Gillian Keegan: We are temporarily pausing some aid spending as we review our allocations in light of ongoing crises. Ministers will make any aid adjustments and final aid prioritisation decisions based on additional official development assistance pressures this autumn.
Gillian Keegan: The UK has over 200 sanctions designations in place against Iran in relation to human rights, nuclear proliferation andâ¯terrorism. On 10 October, the UK used the dedicated Iran Human Rights sanctions regime to designate the so-called Morality Police, two of its leaders and five others for serious human rights violations. This brings the total to 85 individuals and two entities sanctioned...
Gillian Keegan: The UK committed £200 million to the Congo Basin at COP26 and is an active partner and board member of the Central African Forests Initiative (CAFI). The UK engages regularly with Central African governments, other donor countries, and civil society on our work in the Congo Basin, and looks forward to continued close working and consultations going forward. Decisions about governance of CAFI...
Gillian Keegan: Of the £16.5 million in funding announced by the UK to support Pakistan's flood relief efforts, £15 million has been drawn from the FCDO's Official Development Assistance budget. The initial £1.5 million pledged by the UK was repurposed from existing humanitarian aid programmes in Pakistan.
Gillian Keegan: We regularly raise our concerns regarding our exclusion from the list of countries eligible for e-visas with the Government of India (GoI). The Prime Minister, whilst Foreign Secretary, raised this matter with the Indian External Affairs Minister during her visit to India in March. We continue to work closely with the GoI on this issue, while respecting it is for them to determine the types...
Gillian Keegan: This catastrophe shows how climate change is making extreme weather events more intense and frequent. The UK secured agreement at COP26 for developed countries to double their provision of climate finance for adaptation by 2025 against 2019 levels. The UK has pledged over £55 million to partner with Pakistan to tackle climate change, manage water more sustainably and unlock climate...
Gillian Keegan: We continue to urge the government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in Pakistan, particularly the most vulnerable, including women, minorities and children, as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards. In the last 12 months, the UK Government has regularly raised the issue of violence against women and girls. Lord Ahmad, as the...
Gillian Keegan: The UK is monitoring closely the situation in Burkina Faso following the coup on 30 September. I [Minister Keegan] have raised concerns about the impact of the coup with international partners, including the human rights abuses committed by Wagner Group in other countries. President Traoré has stated that he intends to respect the 24-month transition timeline agreed between his predecessor...
Gillian Keegan: The UK condemns discrimination and violence against religious communities in Pakistan, including against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.⯠Lord Ahmad publicly condemned the murders of Naseer Ahmad, in Rabwah, in August, and of Abdus Salam, in Punjab Province, in May. The British High Commissioner in Islamabad raised Mr. Salam's death with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Mian Riaz Hussain...
Lord Coaker: ...give a guarantee that any woman or girl fleeing Iran due to these human rights abuses will not be put on a plane to Rwanda if they seek refuge in this country?” The Foreign Office Minister, Gillian Keegan, refused to answer. She simply replied: “We are there to support the rights of women and girls all across the world, and we will continue to do so through our work with the UN and...
Gillian Keegan: The UK is committed to supporting Pakistan as it recovers from the recent flooding. We provide indirect, long-term funding to the International Financial Institutions who will play a critical role in Pakistan's recovery. The UK is a major donor to the World Bank International Development Association and to the Asian Development Bank. The World Bank has already reprioritised $350 million from...
Gillian Keegan: The UK aims to provide approximately £156 million in humanitarian support to East Africa in financial year 2022/23. This includes support to Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Given the government's response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, wider Official Development Assistance (ODA) pressures including the ODA-eligible expenditure incurred through the Afghan resettlement programme...
Gillian Keegan: The Baha'i community in Iran is systematically discriminated against, harassed, and is targeted by authorities. Credible reports in July of widespread raids of Baha'i homes, forced demolitions, and property seizures, particular in the village of Roushankouh in Mazandaran province, indicate that the Iranian government has this year redoubled repressive efforts against the Baha'i community. As...
Gillian Keegan: The UK supports the African Union's efforts to deliver a peaceful, democratic and inclusive transition of power in Chad, including the conditions set by the Peace and Security Council on 14 May. FCDO's policies in Chad remain unchanged - we will continue to use our diplomatic presence to promote Chad's transition back to civilian and constitutional rule in support of the African Union's...
Gillian Keegan: The death of Mahsa Amini is a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran. The Foreign Secretary said on 5 October, that the protests send a clear message that the Iranian people are not satisfied with the path their government have taken. Iran's leaders must now listen. On 3 October, the Foreign Secretary instructed the FCDO to summon Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK to...
Gillian Keegan: Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief for all is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities. Reports indicate that the Iranian government has this year redoubled its repressive efforts against the Baha'i community, with expropriation and repossession of land, destruction of homes, and increasing detention of members of the community. On 5 August 2022 the FCDO Minister...
Gillian Keegan: We are aware of Israel's use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. We call on the Israeli authorities to either charge or release detainees. We are committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention.
Gillian Keegan: Iran has refused to conclude a deal that would have restored the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with continued demands beyond the JCPOA's scope. We are considering next steps with our international partners. We have been clear about our concerns over Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region including its political, financial and military support to a number of militant...
Gillian Keegan: Ministers and officials continue to reiterate the UK's opposition to use of the death penalty, publicly and privately, with senior members of the Bahraini Government. During a visit to Bahrain in July the former Minister for the Middle East met with senior members of the Bahraini Government and discussed human rights issues, including the death penalty where she restated the UK position. Lord...
Gillian Keegan: The UK Government, alongside the wider international community, is a strong supporter of political stability, development and peace in Sierra Leone. We hold regular, frank discussions on good governance, the rule of law and stability and the importance of a free and fair election in 2023 with the Government of Sierra Leone, as well as with other stakeholders.
