues since the inception of the project, including two Article 8 dialogues and the visit to Asmara of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights.</p><p>The border between Eritrea and Ethiopia remains closed and we are concerned that both sides are yet to agree substantive arrangements on trade and border management given the impact this has on peace agreement. Like our partners in the EU we urge the two countries to ensure the agreement is fully implemented in order to bring stability and prosperity to their countries and the Horn of Africa region.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 07/02/2020 14:19:36 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1174260

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	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	Nigeria: 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 level of religiously motivated violence in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	New Forest West
	tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
	uin	9577
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>Communities of different religions live together peacefully across most of Nigeria. However, for many decades Nigeria has experienced episodes of serious religious conflict, including between Muslim and Christian communities. The drivers of violence are complex and rooted in ethnic and religious identities, politics and access to resources.</p><p>For more than a decade, Islamic insurgents including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA), have caused immense suffering to both Muslim and Christian populations in the North East of the country. The groups seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion by attacking indiscriminately those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. We are appalled by and condemn these attacks, including a recent increase in attacks on Christians in December 2019.</p><p>The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world. We are a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all Nigerians.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 03/02/2020 16:41:10 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1173979

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2020
	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	Nigeria: Christianity
	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 assessment he has made of the level of risk of religious persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	9062
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>Nigeria is a secular state and the right to freedom of religion is protected by the Constitution. Communities of different religions live together peacefully across most of Nigeria. For many decades Nigeria has experienced episodes of serious conflict, including between Muslim and Christian communities. The drivers of violence are complex and rooted in ethnic and religious identities, politics and access to resources.</p><p>For more than a decade, Islamic insurgents including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) have caused immense suffering to both Muslim and Christian populations in the North East of the country. The groups seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion by attacking indiscriminately those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. We are appalled by and condemn these attacks, including a recent increase in attacks on Christians in December 2019.</p><p>The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world. We are a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all Nigerians.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 05/02/2020 16:52:13 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1173986

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2020
	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: Christianity
	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 assessment he has made of the risks to Christian communities in Eritrea.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	9063
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government of Eritrea permits and regulates the practice of three Christian religions: Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran, as well as Sunni Islam. The majority of worshippers from these permitted religions are able to practice their religion freely. I am concerned that those from minority unregistered religions, such as the Pentecostal Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses, face regular persecution and detention without trial, as well some practising permitted religions, who face occasional censorship.</p><p>We regularly raise our concerns about human rights in Eritrea with the Government, as my predecessor did with the Eritrean President's senior adviser when she saw him in July 2019. Our Ambassador in Asmara raised arbitrary detentions of members of the Christian community with the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 20 May 2019 and with the President's senior adviser on 14 August 2019. At the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in 2019 the UK reiterated calls for Eritrea to respect freedom of religion or belief. Eritrea remains a priority country for the FCO under our annual human rights reporting and we will continue to monitor the situation.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 04/02/2020 16:02:33 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1173584

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	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: South Sudan
	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 effectiveness of UN peacekeeping in the disputed Abyei region on the Sudan-South Sudan border.
	tabling member constituency	West Worcestershire
	tabling member printed	Harriett Baldwin
	uin	8271
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK commends the vital role that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) plays in the protection of civilians and assisting to bring stability to the region. However, we remain concerned that a final agreement on the situation in Abyei has not been reached and by ongoing impediments which prevent UN peacekeepers from fully implementing their mandate. The UN Security Council made clear in a press statement of 29 January that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan must provide their full support to UNISFA, including by removing any obstacles that hinder UNIFSA’s work to protect civilians.</p><p>We are also concerned by increasing intercommunal tensions and by the attack on Kolom in Abyei on Wednesday 22 January. We offer sympathies to all those affected. We welcome the commitment of the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to de-escalate tensions and jointly investigate and urge any investigation to be conducted swiftly and transparently. Our Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia reinforced this message with the Sudanese Ambassador on 28 January. We will also raise in New York the reports of UN peacekeepers’ failure to act in order to establish the facts of this tragic incident.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 04/02/2020 16:04:10 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin

1173715

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	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	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
	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 his Department is taking to ensure the safety of British citizens abroad at risk of coming into contact with the coronavirus.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	8181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>As the Foreign Secretary said on 30 January, the safety and security of British nationals will always be our top priority. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in crisis mode to respond to those British Nationals effected by the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Our Embassy in Beijing and consular teams remain in close contact with British nationals in the region to ensure they have the latest information they need. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also organised a repatriation flight for British Nationals and other entitled persons in Hubei Province which landed on 31 January at RAF Brize Norton.​</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 04/02/2020 15:58:58 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell