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173075

registered interest
date	12/01/2015
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	Press Freedom
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 discussions he has had with his international counterparts about press freedom.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	220359
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) led the UK’s expression of condolence and solidarity with France after the events in Paris last week and my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns has written to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to commend their responses to the attacks. The public reaction was a visible demonstration of the importance attached to press freedom, and freedom of expression, in Europe and beyond. Freedom of expression has been a human rights priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), from the beginning of this Parliament; and the subject of an Expert Group which advises Ministers. We raise press freedom regularly in multilateral fora, supporting relevant initiatives and resolutions, and raise it in bilateral conversations – in private and in public. For example, issues and rights connected with freedom of expression, and press freedom, are important elements of much of the analysis in the FCO’s Annual Human Rights Report – which this year will have a particular focus on “protecting civil society space”.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/01/2015 16:08:05 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

173076

registered interest
date	12/01/2015
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	Russia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Russian government on the human rights implications of the decision to ban transgender people and other groups from driving.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	220363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>The Russian government’s decree of 29 December 2014 prohibited certain groups from driving. The Russian Ministry of Health stated on 13 January that the law does not relate to drivers’ sexual orientation, but did not mention transgender people. We have asked the Russian government for clarification on the application and implementation of this amendment in order to fully understand its impact.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 15/01/2015 13:55:51 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

173190

registered interest
date	12/01/2015
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	Saudi Arabia
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 representations Ministers in his Department have made to the Saudi Arabian government on (a) freedom of the press, (b) religious freedom, (c) the rule of law and (d) cruel and inhumane treatment.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	220417
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2015 answer text <p>The British Government maintains a regular debate on a full range of human rights issues with the Saudi Arabian government and will continue to do so. Last year, the then Senior Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Warsi, raised the issue of freedom of religion or belief with the Saudi Arabian government. The issue of rule of law was also raised by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor and my Rt Hon Friend Chris Grayling raised the issue of rule of law with his Saudi Arabian counterpart.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 15/01/2015 14:47:55 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

171806

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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	Climate Change
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he had any discussions with his overseas counterparts concerning the attendance of environmental and human rights campaigners at the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	219627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td>The participation of civil society in the UN climate change negotiations is provided for by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and well established. Engagement with civil society is a priority for the UK, which is why the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), who led the UK's delegation and our officials, met regularly with civil society during the Lima negotiations.</td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 07/01/2015 15:56:54 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

171808

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
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	Colombia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on (a) collusion between members of the Colombian security forces and post-demobilisation paramilitary groups in the Uraba region and (b) attacks perpetrated by post-demobilisation paramilitary groups against (i) leaders of land restitution claims and (ii) other human rights defenders.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	219626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2015 answer text <p>In September 2014, British Officials in Bogotá attended a meeting between the Colombian Minister of the Interior and non-government organisations (NGOs) that work with the Curvaradó community in Urabá. The NGOs expressed concern about coalitions of local armed groups, business leaders, politicians and the military, who were blocking implementation of court orders, and threatening leaders and land restitution claimants. The NGO coalition ‘We are Defenders’ reported that during 2013 there were 78 murders of Human Rights Defenders of which 15 were carried out by paramilitary successor groups. <br><br>The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), Minister for our relations with Colombia, raised concerns about this with his opposite numbers at the Colombian Foreign Ministry when he visited Bogotá last year. The British Embassy also raises these and other cases with Colombian authorities regularly.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 07/01/2015 15:53:42 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

171138

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
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	Ecuador
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 representations he has made to the Ecuador government on (a) environmental protection and (b) protections for environmental and indigenous activists.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	219104
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Quito frequently discusses environmental protection and climate issues with the Ecuadorean government. Our Ambassador to Ecuador raised environmental protection in the Galapagos Islands and the future of the Charles Darwin research station with Ecuadorean government contacts on 2 December. Our Embassy also funds environment projects including a solar power project with the indigenous community in the Andes and a training project on sustainable tourism in the Limoncocha Reserve. <br><br>We have not made any representations on the subject of environmental activists, nor have we been asked to by any environmental activists. The importance of human rights and free contact with civil society was raised by the EU during a high level political dialogue meeting in October. Our Ambassador has also raised the importance of civil society with the Ecuadorean government in the context of our bilateral cooperation.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/01/2015 15:33:03 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

170691

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
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	Colombia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Colombia with his EU counterparts in discussions of EU-Colombia trade agreements.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	218899
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Bogotá is part of the EU Human Rights Group, made up of all EU Member States with missions in Colombia and the European External Action Service. The group meets on a monthly basis in order to implement the Human Rights Strategy for Colombia, most recently on 2 December. <br><br>The EU Andean Free Trade Agreement aims to raise human rights standards and includes a legally binding clause allowing for revision of the agreement if Colombia does not comply with its human rights commitments. Colombia has responded to this with a 54 point action plan to reinforce its efforts to end impunity for human rights violations and to ensure its justice system is fully compliant with human rights law.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 05/01/2015 15:04:47 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

170701

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
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	Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria his Department uses to determine whether a country should feature as (a) a case study and (b) a country of concern in its annual Human Rights and Democracy report.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	219005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>As set out in the 2012 and 2013 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Reports on Human Rights and Democracy, the criteria we use to determine whether a country should feature as a country of concern are the following:</p><ul><li>the gravity of the human rights situation in the country, including both the severity of particular abuses and the range of human rights affected;</li><li>whether a deterioration or improvement in the human rights situation in the country would have a wider impact in the region;</li><li>whether the human rights situation in the country has an impact on wider UK interests; and</li><li>whether we are able to influence the human rights situation there.</li></ul><p>Our assessment of the gravity of the human rights situation in the country is the most important assessment that we make when identifying the countries of concern, and is not affected by levels of UK interest or influence. Only after assessing this, do we then apply an analysis of our other criteria, including UK engagement and interests as a means of influencing change. A large number of countries have serious human rights issues, and so it is right that we concentrate our limited resources on those countries where we can make most difference.</p><p>Country case studies were introduced in 2012 as a way to report on countries which do not meet the overall threshold for a country of concern, but which we judge nonetheless to be facing human rights challenges, or to be on a trajectory of change with regard to their human rights performance.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 05/01/2015 15:06:24 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

170702

registered interest
date	16/12/2014
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	Human Rights
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what factors his Department takes into account in deciding whether to escalate a country from being a case study to a country of concern in its annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	219006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>Country case studies were introduced in 2012 as a way to report on countries which do not meet the overall threshold for a country of concern, but which we judge nonetheless to be facing human rights challenges, or to be on a trajectory of change with regard to their human rights performance. This change could be positive or negative. Designation as a country case study does not therefore imply that these countries are likely to be designated a country of concern in future.</p><p> </p><p>Each year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office carries out a review of its countries of concern and country case studies against our four criteria. If this analysis were to show that an existing country case study had deteriorated significantly against these criteria, it is likely that its categorisation would be changed accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 05/01/2015 15:08:17 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

170396

registered interest
date	15/12/2014
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	Bahrain
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what funding his Department provides for the promotion of human rights in Bahrain.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	218821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will have provided in the region of £1.5 million worth of support to Bahrain's reform programme this financial year. Our reform assistance is focused on strengthening human rights and the rule of law, including torture prevention and capacity building of the Ombudsman's Office for the Ministry of Interior. The Ombudsman's Office has responsibility for investigating allegations of detainee mistreatment.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 18/12/2014 14:15:43 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy