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1227130

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Press Freedom: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to protect global press freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7103
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>Media freedom is vital to open societies, and journalists must be able to investigate and report without undue interference. We must oppose all attempts by any state to use the COVID-19 pandemic to restrict press freedom, silence debate, abuse journalists, or spread misinformation.</p><p>As the Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, I addressed the Alliance for Multilateralism on 16 April, and highlighted the UK's commitment to human rights and media freedom, particularly during the crisis. To mark World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 2 May with his German, French and Dutch colleagues, calling on governments to defend media freedom, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK also signed a statement issued by the Media Freedom Coalition on WPFD and supported a Dutch social media campaign publicly highlighting cases of journalists who have been killed or imprisoned.</p><p>On 13 July at the inaugural meeting of the UK National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, I talked about the opportunity we had to lead internationally, developing an effective National Action Plan and thus setting an example for other countries in best practice.</p><p>We are determined not to allow the pandemic disrupt global efforts to protect media freedom. On 23 July, I called the Canadian High Commissioner to maintian momentum towards the next conference of the Media Freedom Coalition, which we hope will be held later this year. We remain committed to broadening this coalition of like-minded states to ensure that journalists are able to work freely without interference.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 16:15:35 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1226193

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Yemen: Ceasefires
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about securing a permanent ceasefire in Yemen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7023
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK continues to support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to secure the parties' agreement to proposals for a nationwide ceasefire and resumption of the UN-led political process. We engage regularly with international partners on Yemen, including through our role as penholder in the UN Security Council. On 1 July, the Foreign Secretary wrote a joint op-ed with his Swedish and German counterparts calling for the international community to back peace efforts. On 18 June, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa spoke with senior Yemeni leaders and the Special Envoy during a &quot;virtual visit&quot; and called for urgent action to secure peace and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/07/2020 13:23:37 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1226200

registered interest
date	20/07/2020
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	Kashmir: Politics and Government
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 situation in Ladakh.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL7030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India in the House on 24 June. We welcome recent progress between India and China to manage tensions along their disputed border, and the commitment on 5 July by Indian and Chinese Special Representatives on 'the Boundary Question' to disengage troops along the Line of Actual Control and de-escalate the border areas. We encourage both sides to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/07/2020 12:16:29 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1221713

registered interest
date	07/07/2020
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	Israeli Settlements
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Israel about the planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>As the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 24 June, we are deeply concerned by reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank. Any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law. We continue to urge Israel not to take these steps. The Prime Minister has conveyed the UK's opposition to unilateral annexation to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on multiple occasions, including in a phone call on 6 July and a letter in June. The Prime Minister also urged Israel not to proceed in an article in Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on 1 July. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message in his calls with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Gantz and Foreign Minister Ashkenazi.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/07/2020 13:20:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1221714

registered interest
date	07/07/2020
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	Iran: Detainees
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Iran about the release of (1) Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe, (2) Anoosheh Ashoori, and (3) British-Iranian nationals held in that country.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6572
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government remains concerned about the welfare of British-Iranian dual nationals detained in Iran, including Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and therefore does not permit access to British-Iranian detainees.</p><p>We continue to urge the Iranian Government to immediately release all UK dual nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran - to enable them to return to their families in the UK.</p><p>We continue to raise their cases at the most senior levels, and discuss them at every opportunity with our Iranian counterparts. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises all of our dual national detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our Embassy in Tehran continues to request consular access to our detained dual nationals, and we have been supporting their families since being made aware of their detentions.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/07/2020 12:57:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1221715

registered interest
date	07/07/2020
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	Yemen: Ceasefires
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about securing a permanent ceasefire in Yemen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2020 answer text <p>The UK continues to support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to secure the parties' agreement to proposals for a nationwide ceasefire and resumption of the UN-led political process. We engage regularly with international partners on Yemen, including through our role as penholder in the UN Security Council. On 1 July, the Foreign Secretary wrote a joint op-ed with his Swedish and German counterparts calling for the international community to back peace efforts. On 18 June, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa spoke with senior Yemeni leaders and the Special Envoy during a &quot;virtual visit&quot; and called for urgent action to secure peace and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/07/2020 12:48:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1219715

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
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	Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to restart the work of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government paused its Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy in April due to the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We formally recommenced the Review on 24 June, building on the work done since the Review was originally launched in February.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 13/07/2020 14:55:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick