We regularly engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the need to protect the rights of Christians and other religious minorities. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon raised this with Iraqi Foreign Minister Al-Hakim in December 2018. We continue to follow this issue actively. During my visit to Iraq in January I discussed the situation of Christians with the Archbishop of Erbil and in February Our Ambassador to Iraq visited Christian communities in six towns across the Ninewa Plain of north-western Iraq, previously occupied by Daesh.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-20T17:43:19.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Iraq: Christianity"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he is making to his Iraqi counterpart on the persecution of Christians in that country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "231463"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087045", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087045/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bThe UK regularly urges the Government of Afghanistan and the Government of Pakistan to ensure that the human rights and safety of all minorities, including the Hazara people, are protected in line with international human rights obligations. We do so bilaterally and with international partners, including the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the EU. At the Universal Periodic Review of Afghanistan at the UN Human Rights Council in January 2019, we recommended that the Government of Afghanistan establish an independent mechanism to assess how religious and ethnic minorities can be better protected.<\/p>
Following attacks last year affecting the Hazara community in Afghanistan, Embassy officials met with Hazara Members of Parliament for Ghazni to understand their concerns. The UK provides a range of support which aims to enhance the Afghan Government's ability to protect all Afghan citizens, including minority ethnic and religious groups such as the Hazaras.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1405", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Field"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cities of London and Westminster"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Field"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T16:58:30.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Afghanistan: Hazara"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to bring those responsible for the persecution of Hazara people to justice.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "231464"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087105", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087105/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.<\/p>
<\/p>
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including with the \u2018Tibetan Government in Exile\u2019) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.<\/p>
<\/p>
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China\u2019s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1405", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Field"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cities of London and Westminster"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Field"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T16:59:46.533Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tibet: Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle human rights abuses in Tibet.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4469", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Angela Crawley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lanark and Hamilton East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Angela Crawley"} ], "uin" : "231520"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087106", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087106/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.<\/p>
<\/p>
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including the \u2018Tibetan Government in Exile\u2019) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.<\/p>
<\/p>
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China\u2019s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.<\/p>
\u200b<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1405", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Field"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cities of London and Westminster"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Field"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-20T16:08:14.223Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tibet: Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in China on allowing independent human rights observers into Tibet; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4469", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Angela Crawley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lanark and Hamilton East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Angela Crawley"} ], "uin" : "231521"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087107", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087107/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.<\/p>
<\/p>
We regard the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We believe meaningful dialogue between the Chinese Government and representatives from Tibet (including the \u2018Tibetan Government in Exile\u2019) is the best way to address and resolve underlying tensions, and we urge all sides to restart talks.<\/p>
<\/p>
We raised our concerns about Tibet during China\u2019s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018. We asked an advanced question about Tibet and included our concerns in our statement.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1405", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Field"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cities of London and Westminster"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Field"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T17:00:48.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tibet: Freedom of Expression"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in China on respecting Tibetans' rights to freedom of expression; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4469", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Angela Crawley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lanark and Hamilton East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Angela Crawley"} ], "uin" : "231522"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087122", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087122/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It is clear that not all countries are fully implementing sanctions, as demonstrated by the UN Panel of Experts report of 5 March. The Government keeps close track of North Korean sanctions implementation and responds robustly when there is evidence of sanctions breaches. We are active in working with and lobbying, where necessary, international partners to ensure that all relevant UN Security Council measures in respect of North Korea are fully implemented. Until North Korea takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation, sanctions must remain and all states must enforce them in full.<\/p>
<\/p>