Tag: Baroness Cox

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the UNHCR decision to cease the provision of services to the Yida refugee camp in Unity State, South Sudan, on 30 June, and what steps they will take to ensure that the human rights of registered refugees who currently reside there are protected.

Baroness Verma

The decision to close the Yida refugee camp was taken by the government of South Sudan, therefore we assess that the UNHCR decision to move provision of services as proportionate; and the decision was announced in advance to all refugees. The South Sudanese government, UNHCR and its partners have engaged with refugee leaders over the past 18 to 24 months to manage the closure of Yida and the relocation to new camps at Adjuong Thok and Pamir in the smoothest and most respectful way possible. UNHCR will continue to provide livelihoods support to the Yida community for those who chose to remain. The UK continues to underline that any returns and relocation should remain safe, voluntary and informed, with appropriate service provision to refugees.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria on the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

This Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, and to being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right.

Religious freedom is protected by the Nigerian Constitution and we regularly discuss with the Nigerian government at the highest levels our concern about threats to this right, including the threat Boko Haram poses to communities of different faiths and ethnicities. Boko Haram seeks to undermine religious freedom by attacking all Nigerians who do not subscribe to its extremist views. It has committed atrocities against people of all faiths, including Christians and Muslims.

We will continue to work with the Nigerian government, non-governmental organisations and civil society to improve the security situation and human rights for all in Nigeria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria regarding the investigation of human rights violations in northern Nigeria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We welcome President Buhari’s commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations and to investigating credible reports of violations and take appropriate action. We have repeatedly made clear to the Nigerian authorities at all levels that we condemn human rights violations and we stress the importance of protecting civilians in conflict. The support the UK provides to Nigeria is designed not only to counter terrorism, but also to improve human rights standards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will increase UK aid to Nigerian international development projects, in particular those affected by recent violence involving Fulani herdsmen.

Baroness Verma

The UK is acutely aware of the human suffering caused by inter-communal violence between cattle herders and farmers in Nigeria. Reports of violence involving Fulani herdsmen have increased in recent weeks. The conflicts between herders and farmers are economic in nature and largely driven by competition over land and resources, which is exacerbated by population growth and climate change.

DFID has set up the £39 million Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme, which works across various conflicts in Nigeria, including herder-farmer tensions. This programme is supporting a number of economic initiatives that bring cattle herder and farmer communities together to work on projects which provide people with livelihoods and better economic opportunities. The programme also enables communities to agree on rules for land and water use, and provide them with mediation skills to prevent violent disputes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing for the reconstruction of schools in north-east Nigeria following the destruction of those schools by Boko Haram.

Baroness Verma

DFID is supporting the Government of Nigeria’s “Safe Schools Initiative” to help protect children at school in north east Nigeria, provide schooling to children displaced by the violence and support to the school reconstruction efforts of the Government of Nigeria. This includes support to the UN to provide temporary learning spaces for more than 3000 children.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-05-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the Beja people in Eastern Sudan, in particular to prevent kidnapping and people trafficking.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK is supporting the people of Eastern Sudan, including the Beja people, in a number of ways. The Department for International Development (DfID) spends £30million in Eastern Sudan to help improve vulnerable communities’ food security and nutrition, provide sustainable water supplies and improve sanitation. DfID also provides core funding to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees which supports host and refugee communities across Sudan to improve livelihoods and reduce the risk of human trafficking. The UK is also taking a lead role in the Khartoum Process, which prioritises tackling smuggling and trafficking across the Horn of Africa, including Sudan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-05-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that humanitarian charities such as Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières are able to give assistance to people in Eastern Sudan, following their expulsion by the government of Sudan in June 2012.

Baroness Verma

The UK continues to fund international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and UN agencies to deliver programmes which target the most vulnerable Sudanese citizens, and ensure that those in need of humanitarian assistance are not left unsupported as a result of expulsion decisions. We meet regularly with the Sudan INGO Steering Committee to discuss issues including humanitarian access, and support them in advocating for access when requested to do so. In addition, DFID is funding £30m of programmes over 3 years in Eastern Sudan to help improve vulnerable communities’ food security and nutrition, provide sustainable water supplies and improve sanitation. DFID also provides core funding to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which supports host and refugee communities across Sudan to improve livelihoods.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-06-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the progress of justice and reconciliation processes in South Sudan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Both accountability and reconciliation remain essential for South Sudan to move forward. The formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity in April marked an important step in political reconciliation and we welcome the ongoing efforts of community groups, including churches, to pursue reconciliation at the local level. We look forward to the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and welcome the steps already taken by the African Union on the Hybrid Court, which needs to be set up as a matter of priority.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-06-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the UN Security Council resolution of 31 May calling for a suspension of the Transitional Government of National Unity’s decision to increase the number of states in South Sudan to 28.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have consistently expressed serious concern at President Kiir’s decision on 2nd October 2015 to create 28 states in South Sudan, in contradiction to the peace agreement he signed in August 2015. The UK voted in favour of UN Security Council Resolution 2290 of 31 May 2016, which underlined the need to address this issue. We welcome that the Transitional Government of National Unity has subsequently begun the process of forming a Boundary Commission that should resolve this dispute.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-06-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy regarding the legal possibility of bringing before the UN Security Council a resolution seeking to refer the actions of Daesh in Iraq and Syria to the International Criminal Court.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor set out some of the complicated issues involved in the ICC investigating Daesh in her press statement of 8 April 2015. We are exploring, with international partners, all legal possibilities for investigating Daesh and holding them to account for their actions.