Tag: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent statement of the UNHCR that, under a 2003 United Kingdom–Cyprus memorandum, the United Kingdom is responsible for resettling Syrian refugees who arrive at a United Kingdom military base in Cyprus.

Lord Bates

Those migrants who seek asylum will have their claims considered by the Cypriot authorities on behalf of the Sovereign Base Authorities (SBA). There is no obligation to allow those recognised as refugees to take up residence in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the statement by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court calling for the UN Security Council to do more to demonstrate its commitment to Darfur and to ensure that the perpetrators of past crimes are held to account.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

In response to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s report, presented to the UN Security Council on 15 December, the UK made clear that it remains fully committed to supporting UN Security Council action on Darfur. We continue to push for effective follow-up action to ensure the Court can fulfil the mandate given to it by the UN Security Council. We have also made clear to the Government of Sudan and the international community that we expect compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1593 and the Rome Statute, and execution of the arrest warrants for the ICC indictees, including President Bashir. The UK will remain active on this issue.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-02-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether action on the promotion of women’s rights and social justice has been made central to the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and of whether women, as key stakeholders, are able to promote and negotiate their own development goals.

Baroness Verma

The UK was a leading voice in the Global Goals for Sustainable Development negotiations and insisted that that that these goals must start by empowering girls and women, and tackling discrimination. A key priority was to ensure a strong and explicit commitment to gender equality through a standalone goal, and further gender mainstreaming throughout the framework. These were both successfully included in the final set of global goals.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-03-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will call for an end to impunity for rape and other forms of sexual violence in Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have repeatedly called for an end to impunity for rape and other forms of sexual violence in Burma. We are focused on practical action to tackle these issues and are persistent in applying pressure to the Burmese government to live up to the commitments it made when it endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict at the London Global Summit in June 2014. We will maintain that approach and raise this issue with the new Burmese government at the earliest opportunity.

During his visit to Burma in July 2015, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), pressed the Burmese government at Senior Ministerial level on the issue. He also launched the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence. We continue to raise the issue in international fora, including through UN resolutions on Burma at the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council which we co-sponsor.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-04-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place with the government of Bangladesh about reforms of religious laws on marriage, divorce and separation and their impact on women’s economic situation.

Baroness Verma

At the heart of the UK’s strategy in Bangladesh is the recognition that empowering girls and women is the key to reducing poverty and driving sustainable economic growth. Combined with an improved enabling environment which makes girls and women feel secure at home or at work, this allows women to reach their full potential, resulting in job creation and higher incomes for women, as well as improved access to more efficiently produced goods and services.

UK aid funds the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) which we work in partnership with to promote the rights of women and children in the religious legal system in Bangladesh. For example, since 2009, MJF have advocated for the enactment of the Hindu Marriage Act, which was passed in 2012, and further strengthening of the law which would give the wife rights over her husband’s property and thus impact her economic situation. MJF and its partners are also working at a local level to mobilise communities to make use of the law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-06-06.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria regarding the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities that the UK opposes any form of discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and any form of legislation that persecutes people on the basis of their sexuality. This has included opposition to Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage Bill which we believe infringes on the fundamental rights of expression and association, guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and by Nigeria’s international treaty obligations. Along with other EU Member States, opposition to this Bill has formed part of our dialogue with the Nigerian authorities. Where we have been made aware of specific arrests or harassment founded on the basis of the Same Sex Marriage Bill, we have made representations to the authorities on behalf of those who have been subject to discrimination.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-11-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent UN Commission of Inquiry report on human rights abuses in Eritrea under President Isaias Afwerki.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We recognise the important work of the UN Commission of Inquiry and are concerned by their findings on human rights in Eritrea, in particular reports of arbitrary detention, and shortcomings in the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms. At the Human Rights Council in July, we supported an extension of the Commission’s mandate so that it can continue its work.

We regret that the Commission has been unable to visit Eritrea and therefore had to rely on witnesses who are outside of Eritrea and whose testimony may have been based on first-hand experience of Eritrea some time ago. We have made clear to the Government of Eritrea that it must improve respect for human rights and honour its international obligations, including allowing the Commission access.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-12-17.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of evidence that Ugandan police, in the run-up to the election in February 2016, have used live ammunition to disperse opposition gatherings, and have committed other serious human rights violations.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

In our regular dialogue with the Ugandan government we stress the importance of protecting public order in a way that also protects the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. We are reinforcing that point with the Government of Uganda, bilaterally and with EU partners, in the run up to the February 2016 elections. The use of live ammunition by the Ugandan police to disperse crowds raises serious concerns about public safety.

Peaceful exercise of freedoms of speech and assembly is fundamental to any democratic society and is provided for and protected under Uganda’s constitution. During his visit to Uganda on 15 December, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), underlined that it is vital for Uganda’s future that the elections in 2016 are credible, inclusive and transparent, and that they are underpinned by a respect for human rights. An EU election observation mission will be deployed to Uganda later this month.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-02-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Nigerian authorities about any action being taken to support the integration of traumatised women and girls who are freed from Boko Haram and face mistrust and suspicion when they return home.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are pleased that a number of women and children have been rescued, and regularly stress to the Nigerian authorities the importance that they are provided with appropriate support to deal with the trauma they have faced, including to reintegrate into their communities. I personally raised the importance of challenging the social stigma faced by women and girls freed from Boko Haram with Nigerian ministers and military officials during my visit to Nigeria last month. Challenging negative attitudes on sexual violence is a key element of this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-03-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will call for the inclusion of women in the peace negotiations between the government of Burma and the ethnic armed political groups to ensure that the issue of rape and sexual violence in conflict is properly addressed.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are clear that women should have a critical role in the Burmese peace process, not only to ensure that the use of sexual violence is addressed but also so that women’s voices are heard in what is a key element of the country’s transition to peace and democracy. Several lead negotiators are women, including the head of the Senior Delegation of Ethnic leaders, Naw Zipporah Sein, and we encourage all sides to ensure equitable representation in the peace process. We welcome the inclusion of explicit provisions in the National Ceasefire Agreement, signed last October, prohibiting, ‘…any form of sexual attack on women, including sexual molestation, sexual assault or violence, rape and sex slavery’.