Ensuring a stronger, more democratic and more prosperous Eastern neighbourhood remains a priority for Her Majesty's Government. We recognise that a thriving civil society and strong, independent institutions are key to achieving these objectives. The Government is already providing targeted assistance to Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine through its Global Britain, Good Governance and Conflict, Stability and Security Funds and will commit over £17 million towards these countries this year.<\/p>
In Belarus, the UK is funding a number of projects on human rights and economic reform. This includes projects on improved access to justice for children, preventing domestic violence and improved transparency in financial reporting of state-owned enterprises.<\/p>
In Moldova, the UK is providing support to civil society on local government accountability and independent media. We are also providing support to State institutions, especially in the financial and banking sectors.<\/p>
In Ukraine, the UK is providing programme assistance to institutions including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and the Ukrainian Public Broadcaster. Projects also include support for civil society in monitoring government and increasing democratic inclusion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T13:39:30.92Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Eastern Europe: Politics and Government"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support the (1) strengthening of civil society, and (2) effectiveness of major institutions and government departments, in Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL11464"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006685", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006685/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bThe UK is concerned about reports of human rights abuses in the Philippines, including the high death toll associated with the 'war on drugs', the treatment of human rights defenders, journalists and land rights campaigners and moves to reintroduce the death penalty.<\/p>
In August 2018, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific raised our concerns with several Philippine Ministers during his trip to Manila. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised human rights with the Philippines Ambassador on 21 September. At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2018, we urged the Philippines to investigate killings associated with the "war on drugs" and to ensure the safety of Land Rights Defenders.<\/p>
We do not currently provide any support to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council and have no plans to do so.<\/p>
Our Embassy in Manila has used Her Majesty's Government's Modern Slavery Fund to support groups working on the effective implementation of the Republic Act 7610.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T15:50:26.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Philippines: Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they provide support to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council in the Philippines; if so, what support they provide; and whether they intend to (1) call for an independent inquiry into recent human rights violations in the Philippines, (2) make the Philippines an FCO Human Rights priority, (3) take steps to protect Human Rights Defenders in that country, (4) call for the full implementation of Republic Act 7610 for the protection of children and young people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL11465"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006687", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006687/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government remains concerned about reports of abuses and violence directed against women in Pakistan. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report available at the gov.uk website.<\/p>
We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including women, with the Pakistan government at a senior level. During his visit to Pakistan in September 2018, the Home Secretary raised the importance of tackling violence against women and girls.<\/p>
Pakistan remains a priority for UK development assistance, with programmes designed to improve human rights and opportunities for women. The Department for International Development's "Aawaz" Voice and Accountability programme in Pakistan works to empower female youth leaders from Punjab (and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) to challenge discriminatory social norms in their communities.<\/p>
Our Rule of Law programme in Pakistan aims to strengthen the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime. It will help to build public confidence in the formal justice system and encourage a move away from the use of "jirga councils". Part of the programme focuses specifically on improving access to justice for women and girls.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T15:54:07.577Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pakistan: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the implementation of the Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2015 in the Punjab province of Pakistan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL11467"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002233", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002233/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In October 2017, the previous Foreign Secretary issued a statement expressing concern about the approval of 31 construction permits in Hebron for the first time in 15 years. The Government continues to raise concerns on settlements with the Israeli authorities. Settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-19T15:37:41.463Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Israeli Settlements: Hebron"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the government of Israel about the proposed new flats for settlers in Hebron, on the site of a former Palestinian market, announced by the Israeli defence minister on 1 November.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL11254"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }