Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief as a universal human right which should be enjoyed by everyone. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief leads this work across Government and we regularly raise this issue with governments across the world, through our diplomatic network...
Mark Field: We have not made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund for legal fees and access to justice. The Foreign Secretary has however launched the independent review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians on 30 January. This review will provide robust recommendations on how the FCO can respond to the persecution of Christians when the final report...
Mark Field: British diplomats meet people representing the full spectrum of peaceful political views in Hong Kong, in line with normal diplomatic practice. Hong Kong citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. Hong Kong's success and stability depend on its high degree of autonomy and respect for the fundamental...
Mark Field: We speak to the Chinese Government at all levels on a range of issues concerning Hong Kong. The British Consul General to Hong Kong discussed political developments in Hong Kong with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in April 2019. We also raise Hong Kong in the course of regular dialogue with China's Ministry of...
Mark Field: Over the 2016-2018 financial years, we financed a project, implemented by Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables CREER in Colombia, to help implement the measures in Colombia's National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights which provide for non-judicial remedy of potential disputes related to extractive industry projects. The guide for firms, produced following...
Mark Field: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (OECD DDG) sets out recommendations to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices. While not legally binding, the...
Mark Field: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer of 11 June 2019 (PQ 259251).
Mark Field: The UK Government follows the situation in Papua closely. Officials at the British Embassy in Jakarta visit regularly. I met the Indonesian Ambassador in January and raised Papua with him. The UK fully respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia, including Papua. Within this framework we support the efforts of the authorities and civil society to address the needs and aspirations of the...
Mark Field: Over the 2016-2018 financial years, we financed a project, implemented by Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos (CREER) in Colombia, to help implement the measures in Colombia's National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights which provide for non-judicial remedy of potential disputes related to extractive industry projects. The guide for firms, produced following extensive...
Mark Field: FCO Ministers offices have regular meetings with the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, and her Deputy. I most recently met with the Chief Scientific Adviser on 16 October 2018.
Mark Field: We welcome the reduction in the use of pellet guns since 2017 but are aware of, and concerned by, continued reports of their use and related injuries. We have raised this issue with the Indian Government. I discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on my visit to India in March this year. The Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir...
Mark Field: We are aware that the Indonesia military continues to conduct virginity tests on women recruits and have raised our concerns at senior levels with the Indonesian Government. This test is against our values and we will work closely with international partners to bring this practice to an end.
Mark Field: We remain concerned about the lack of protection of civil society groups and the failure to respect civil and political rights in China. We currently have particular concerns relating to the persecution of certain ethnic minorities, including Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang; the use of the death penalty; and reductions in freedom of expression, association and assembly; and limits on freedom of...
Mark Field: Over the past 30 years China has ratified a number of United Nations instruments relating to human rights. However we have serious concerns about the continued lack of respect for civil and political human rights in China, particularly relating to the rights of ethnic minorities; the death penalty; freedom of expression, association and assembly; and freedom of religion or belief. The...
Mark Field: It is the British Government's longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries. In Pakistan, we remain deeply concerned by the misuse of blasphemy laws, and that religious minorities, including Christians, are disproportionately affected. The harsh penalties for blasphemy, including the death penalty, add to these concerns. We regularly raise our...
Mark Field: We are aware of reports that last month Indian security forces killed Zakir Musa, the Chief of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) group, during a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir’s Pulwama district and that a number of protests followed. We continue to monitor the security situation in Kashmir and we keep our travel advice under review. We are concerned by levels of...
Mark Field: We encourage both India and Pakistan to uphold their international human rights obligations. Any allegations of human rights violations or abuses is concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. I discussed the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Secretary on my visit to India in March this year. The Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign and...
Mark Field: It is not for the UK to comment on or intervene in an independent judicial process in another country. However, the British Government does encourage all states, including India, to ensure that their domestic laws meet international standards for free and fair trials. We will continue to monitor the case.
Mark Field: To mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law. The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all...
Mark Field: To mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic events in Tiananmen Square, the Foreign Secretary released a statement remembering those who lost their lives when protesting peacefully, and urging the Chinese Government to respect the rights and freedoms enshrined in China’s constitution and in international law. The British Government raises human rights with the Chinese authorities at all...