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746094

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports that the Turkish Governor of Mardin has confiscated some 60 properties, including churches, monasteries and cemeteries.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>​Our understanding of the situation is that legal changes to local government structures in Mardin, where many important Assyrian religious sites are found, resulted in 2012 in the transfer of the title deeds to some religious sites from local bodies to central government, and eventually to the Government's Directorate for Religious Affairs. Assyrian organisations are making legal appeals against these decisions. The British Embassy in Ankara will be closely following this process. We strongly support religious freedom in Turkey and have supported civil society organisations working in this area.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 11/07/2017 14:29:01 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

1204168

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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: Coronavirus and Malnutrition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) of widespread starvation in Eritrea, in particular in Southern and Northern Red Sea regions, and (2) that COVID-19 has been used by the Eritrean regime to target Red Sea Afar people.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned that the people of Eritrea are facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and the desert locust outbreak have impacted existing humanitarian need as a result of lasting effects of war and climate change. Humanitarian and development programmes in Eritrea are being adapted to address current food security challenges. DFID funds life-saving activity in Eritrea, including providing £4m to UNICEF in 2019-20 to help treat malnutrition in under-fives and provide access to safe hygiene and sanitation services.</p><p>We are also aware of reports that the Government of Eritrea is targeting the Red Sea Afar people during the COVID-19 pandemic. We raise our concerns about human rights in Eritrea with the Government at every opportunity, and we will continue to make clear that measures taken by them to tackle COVID-19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed. Eritrea remains a priority country for the FCO under our annual human rights reporting, and we will continue to monitor the situation there.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 24/06/2020 10:55:17 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1175329

	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	Rwanda: Children
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports by Human Rights Watch of homeless children subjected to violence and other abuse in a transit centre in Kigali; what discussions they have had with the government of Rwanda about its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and what discussions they have had about these reports with the governments of other Commonwealth countries in advance of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL777
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>​We are concerned by the Human Rights Watch report on the Gikondo transit centre. We urge the Government of Rwanda to abide by its international human rights obligations including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Rwanda ratified in 1991. The Prime Minister raised human rights and the importance of adhering to Commonwealth values when he met President Kagame during the UK-Africa Investment Summit on 20 January. The British High Commission in Kigali regularly raises human rights concerns with the Government of Rwanda. The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting presents a valuable opportunity to ensure the Commonwealth is working towards a fairer future for all our citizens.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/02/2020 14:53:52 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1175347

	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	Nigeria: Violence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of (1) executions of Christians in Plateau State in Nigeria; and (2) targeted killings and kidnappings by Boko Haram and Fulani extremists; whether they discussed these issues with President Muhammadu Buhari at the UK–Africa Investment Summit; and what response they received.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>We are appalled by and condemn the escalating levels of violence, including executions, instigated by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in Northern Nigeria. The targeting of Christians, including those from Plateau State, has tragically increased in recent months, although the indiscriminate nature of the groups’ attacks continues to have a devastating effect on all communities. The UK is providing a comprehensive package of support to help tackle the crisis in the North East, including £300 million of humanitarian support over five years (2018-2022).</p><p>We welcome President Buhari’s condemnation of recent attacks in Plateau State. The British High Commission engages closely with the federal government, state government, international partners and the National Economic Council to help uphold the Nigerian Constitutional right to freedom of religion, address the drivers of intercommunal violence and push for solutions that meet the needs of all communities affected. To this end, the British High Commissioner visited Plateau State in December 2019 and met with the Governor, Christian and Muslim faith leaders, as well as Fulani communities. They all reported the tragic impact of the violence and discussed the complex root causes. The Prime Minister raised concerns about increasing levels of violence across Nigeria and discussed UK support with President Buhari at the UK-Africa Investment Summit on 20 January.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/02/2020 14:56:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1175187

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Democratic Republic of Congo: Mining
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of children working in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what measures they are taking to assess the dangers to children working in such mines; and what action they plan to take to help eliminate child labour and promote safe working conditions in those mines.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL664
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK is concerned about reports of modern slavery and child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and UK officials have raised these concerns with the government. The UK has implemented a number of programmes to tackle modern slavery in DRC, including a programme with the Carter Centre to improve transparency and governance in the mining sector, working with civil society and mining companies. The UK is committed to ending modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking worldwide by 2030, including the eradication of child labour, as unanimously adopted in the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.</p><p>Under the Modern Slavery Act, all large businesses in the UK with a turnover of £36m or more are required to publish an annual transparency statement detailing the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery from occurring in their business and supply chains. As an active member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), we encourage states and those working in the industry to implement the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas. In 2018/19 we funded the OECD to run dissemination and capacity-building projects to support implementation of the guidance.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL665 HL666 question first answered 05/02/2020 14:08:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1175130

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	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: Religious Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the burning down of three churches in Bout, in Sudan’s Blue Nile State; and what representations they have made to the government of Sudan about upholding and safeguarding the rights of minorities to follow their chosen beliefs, as enshrined in Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL534
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>Despite some signs of progress under the civilian-led government in Sudan, including institutions observing Christian holidays and allowing Christians to attend church services on Sundays, we remain concerned by ongoing infringements of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sudan. The burning down of three churches in Sudan’s Blue Nile State is disturbing and the Sudanese authorities must investigate. That these churches were attacked having been rebuilt by members of the local community after previous arson attacks is tragic, and those who seek to sow division must not succeed. Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief as a means of enhancing tolerance and inclusion remains a key part of our ongoing engagement with Sudan. I personally raised this case, along with wider human rights issues, with the Sudanese ambassador and I urge the Sudanese authorities to prevent such attacks and investigate.</p><p>Our Embassy in Khartoum’s human rights programming aims to address bureaucratic obstacles and legal restrictions that disproportionately affect religious minorities, which has included the denial of permits for Church buildings and cases of church demolition. Sudan is a priority country in the UK’s Annual Human Rights Report and we will continue to urge respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities to follow their chosen beliefs, in our engagement with the Sudanese authorities.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 04/02/2020 14:14:48 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1199257

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Colombia: Surveillance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the illegal collation of secret files on civil society organisations, including human rights defenders, the press and others in Colombia.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of allegations that Colombian state actors have been illegally gathering surveillance on civil society organisations. We expect state authorities to comply fully with their human rights obligations, and our Embassy in Bogotá regularly raises human rights issues. The United Kingdom is committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia, which is a Human Rights Priority Country.</p><p>We work with the Colombian Government, civil society and multilateral partners to support full compliance with human rights obligations in Colombia. Neither the UN nor the IACHR has invited us to support the creation of a commission.</p><p>The British Government undertakes extensive risk assessments when designing projects in Colombia and deciding which to fund, including any potential negative impact on human rights. This includes the overseas security and justice assistance (OSJA) process, which is intended to ensure any United Kingdom projects meet our human rights obligations and our values. We continually monitor the effects of our programme work in consultation with colleagues working in Colombia, and make thorough assessments of the impact of our projects.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 15/06/2020 13:18:11 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

732078

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that North Korea was behind the recent cyber attack on NHS computer systems.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL131
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2017 answer text <p>The National Cyber Security Centre and National Crime Agency are investigating the recent cyber attack that affected NHS networks, as well as many others around the world. A range of leads are being pursued as part of the ongoing investigations.</p><p>To effectively tackle cyber threats, the Government launched the National Cyber Security Strategy in November 2016. Supported by £1.9 billion of transformational investment, the strategy sets out ambitious policies and capabilities to protect the UK in cyber space.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 03/07/2017 15:13:35 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1204213

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	West Bank: Demolition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Palestinian-owned property in Al-Walaja is under threat of demolition to make way for construction of a park exclusively for Israelis; and what support, if any, are they giving to the owners of any such property.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5816
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Our legal aid supports residents in Al-Walaja and officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem visited the area on 17 June. As we made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May, the UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. We urge both sides to avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/06/2020 14:26:57 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1200278

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	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	Myanmar: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that over 500 people have been sentenced to between one month and one year in prison in Myanmar since late March for violating movement-control orders.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL5175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom is concerned by reports that public health policies used to tackle COVID-19, such as curfews and movement control orders, have been misused to violate people's civil liberties, including freedom of expression and religious belief in Myanmar. It is vital the public health policies are applied equally to all communities and not exploited to target particular groups. We have raised our concerns about civil liberties in Myanmar with the Government of Myanmar, including at a Ministerial level. We will continue to stress that public health and security concerns should not be used to undermine fundamental freedoms. We will also continue to support Myanmar's democratisation process and moves to end Myanmar's conflict in order to address the root causes of many of the violations and abuses seen in Myanmar.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL5176 HL5177 question first answered 17/06/2020 10:54:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox