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860538

registered interest
date	12/03/2018
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: Commonwealth
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on Sudan joining the Commonwealth.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2018 answer text <p>The first step for entry to the Commonwealth for any aspiring member is to indicate to the Commonwealth Secretariat that it would like to join.</p><p>Decisions on membership are made by consensus by all Commonwealth member states. Any aspiring member would need to meet the criteria for membership, particularly in relation to human rights, good governance and the rule of law.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 15/03/2018 17:44:56 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

860577

registered interest
date	12/03/2018
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	Sri Lanka: Religious 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 assessment he has made of the extent of freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka after recent reports of religious-based violence in Kandy.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2018 answer text <p>I remain concerned by the recent inter-communal violence in Sri Lanka and I wrote to Foreign Minister Marapana on 7 March setting out my views. Prior to the recent inter-communal violence in Sri Lanka, we assess that there was a worrying growth in incidents of religiously motivated violence and communal tensions in Sri Lanka in 2017. We welcome steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to address these issues and encourage the authorities to ensure that those responsible for inciting religious hatred are held accountable.</p><p>The UK is committed to supporting government and civil society efforts to improve human rights in Sri Lanka. We are currently funding a range of projects through a multi-year Conflict Stability and Security Fund programme to promote inter-faith and inter-communal dialogue and dispute resolution at local level in eastern Sri Lanka, one of the most diverse regions. Sri Lanka remains an FCO Human Rights Priority country.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/03/2018 17:12:51 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

856966

registered interest
date	07/03/2018
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	Sri Lanka: Community Relations
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 the effect of the declaration of a state of emergency on communal violence Sri Lanka.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131478
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2018 answer text <p>I remain concerned by the current inter-communal violence in Sri Lanka, and have written to Foreign Minister Marapana setting out my views. We support the government's determination to end it swiftly, using measures that are proportionate and respect human rights, and urge it to hold the perpetrators to account. It is vital that all leaders in Sri Lanka condemn violence and hate, and make every effort to promote harmony.</p><p>The UK is committed to supporting government and civil society efforts to improve human rights in Sri Lanka. We are currently funding a range of projects through a multi-year Conflict Stability and Security Fund programme to promote inter-faith and inter-communal dialogue and dispute resolution at local level in eastern Sri Lanka, one of the most diverse regions.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 12/03/2018 17:16:50 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

857076

registered interest
date	07/03/2018
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: Conflict Resolution
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 the potential merits of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for South Sudan.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2018 answer text <p>​The Government of South Sudan was mandated by the 2015 peace agreement to establish both the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and the Hybrid Court as transitional justice mechanisms. The British Government strongly supports the establishment of both in order to promote healing and reconciliation for the victims of human rights violations and to ensure that the perpetrators are held to account.</p><p>In order for the reconciliation and healing process to be successful, it must be built on a strong foundation of stable peace. The UK continues to call on all parties to the conflict to reconvene the High Level Revitalisation Forum as soon as possible, without preconditions, to address the governance and security issues that are essential for long term, sustainable peace.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 13/03/2018 13:16:04 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

857084

registered interest
date	07/03/2018
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: Peacekeeping Operations
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 this counterpart in Sudan on UN proposals to drawdown peacekeepers in (a) Darfur and (b) other parts of that country.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2018 answer text <p>During a bilateral meeting with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 12 December, the then Minister for Africa raised the reconfiguration of the United Nations – African Union Mission (UNAMID) and in particular sought an update on the opening of a temporary UNAMID base in Golo, Jebel Marra. We continue to monitor closely the situation in Darfur and urge the Government of Sudan to extend their full cooperation to UNAMID. Our priority is to ensure that any changes that are made to UNAMID or the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) are done sensibly, with appropriate review points and that the missions are still able the fulfil the core components of their mandates.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 14/03/2018 16:27:06 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

855962

registered interest
date	06/03/2018
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: Armed Conflict
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle the root causes of conflict in South Sudan and (b) support peace building led by local actors in that country.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2018 answer text <p>As a first step to tackle the root causes of the conflict, we have been clear that a wide range of voices, including from women, local actors and civil society groups, must be heard in the peace process. This will make it more likely that a sustainable settlement is found. These groups will also help hold the government and other parties to account. Our funding is enabling the South Sudan Council of Churches, through the National Action Plan for Peace, to lead mediation and reconciliation efforts between national level leaders who have the power to stop the conflict. At the local level we are supporting a range of peace building activities, including funding the Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System (CEWERS), which aims to reduce conflict by helping communities to identify small incidents and resolve issues peacefully before they escalate to violent conflict.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 12/03/2018 16:16:40 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

856203

registered interest
date	06/03/2018
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	Haji Musa Mohammed Nur
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 on the recent death in detention of Haji Musa Mohammed Nur to the Government of Eritrea.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2018 answer text <p>Our Ambassador and EU counterparts have called for the release of all prisoners detained for religious or political beliefs or, as a minimum, that they are brought before a court for public hearing and fair trial, allowing them to defend themselves against any charge. We will continue to raise our concerns on this and other human rights issues with the Government of Eritrea in close coordination with partners.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 13/03/2018 13:08:20 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

856209

registered interest
date	06/03/2018
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: 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 recent assessment he has made of the (a) human rights situation and (b) level of religious freedom in Eritrea.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	131375
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2018 answer text <p>​Eritrea remains a priority country in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual human rights report. The overwhelming majority of people can practise their religion peacefully and are allowed to do so, but legal restrictions and harassment on the practice of some religions undermines the harmony and freedom of religion or belief in Eritrea. We are concerned by the detention of individuals and groups from proscribed religious groups, and senior individuals from religious organisations. The UK will emphasise this concern during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea on 12 March during the current session of the UN Human Rights Council.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 13/03/2018 13:13:22 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

851622

registered interest
date	28/02/2018
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	India: 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 representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on the treatment of Christians in India.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	130385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2018 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to promoting and defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for Christians, and indeed individuals of all faiths or beliefs.</p><p>We continue to engage with key Indian contacts on a range of human rights issues, including minority rights. The British High Commission in New Delhi, our network of Deputy High Commissions, as well as FCO officials in London, maintain a continuous assessment of the human rights situation across India, including with civil society groups in India. We are aware of reported incidents against religious minorities in India and continue to monitor the situation.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 05/03/2018 17:55:15 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

851624

registered interest
date	28/02/2018
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	al Shabaab: Arms Trade
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 the Government has taken to help stop the supply of arms to al-Shaabab in Somalia and Kenya.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	130387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2018 answer text <p>The primary barrier to the flow of arms to al Shabaab in Somalia is the UN Security Council (UNSC) arms embargo imposed with Resolution 733 in 1992. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the UK fully supports this embargo.</p><p>The partial suspension of the arms embargo in Resolution 2317 (2016) was designed to allow the Federal Government to obtain the equipment needed to develop the Somali national security forces, which are critical for Somalia's long-term security. Safeguards exist within the framework of the suspension. These include restrictions on heavy weaponry, monitoring mechanisms, and requirements to notify and report to the UN. The Monitoring Group's mandate was also extended, to 15 December 2018, in UNSC Resolution 2385 (2017). Individuals who abuse the suspension may also be listed under the sanctions regime.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 05/03/2018 16:24:32 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew