Written Question

Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 13 March 2018

Patrick Grady MP (SNP):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help ensure that the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea continues to operate in a credible, neutral and effective manner.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

The United Kingdom continues to encourage the Eritrean Government to cooperate fully with the next Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea, and to invite the Rapporteur to conduct a visit. This is the best way to ensure that the Special Rapporteur has a full picture of the human rights situation in Eritrea and the mandate holder is able to support improvements in human rights in Eritrea.

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 13 March 2018

Patrick Grady MP (SNP):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the outgoing Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea on the work conducted by her office during her time in post.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

My officials will participate in the planned Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea on 12 March during the next session of the UN Human Rights Council.

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 13 March 2018

Patrick Grady MP (SNP):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea is renewed.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

We expect that in June 2018 the Human Rights Council will adopt a new resolution which would renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. My officials in London, Geneva and in Asmara are engaged on this issue, and will be having discussions on Eritrea during the March session of the Human Rights Council.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Ethiopia
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to help resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea over Badme.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

We continue to monitor the dispute closely and welcome the offer of dialogue with Eritrea made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy in his 2 April inaugural speech, which will be necessary to end the tensions between those two countries.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Government of Eritrea on its obligations under (a) the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and (b) other human rights treaties to which that country is party.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

The UK has made no specific representations to the Government of Eritrea on its treaty obligations in recent years. The most appropriate opportunity to do so will be at the peer review stage of Eritrea’s next Universal Periodic Review which is due in January-February 2019. The UK continues to make clear to the Government of Eritrea our concerns on human rights, and Eritrea remains a priority country in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will work with his international counterparts to establish an urgent UN investigation into allegations of extrajudicial killings, arrest, false imprisonment and the culture of official impunity in Eritrea.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

A UN Commission of Inquiry reported at length on the human rights situation in Eritrea in 2016. The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights has also undertaken four visits to Eritrea since 2014 and started direct discussions with the Government of Eritrea on a number of areas of human rights concern. The United Kingdom continues to call for the Government of Eritrea to grant access to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Eritrea.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: National Service
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Eritrean counterpart on the laws governing national service in Eritrea.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

The Foreign Secretary has not met with any Eritrean minister. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Permanent Undersecretary and the then Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office both raised the issue with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when he visited London in July 2017. The former Minister for Africa also raised the issue with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when they met in New York in September 2017.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Human Rights
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Eritrean counterpart on access to Eritrea for the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

The Foreign Secretary has not met his Eritrean counterpart. The former Minister for Africa raised the issue of access for Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when they met in New York in September 2017. The United Kingdom, in its statements at the UN, both in New York and Geneva, has consistently called for the Government of Eritrea to allow access to the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

 

 

Written Question
Eritrea: Labour Camps
Answered: 6 June 2018

Dr David Drew MP (Lab):

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the existence of labour camps in Eritrea; and whether he has made representations on such camps to the Government of that country.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister of State for Africa:

We are aware that there can be indefinite national service in Eritrea, and that much of the work exacted from the population goes far beyond that of military service. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Permanent Under Secretary and the then Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office raised the issue with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when he visited London in July 2017. The former Minister for Africa also raised the issue with the Eritrean Foreign Minister when they met in New York in September 2017.