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92766

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	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	Iraq
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of a report by Human Rights Watch that Islamic State is detaining Yezidi men, women and children from Iraq in Iraq and Syria; and what they know about their situation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL2002
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under its control. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of communities on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity. We are working closely with the Iraqi government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can. We are aware of reports from Human Rights Watch and others that Yezidi men, women and children are being detained by ISIL along with people from other religious groups. We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, to protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 23/10/2014 15:56:43 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

79804

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2014
	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	Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 24 July (HL Deb, cols 1324–8) to the debate on Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, how many officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are specifically focused on freedom of religion, and for what percentage of their time; and what resources are specifically allocated for the promotion of Article 18 through United Kingdom diplomatic services.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/08/2014 answer text <p>Within the Human Rights and Democracy Department (HRDD), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has one full time Desk Officer wholly dedicated to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), who works closely with the Team Leader in the Equalities and Non-Discrimination Team, who themselves spend approximately 50% of their time on FoRB. Additionally, the Head and the Deputy Head of HRDD spend approximately 5% and 20% respectively of their time on FoRB issues; one Human Rights Advisor spends 5% and one HRDD Communications Officer approximately 10%.</p><p>As FoRB is one of only six thematic human rights priorities for the FCO, a considerable number of other FCO officials in London and overseas are engaged directly on FoRB as part of their wider human rights work. Given that violations of FoRB can be closely associated with other threats to UK interests around the world, I cannot provide a precise figure for the total number of FCO officials working on FoRB, though the number is high and rising.</p><p>This year, seven FoRB projects around the world were approved and received total funding of £307,835.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 18/08/2014 10:01:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

91811

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	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	Islamic State
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 10 September (HC Deb, col 915) reporting that, in the areas of Iraq and Syria controlled by ISIS, there have been targeted killings, forced religious conversions, abductions, trafficking, slavery and systematic sexual abuse on the basis of ethnicity and religion, they have asked the United Nations Security Council to refer those responsible to the International Criminal Court or to seek the creation of a Regional Tribunal.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>We strongly condemn all human rights abuses in Iraq and Syria. The UK has a long-standing commitment to accountability and this will not alter.</p><p>The UN Security Council can refer situations, not individuals, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor for investigation. In both Iraq and Syria, we will continue to look at every available option to ensure accountability, and to work with our international partners on what can be done to both assist the victims and to bring those responsible to justice.</p><p>In Syria, we fully support the work of the UN Commission of Inquiry and will continue to call for them to be given unfettered access to investigate human rights violations and abuses. We will intensify these efforts to ensure that those responsible face justice, including by funding the documentation of atrocities. We will also look to expand the EU sanctions regime to cover more people responsible for human rights violations. The moderate opposition have been clear in their support for international law in general and referral to the ICC in particular.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/10/2014 13:32:21 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

79806

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 24 July (HL Deb, cols 1324–8) to the debate on Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, what representations they have made to the Burmese authorities about proposed new legislation to restrict religious conversions and inter-religious marriages there; and whether they will call on the United Nations Secretary-General to visit Burma to address religious intolerance and to encourage the creation of an international and independent inquiry into violence in Rakhine State, Kachin State and other parts of the country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/08/2014 answer text <p>We have voiced our strong concerns over proposed legislation on inter-faith marriage and religious conversion to members of the Burmese government and parliamentarians. If enacted, these laws would harm religious tolerance and respect for diversity in Burma, and contravene international standards and treaties to which Burma is a signatory. Most recently, our Ambassador raised our concerns with Minister of the President’s Office, U Soe Thein, in June.</p><p>The UN Secretary-General (UNSG) currently chairs the Partnership Group on Burma, which last met in April. The UNSG and his Special Representative to Burma, Vijay Nambiar, both play vital roles in raising the international community’s human rights concerns with the Burmese government whilst providing encouragement for the wider reform process. We welcome the recent visit by the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Ms Yanghee Lee, who rightly highlighted that the government needs to do more to stop the spread of hate speech and incitement to violence based on religious grounds and recommended the adoption of specific legislation to address this.</p><p>We remain deeply concerned by continued violence in Burma, particularly in Rakhine State and Kachin State. Our approach is to seek an end to all violations, and to prevent their further escalation, irrespective of whether these violations fit the definition of specific international crimes. Allegations of human rights abuses must be dealt with through a clear, independent and transparent investigative and prosecutorial process that meets international standards. We have made this clear to the Burmese government and will continue to do so. We continue to believe an independent investigation, supported by appropriate technical assistance, would make a significant contribution to accountability and reconciliation.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 18/08/2014 09:56:23 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

91809

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	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
	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 regarding the burning of churches, forced religious conversion of Christian women and occupation of a number of territories by Boko Haram, in north-east Nigeria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>We condemn the destruction of churches and all other atrocities conducted by Boko Haram. They have caused great suffering across all communities, deliberately targeting the weak and vulnerable with no respect for gender, ethnicity, religion or age. The UK, alongside other international partners, is committed to helping Nigeria end this violence and tackle the threat posed by Boko Haram.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/10/2014 13:40:40 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

79803

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2014
	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	Palestinians
	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 Hamas militants are attempting to negotiate a new arms deal with North Korea for missiles and communications equipment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/08/2014 answer text <p>We are aware of recent reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is supplying missile technology to Hamas militants. The DPRK supplies a wide range of conventional arms to customers worldwide, including Syria and Iran. Its sale of arms and related material to countries already in the grip of conflict exploits and increases regional instability. We urge all countries to exercise vigilance in the implementation of DPRK UN Security Council Resolutions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 18/08/2014 10:01:39 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

92767

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	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	Iraq
	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 Human Rights Watch that Islamic State has removed Yezidi boys and made them convert to Islam and is holding captive civilians from other religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians and Shia Shabaks and Turkmen.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL2003
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The humanitarian reports from Iraq and elsewhere in the region are deeply concerning. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups continue to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn any and all violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.</p><p>We are working closely with our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians. We have been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in the region, delivering through a range of channels including air drops. We are also providing military equipment and training to support the Kurdistan Regional Government fighting against ISIL.</p><p>We continue to encourage the new Iraqi government to ensure the protection of all citizens, to promote human rights and reassert the rule of law.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2014 14:44:54 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

91813

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage women to participate in the peace process in South Sudan, and to ensure that women from all sections of society are represented.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1871
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK continues to underline the need for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-led South Sudan peace process to be inclusive and represent the people of South Sudan, especially women. We raised this issue on 24 September at the UN Human Rights Council, and emphasised the importance of the participation of women in the peace process, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/10/2014 13:20:44 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

79805

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2014
	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	Iraq
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 24 July (HL Deb, cols 1324–8) to the debate on Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, what assistance has been given to Christians who have been forced to leave their homes in Mosul; whether they have any plans to offer asylum to those affected; and what representations they have made to governments in the Gulf in respect of the funding of ISIS.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/08/2014 answer text <p>The UK condemns the human rights abuses reported in Iraq and has committed £5 million to the humanitarian effort to support people displaced by fighting there. All asylum claims made in the UK are carefully considered in accordance with the UK’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Office, which is responsible for all asylum claims, closely monitors developments in Iraq and other countries of return and will take decisions on a case-by-case basis in the light of the latest available country information. We regularly discuss terrorist financing with governments in the Gulf including through the mechanisms of the Financial Action Task Force.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 18/08/2014 10:00:21 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

92763

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to halt the killing and displacement of people, and the destruction of churches, in the Nigerian states of Borno and Adamawa by Boko Haram; what is their assessment of the amount of territory which has been seized by Boko Haram; and what is their assessment of how many people have been killed or displaced and how many churches destroyed.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL1999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government is committed to working closely with Nigeria and the international community to tackle the threat posed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. At the London Ministerial meeting on 12 June, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced a substantial new package of UK military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria. This package is being delivered in Nigeria and includes tactical training and advice to Nigerian units deployed against Boko Haram. This year, the Department for International Development doubled investment in north east Nigeria conflict resolution programmes to help make communities safer.</p><p>We believe that more than 3,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram this year. The UN assesses that the violence in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states has displaced 1.5 million people. Boko Haram has targeted both Christian and Muslim communities and sites, including churches, but reliable information on how many is not available. The UK welcomes recent reports of gains by the Nigerian Armed Forces as they seek to push back Boko Haram in north east Nigeria.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 21/10/2014 14:47:26 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool