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1228093

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Hagia Sophia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the decision to convert the Hagia Sofia into a mosque, and (2) the impact of that decision on marginalised religious minorities in Turkey and the Middle East; and what steps they are planning to take to ensure that the rights of religious minorities in the region are safeguarded.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>While we note the concern that President Erdoğan's decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque has caused internationally, the Government regards this as a sovereign matter for Turkey. However, we would expect that Hagia Sophia - part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - remains accessible to all, as testament to its global cultural and religious significance and Turkey's rich and diverse historical and cultural legacy, and that its precious artefacts are preserved. We therefore welcome the public statements by Turkish leaders that this historic building will continue to be accessible to people of all faiths and nationalities, which would be consistent with the Turkish constitution's provisions for freedom of conscience and religion for all. We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights.</p><p>The Government is firmly committed to protecting religious minorities in the Middle East region and providing assistance on the basis of need, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate for respect among different religious and racial groups, is to encourage states to uphold their human rights obligations. The UK is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 05/08/2020 14:41:50 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1228106

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Colombia: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of International Development, they plan to fund projects to help combat sexual violence in Colombia on a longer-term basis than the annual funding cycle has permitted to date.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL7446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia, which the FCO has designated a Human Rights Priority Country. Since 2016, UK support to a network of survivors of sexual violence has helped document 1200 new cases which are now before the transitional justice system. The UK has also funded work to train rural medical professionals in how to attend cases of sexual violence, including with a view to preserving evidence to facilitate convictions. More broadly, the UK has led efforts to strengthen action on conflict-related sexual violence through UN Security Council Peacekeeping Mandates and Resolutions. In April 2019, we advocated and voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2467 on sexual violence in conflict. This specified the importance of a survivor-centric approach in response to conflict-related sexual violence, which is the approach that underpins our programme work in Colombia. The UK remains committed to providing support to help Colombia tackle the legacy of sexual violence from its long conflict, and, as part of the FCO-DFID merger discussions, we will take the opportunity to review, refresh, and build on all existing strategies, as well as developing new approaches where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg grouped question UIN HL7447 question first answered 05/08/2020 14:33:21 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1228107

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	Colombia: Development Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include greater involvement of survivors of sexual violence in the programme design of funded projects in Colombia.
tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
uin	HL7447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Colombia, which the FCO has designated a Human Rights Priority Country. Since 2016, UK support to a network of survivors of sexual violence has helped document 1200 new cases which are now before the transitional justice system. The UK has also funded work to train rural medical professionals in how to attend cases of sexual violence, including with a view to preserving evidence to facilitate convictions. More broadly, the UK has led efforts to strengthen action on conflict-related sexual violence through UN Security Council Peacekeeping Mandates and Resolutions. In April 2019, we advocated and voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2467 on sexual violence in conflict. This specified the importance of a survivor-centric approach in response to conflict-related sexual violence, which is the approach that underpins our programme work in Colombia. The UK remains committed to providing support to help Colombia tackle the legacy of sexual violence from its long conflict, and, as part of the FCO-DFID merger discussions, we will take the opportunity to review, refresh, and build on all existing strategies, as well as developing new approaches where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg grouped question UIN HL7446 question first answered 05/08/2020 14:33:21 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1228108

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
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	UN Interim Force in Lebanon
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of efforts by Hezbollah and the government of Lebanon to impede the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from carrying out its mandate; and what steps they have taken to raise this at the UN Security Council.
tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
uin	HL7448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains concerned by Hizballah's activities within Lebanon which are in clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701. We regularly raise our concerns at the UN Security Council, and call on all parties to abide by the provisions of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 06/08/2020 11:46:45 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

1227216

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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: Military Intervention
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 trends in the level of international humanitarian law breaches committed as a result of shelling in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	78682
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK takes alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and human rights law extremely seriously. Whenever the UK receives reports of alleged violations of IHL, we routinely seek information from all credible sources, including from non-governmental and international organisations.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 01/09/2020 13:23:04 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1227237

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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	Germany: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on that country’s detention of people suspected spying for Iran’s Quds Force.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Robert Largan
uin	78909
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>We do not routinely comment on intelligence matters or specific threats. We continue to use all the tools at our disposal to counter threats to national security, working with our allies. On 8 January 2019, the UK and a number of European partners jointly raised with Iran our deep concerns about hostile activities and plots being planned and perpetrated in Europe. We have long expressed our deep concerns about the destabilising activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and IRGC Qods Force. The Government is clear that Iran should instead look to play a constructive role in regional stability.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 78910 question first answered 01/09/2020 13:21:53 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4852 label Biography information for Robert Largan

1227238

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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: Espionage
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 the effect of Iranians espionage activity in Europe on the (a) national and (b) regional security.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Robert Largan
uin	78910
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>We do not routinely comment on intelligence matters or specific threats. We continue to use all the tools at our disposal to counter threats to national security, working with our allies. On 8 January 2019, the UK and a number of European partners jointly raised with Iran our deep concerns about hostile activities and plots being planned and perpetrated in Europe. We have long expressed our deep concerns about the destabilising activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and IRGC Qods Force. The Government is clear that Iran should instead look to play a constructive role in regional stability.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly grouped question UIN 78909 question first answered 01/09/2020 13:21:53 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4852 label Biography information for Robert Largan

1227240

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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	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 has he made of the (a) extent of and (b) trends in the level of incidences of persecution and human rights abuses against Christians in Nigeria.
tabling member constituency	Weston-super-Mare
tabling member printed	John Penrose
uin	78595
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned by increasing insecurity in Nigeria. While communities of different religions live together peacefully across much of Nigeria, incidents of intercommunal violence occur across many states in the country. These continue to negatively impact on the human rights of communities of all faiths, including Christians. Religious identity is a factor in many incidents of intercommunal violence but the root causes are more complex and frequently relate to competition over resources and criminality.</p><p>In North East Nigeria, attacks by terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa over the past decade have had a devastating effect on communities of all faiths. These groups attack indiscriminately those who do not subscribe to their extremist views, abusing both international human rights and international humanitarian law including the rights to life, freedom of religion or belief, freedom from slavery and right for children not to be used in armed conflict. Although 2014 saw the greatest number of attacks on civilians, terrorist attacks continue to occur on a regular basis in the North East. While Christians have been targeted by the terrorist groups, the majority of people killed have been Muslim. We condemn all terrorist attacks and are providing a comprehensive package of security, humanitarian and stabilisation support to Nigeria to help tackle the terrorist threat.</p><p>In January, the Prime Minister discussed insecurity in Nigeria and UK support with President Buhari. Most recently, I raised concerns over intercommunal violence in Nigeria with President Buhari's Chief of Staff in June. We encourage the Government of Nigeria to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of conflict, and for those responsible for human rights violations or abuses to be held to account. We will continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious groups, and human rights for all Nigerians.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 01/09/2020 11:57:54 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1584 label Biography information for John Penrose

1227241

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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	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 potential identities of the perpetrators of incidences of persecution and human rights abuses against Christians in Nigeria.
tabling member constituency	Weston-super-Mare
tabling member printed	John Penrose
uin	78596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>In North East Nigeria, attacks by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, have had devastating effects on communities of all faiths, including Christians. These groups seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion by attacking indiscriminately those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. I have made clear to Parliament that the UK Government condemns all attacks made by these groups.</p><p>In many states in Nigeria, incidents of intercommunal violence have occurred between communities of different faiths and ethnicities. Reprisal attacks by affected communities have also occurred. Religious identity is a factor in this, but the drivers of intercommunal conflict are complex and include competition over natural resources and criminality. We are working with the Nigerian Government to respond to the challenge of resource competition. We have provided technical support to the Nigerian Government for the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The plan aims to promote cattle-rearing in one place, rather than the traditional nomadic practice, to limit competition over land and resources leading to violence.</p><p>It is vital that those responsible for attacks in Nigeria are held to account. 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.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 01/09/2020 11:49:38 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1584 label Biography information for John Penrose

1227242

registered interest
date	22/07/2020
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	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 extent to which Nigerian national or state Government officials have been involved in either preventing or allowing incidences of persecution and human rights abuses to take place against Christians in Nigeria.
tabling member constituency	Weston-super-Mare
tabling member printed	John Penrose
uin	78597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting human rights around the world. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including all ethnic and religious groups, and human rights for all Nigerians.</p><p>We are aware of allegations of Nigerian military or government complicity in attacks on communities of all faiths in Nigeria. However, we do not assess that there is systemic complicity by the Nigerian authorities in the persecution of any peoples in Nigeria. The Nigerian Armed Forces are deployed in North East Nigeria to tackle the threat from terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, who continue to cause immense suffering on communities of all faiths. Through our engagement and programmatic activity in Nigeria, the UK Government is supporting efforts to bring about the long-term changes needed to improve human rights compliance. For example, UK capacity building training for the Nigerian Armed Forces specifically includes topics on human rights compliance and rules of engagement.</p><p>In January, the Prime Minister discussed insecurity in Nigeria with President Buhari. In June, I raised security concerns in Nigeria with President Buhari's Chief of Staff. We will continue to monitor levels of violence in Nigeria, and to push for allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated and for those responsible to be held to account.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 01/09/2020 13:12:30 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	1584 label Biography information for John Penrose