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228141

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Shaker Aamer
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 the Government has made of Shaker Aamer's continued detention in Guantanamo in light of the Government's on going celebration of Magna Carta.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	John Pugh
uin	228019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text On June 15 we will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, which set out that no one should be refused their rights or justice, and became the foundation of the laws on individual liberties that exist today. These freedoms matter to the UK. The UK Government has long held that indefinite detention without review or fair trial is unacceptable. We welcome President Obama's commitment in January of this year to prioritise Mr Aamer's case for review, and his continuing commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 24/03/2015 14:28:26 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1454 label Biography information for John Pugh

228144

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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
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 levels of political freedoms in eastern Sudan.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	228078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government of Sudan continues to restrict political and individual freedoms throughout Sudan, including eastern Sudan. HMG ministers and officials consistently raise our serious concerns about human rights in Sudan with its government.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 25/03/2015 13:33:27 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

228146

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has taken a position on the viability of forthcoming elections in Sudan; and what discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterpart on ensuring that conditions are met for those elections to be free and fair.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Mark Durkan
uin	228073
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text Due to the ongoing conflicts, political detentions, and clampdown on media freedoms, it is hard to see how elections scheduled in April 2015 could be free and fair. Our Embassy in Khartoum continues to call on the Government of Sudan to address these issues and stand by their commitments to National Dialogue. A genuine National Dialogue remains the best opportunity to achieve a genuinely representative political system in Sudan answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 25/03/2015 13:36:32 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1594 label Biography information for Mark Durkan

228148

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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
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 has taken to implement the recommendations of the report Rape as torture in the DRC, published by Freedom from Torture in June 2014.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Mr Andrew Smith
uin	228161
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>As detailed in the FCO official’s 2014 Human Rights and Democracy Report, last year we raised the shocking allegations set out in Freedom from Torture’s report with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and pushed for an investigation. Whilst the DRC government did not acknowledge that the violations had taken place, it took the initiative to conduct surprise checks on police detention facilities. Those found to have been arbitrarily detained were released, and facilities where human rights violations including torture were found to have taken place were closed.</p><p>We continue to work closely with the government of the DRC, non government organisations and civil society to improve the care of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The UK is supporting a range of projects in the DRC focussed on documenting, collecting and preserving evidence and improving victims’ access to justice.</p><p>Following the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, at which the DRC Government was represented, President Kabila appointed Jeanine Mabunda as his Personal Representative for Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment. Ms Mabunda visited London in February and met with experts in her field and my noble friend Baroness Anelay of St John's, the FCO Minister of State. She has committed to working with Congolese groups, the international community, and others to address SGBV in the DRC in a comprehensive manner, reflecting the need for services to be delivered across the whole country and not just in areas affected by conflict.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 24/03/2015 14:59:13 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	95 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Smith

228150

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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
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 his Department has made of the effect of the Houthi rebellion in Yemen on stability in the Middle East.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>The Houthi take-over in Yemen is a violation of the 1994 constitution and the principles of the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative. As a long-standing principle, we do not support military intervention to achieve political aims. If a political settlement to the current crisis is not reached, the likelihood of civil war, economic collapse, and a humanitarian catastrophe will increase, which will in turn threaten stability in the wider region. Further instability could also create space for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and other emergent terrorist groups to mount opportunistic attacks both within Yemen and beyond its borders. Instability, as well as a deterioration in the economic situation, is likely to cause an increase in humanitarian needs. Instability in Yemen could also threaten the wider region.</p><p>The UK continues to believe that an inclusive political settlement is the best way to ensure long term stability and avoid civil war, economic collapse, and a humanitarian catastrophe. We continue to support Abu Rabbuh Mansour Hadi as the legitimate President of Yemen, and are working to encourage all parties to engage in good faith in the UN-led talks to establish an inclusive government that that commits to implementing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the National Dialogue conference outcomes, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 24/03/2015 14:31:46 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228151

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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
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 his Department has made of the operational capability of Al Qaeda in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	228176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2015 answer text <p>Al Qaeda in Yemen or Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been operating in Yemen since 2009 and has murdered hundreds of Yemenis each year, including civilians and members of the police and security forces. AQAP also continues to pose a serious and direct threat to the UK and its interests, and remains intent on, and capable of, conducting external attacks. We currently assess that the gravest threat to the UK from AQAP comes from its ongoing ambition to strike international airliners and cause mass civilian casualties. We also have concerns that AQAP could cooperate and share its technical capability with other Al Qaeda (AQ)-aligned groups. Through their extremist propaganda (e.g. Inspire magazine) AQ and its affiliates also wish to radicalise Muslims and incite extremist violence.</p><p>Continued instability in Yemen, longer-term, increases the risk of opportunistic AQAP attacks and may allow AQAP to exploit the power vacuum to project violence beyond Yemen’s borders. However, we assess that AQAP’s overall strategic aim remains to establish an AQ-ruled Emirate in Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 24/03/2015 14:34:23 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

228303

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to leaders in South Sudan on the recent abduction of children from a school in Malakal.
tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
tabling member printed	Mr Gordon Brown
uin	228185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text We are deeply concerned by the recent abduction of children in Malakal, South Sudan. Our Embassy in Juba has made repeated representations to the Government of South Sudan and called for their safe return and for the perpetrators to be held to account. answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 25/03/2015 13:33:58 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	591 label Biography information for Mr Gordon Brown

228350

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Swaziland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the case for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to examine the ability of political parties to operate freely in Swaziland and for members elected as representatives of political parties to represent voters in Parliament, in line with the Commonwealth Charter.
tabling member printed	Lord Lea of Crondall
uin	HL5820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text We remain concerned about the lack of progress towards inclusive democracy and the deteriorating human rights situation in Swaziland. The UK is not a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), but we continue to encourage all members of the Commonwealth, including members of CMAG, to ensure adherence to commitments made in the Commonwealth Charter. We also support the work of the Commonwealth’s Special Envoy to Swaziland, former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, to promote democratic reform and political freedom in Swaziland. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 25/03/2015 14:29:46 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	2482 label Biography information for Lord Lea of Crondall

228364

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Zimbabwe
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in the past year to raise concerns with the government of Zimbabwe about human rights violations, including threats, as well as the use, of violence, denial of freedom of expression and assembly, and breaches of the rule of law.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
uin	HL5834
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Harare works closely with non-governmental organisations, development agencies, the EU and other diplomatic missions to monitor the human rights situation on the ground closely. They meet with the Government of Zimbabwe regularly, both bilaterally and in partnership with other EU Member States, and call for an end to all human rights abuses and the restoration of internationally accepted human rights standards in Zimbabwe.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 25/03/2015 14:30:05 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	3895 label Biography information for Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

228365

registered interest
date	18/03/2015
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	Zimbabwe
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the European Union policy decision on resuming bilateral aid to Zimbabwe and allowing President Mugabe to travel to European Union member states on African Union business; and what position they have taken on that issue.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
uin	HL5835
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>EU Member States agreed in February to renew, for a further year, the Arms Embargo and active travel ban and asset freeze against President Mugabe, the First Lady, and Zimbabwe Defence Industries. Contrary to media reporting, the EU did not agree a relaxation to President Mugabe’s travel ban during his term as African Union Chair. Exemptions to the travel ban can only be granted in exceptional circumstances and require the agreement of all EU Member States. EU Member States reviewed the governance and human rights situation in Zimbabwe in October 2014. Member States agreed that there had not been a ‘serious deterioration’, which was the agreed condition for renewing the EU Appropriate Measures. The Appropriate Measures therefore expired in November 2014. This enabled the EU to plan a strategic aid programme in Zimbabwe for 2014-20, delivering support directly to agencies on the ground. The EU had an aid programme in Zimbabwe before the Appropriate Measures lapsed but this could only be planned on an annual rather than multi-annual basis. The programme covering the 2014-2020 period will help deliver the reforms necessary for Zimbabwe to become a more democratic and prosperous country, which the UK supports.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 25/03/2015 14:29:07 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
tabling member	3895 label Biography information for Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead