Freedom of expression has an essential role to play in the establishment of peace and stability in South Sudan. We are deeply concerned at any closing of political space and restrictions on freedom of expression in the country, both for activists and for local and international journalists. This is incompatible with the Government of South Sudan's expressed desire to see a successful resolution to the nation's crises. We continue to lobby the Government of South Sudan to ensure that journalists, human rights activists and civil society are free to operate without fear of retribution. Through our Media Freedom Campaign we are providing support to journalists inside the country including continued funding for local media associations<\/p>
The UK lobbied the Government of South Sudan on political detainees including during Peter Biar's imprisonment in 2018-19. This included calling for due process, access to legal representation and for his release from detention as part of the 2018 peace agreement. We welcomed his eventual release alongside other prisoners in January and are aware of his recent arrival in the US. Our officials remain in contact with him.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4584", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Sugg"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Sugg"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-08-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-08-06T15:40:25.507Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Press Freedom"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of (1) the freedom of the press in South Sudan, and (2) the case of Peter Biar Ajak.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2109", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Sandwich"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Earl of Sandwich"} ], "uin" : "HL7551"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228254", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228254/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There has been a recent rise in severe violence in several states in South Sudan resulting in killings, displacement and disruption to livelihoods and humanitarian access. Severe violence is tipping South Sudan into further humanitarian crisis with 6.5 million people already facing acute food insecurity, many in areas recently devastated by flooding and facing the possibility of new locust swarms. In Jonglei alone, 157,000 people have been displaced since February this year and an estimated 87,000 people are in need of urgent assistance. The violence in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan underlines that, despite the 2018 peace agreement and a reduction in overall political conflict, many South Sudanese continue to live with terrible violence. South Sudan's best chance of a more stable and prosperous future remains the full implementation of the peace agreement.<\/p>
The creation of a peace committee by Presidential decree is a welcome step, but it and the Government of South Sudan need to act urgently to stop violence, facilitate humanitarian access and ensure ceasefire monitors are enabled to conduct accurate and timely investigations. Our Ambassador and other officials continue to meet the most senior representatives of the Government of South Sudan to urge action. The UK will continue to promote efforts to halt the violence, address the root causes of conflict and build lasting peace.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4584", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Sugg"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Sugg"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-08-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-08-06T15:39:15.993Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Violence"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of intercommunal violence in South Sudan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2109", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Sandwich"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Earl of Sandwich"} ], "uin" : "HL7553"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228256", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228256/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Our Consul General in Jerusalem has publicly expressed his concern. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees. We also continue to support the Palestinian cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem, as well as Palestinian physical presence there.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4584", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Sugg"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Sugg"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-08-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-08-06T11:46:14.097Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rania Elias and Suhail Khoury"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the detention of Rania Elias and Suhail Khoury; and what plans they have to raise those detentions with international partners.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2109", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Earl of Sandwich"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Earl of Sandwich"} ], "uin" : "HL7555"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 3, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }