Tag: human rights

Bishop of Rochester asks about treatment of human rights activists in Zimbabwe

The Bishop of Rochester asked a question on the treatment of human rights activists in Zimbabwe on 28th April 2021, during a discussion on the current political situation in the country:

The Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, my diocese has a close and long-standing friendship with the diocese of Harare. When I asked friends there about this subject, they spoke of those human rights activists and others who allege mistreatment when taken into custody, and then nothing is done to address their allegations. Is the Minister able to suggest how we might better underline and, indeed, demonstrate that allowing dissent is good for the health of a society, to be encouraged rather than met with suppression or even violence? This is something that, of course, has a wider application than just to Zimbabwe.

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Bishop of Coventry asks about conflict in Tigray region

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 12th April 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked Her Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the statement by the International Council on Monuments and Sites on 5 March that Tigray’s heritage is falling victim to fighting and “cultural cleansing”.
  • what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Ethiopia, and (2) Eritrea, about the need (a) to take immediate steps to prevent any further damage to the cultural sites of Tigray, (b) to safeguard and respect all cultural property in Tigray, and (c) to ensure that looted objects are restored to their communities.
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Bishop of Southwark asks about human rights in the Philippines

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 22nd March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked  Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the human rights situation in the Philippines, and (2) the impact of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11479) on human rights in the Philippines.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about potential for partial boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

The Bishop of St Albans asked about the potential for a partial boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics on 18th March 2021, during a discussion on China’s treatment of Uighurs and incursions into Taiwanese airspace:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: What consideration have Her Majesty’s Government given to the suggestion of a diplomatic and economic, rather than full-scale, boycott of the 2022 Beijing winter Olympics, in response to China’s ongoing repression of the Uighur Muslim minority?

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Bishop of Southwark asks about human rights considerations in trade agreements

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 16th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to include human rights provisions in any future trade agreement between the UK and the Philippines.

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Bishop of Worcester asks about human rights and freedom of religion and belief overseas

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answers on 9th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked Her Majesty’s Government which countries are observers to the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about actions of companies supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on possible sanctions or boycotts against companies supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics in light of human rights abuses by China on 10th February:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, I am sure none of us wants to see a boycott of the Winter Olympics, yet we are seeing unprecedented human rights abuses and we will be judged by future generations on how we respond. Have Her Majesty’s Government considered what actions they might take against companies that are either official sponsors, suppliers or partners of these Games and that are bidding for public contracts?

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Votes: Trade Bill

On 2nd February 2021, the House of Lords debated Commons Amendments to the Trade Bill. Votes were held on further amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

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Archbishop of York asks about humanitarian situation in Sudan and Tigray

The Lord Archbishop of York received the following written answers on 1st February 2021:

The Lord Archbishop of York asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of human rights abuses in Tigray; and what support they are providing (1) to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, (2) to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and (3) to the African Union, to (a) investigate, and (b) document, such abuses.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about human rights in China

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on China’s election to the UN Human Rights Council:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the government of China’s election to the UN Human Rights Council on 13 October, and (2) the impact of that election on that Council’s ability to hold the government of China accountable for the human rights situation in that country. [HL9378] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about human rights in China”