Human Rights & Democracy the 2016 Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Human Rights & Democracy

Cp 104 The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Human Rights & Democracy The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty

June 2019

Cp 104 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/fco/human-rights-report Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at Communications Team, WH1.165, Multilateral Policy Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH

ISBN 978-1-5286-1205-0 CCS0519142502 06/19 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Designed in-house by the FCO Communication Directorate

Cover image: Young Bangladeshi woman with candle (Getty Images) Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Contents

Preface by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt...... iv

Foreword by Minister for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict...... v

CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes...... 2

Democracy and Democratic Freedoms...... 2 The Community of Democracies...... 3 Westminster Foundation for Democracy...... 3 Civil Society...... 4 Freedom of Expression...... 4 Media Freedom...... 4 Human Rights Defenders...... 5 Civil Society Engagement...... 6 Restrictions of Civil Society Space...... 6 Gender Equality...... 6 Women and Girls’ Rights...... 6 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative...... 7 Women, Peace and Security...... 8 Violence against Women and Girls...... 9 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse...... 10 Children and Armed Conflict...... 10 Girls’ Education...... 11 Women’s Economic Empowerment...... 12 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Rights...... 12 Modern Slavery...... 13 Human Rights and the Private Sector...... 14 Business and Human Rights...... 14 Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights...... 15 Private Security Companies...... 15 Responsible Sourcing...... 15 Transparency and Open Government...... 16 Freedom of Religion or Belief...... 16 Post-Holocaust Issues...... 17 Death Penalty and Torture Prevention...... 18 Overseas Security and Justice Assistance...... 19 Export Controls...... 20 Migration and Human Rights...... 20 Economic and Social Rights...... 20 The Rights of People with Disabilities...... 20 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

The Rights of Older People...... 21 Water and Sanitation...... 21 Rights to Health...... 21 Social Protection...... 22 The Overseas Territories...... 22

CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System...... 23

Human Rights at the UN...... 23 Human Rights Council...... 23 Country issues...... 23 Thematic issues...... 25 Universal Periodic Review...... 25 Treaty Monitoring Bodies and Special Procedures...... 25 UN Security Council...... 26 The Security Council...... 26 Mass Atrocity Prevention and Responsibility to Protect...... 26 Peacebuilding...... 26 Peacekeeping...... 26 Commonwealth...... 27 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting...... 27 Commonwealth and Human Rights Institutions...... 28 Protecting and Promoting Democracy...... 28 Europe...... 28 The European Union...... 28 The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe...... 28 Council of Europe...... 29 International Criminal Justice...... 29 Sanctions...... 30

CHAPTER 3: Human Rights Programme Funds...... 31

Human Rights and Democracy Programme Spending...... 31 Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy...... 31 Supporting the Rules-Based International System...... 31 Case Studies of Programme Work supporting Human Rights and Democracy...... 31

CHAPTER 4: Consular—Human Rights and Assistance...... 33

Consular Cases...... 33 Death Penalty...... 33 Torture and Mistreatment...... 34 Overseas Detainees...... 34 Forced Marriage...... 34

CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries...... 35

Afghanistan...... 35 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Bahrain...... 36 People’s Republic of Bangladesh...... 37 Burma (Myanmar)...... 38 Burundi...... 39 Central African Republic...... 40 China...... 41 Colombia...... 42 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea...... 43 Democratic Republic of the Congo...... 44 Egypt...... 45 Eritrea...... 46 Iran...... 46 Iraq...... 47 The State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories...... 48 Libya...... 49 Republic of Maldives...... 50 Pakistan...... 51 Russia...... 52 Saudi Arabia...... 54 Somalia...... 54 South Sudan...... 55 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka...... 56 Sudan...... 57 Syria...... 58 Turkmenistan...... 60 Uzbekistan...... 61 Venezuela...... 62 Yemen...... 63 Zimbabwe...... 64 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Preface by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt

Three decades ago, the world stood on the brink of the fastest advance of human rights and democracy in modern times. During the annus mirabilis of 1989, the Iron Curtain crumbled before our eyes and six European countries seized their liberty.

At that moment, it seemed possible to the United Nations. Another 348 allow a misguided sense of political that democracy and liberal values were jailed by governments and 60 correctness to inhibit our response. would sweep the world. Sure enough, taken hostage by non-state groups. So I have asked Rt Rev’d Philip another eleven countries would In summer 2019, I will join my Mounstephen, the Anglican Bishop escape from dictatorship by 1999. Canadian counterpart to host an of Truro, to conduct an independent But from the vantage point of today, international conference in London review of the FCO’s efforts to we know the optimism of that era on media freedom. We have help persecuted Christians and was misplaced. Since the turn of the decided that democratic countries report back to me in 2019. millennium, the worldwide advance need to stand together to make it In this report, you will learn about of human rights and democracy a taboo to murder, arrest or detain the FCO’s efforts to promote human has slowed and, in some respects, journalists just for doing their jobs. rights and democracy in 2018. You gone into reverse. Freedom House Our aim is to shine a spotlight on will read of the countries where reported that 2018 was the 13th abuses and raise the price for those we have particular concerns. consecutive year of “global declines who would act to silence the media. in political rights and civil liberties”. In an imperfect world, we will not We can only achieve this if countries always be able to respond identically All this makes it even more important for with shared values work together. to the same abuses in different the Foreign and Commonwealth Office I was deeply disturbed to learn that settings. But protecting human rights to strive to uphold the values that define 215 million Christians faced persecution and safeguarding Britain’s national our country. Since becoming Foreign in 2018, according to a study by the values are not optional extras for the Secretary, I have launched a campaign campaign group Open Doors. Christians FCO. They are part of who we are. to defend media freedom and a review faced harassment in 144 countries in of the FCO’s support for Christians who I am determined that British diplomacy 2016, according to the Pew Research suffer persecution because of their faith. will continue to uphold the principles Centre, compared with 128 in 2015. of humanity and fairness that our If there is one essential quality of an I am not convinced that our efforts country has always stood for. open society, it is the freedom of have always been commensurate journalists to hold the powerful to with the scale of the problem or the account without fear of retribution. empirical evidence that Christians Yet the overall picture is bleak. In often endure the greatest burden 2018, no less than 99 journalists were of persecution. We must never murdered around the world, according Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Human rights matter because it is only when our rights are respected that each of us has the freedom to make the most of our talents and our industry.

I work with a committed team of many inspiring people who have activist and sexual violence survivor, ministers, officials and diplomats across dedicated themselves to fighting for Nadia Murad, and the dedicated the globe, all determined to extend the rights of others, showing incredible humanitarian and phenomenal that freedom and champion the rights courage, often at great personal surgeon, Dr Denis Mukwege. of people, no matter where they live risk or in the face of overwhelming In 2018, the UK increased our funding or who they are, or what their belief. adversity and opposition. of initiatives[1] to support survivors of We take a three-pronged approach: On International Human Rights Day, sexual violence and to hold perpetrators we challenge states which violate I met Wanjeri Nderu, the inspiring to account. We also shone a spotlight or fail to protect human rights; human rights defender from Kenya, on the need to tackle the stigma we work constructively with those who has created a network of civil associated with innocent victims of that are open to change; and we society volunteers, including lawyers sexual violence. The greatest obstacle collaborate with governments, and professionals, who use social to success is silence; film is a great international organisations and civil media to stand up for the rights of medium for breaking the silence. That society groups that share our aims. those who are less able to defend is why we hosted ‘Fighting Stigma themselves. We are proud to support through Film’, the first ever film festival 2018 was the 20th anniversary many brave human rights defenders dedicated to raising awareness of of the UN Declaration on Human like her around the world, from the issue in November last year. Rights Defenders. This report rightly Sri Lanka to Colombia and beyond. recognises their contributions As part of our efforts to protect the towards strengthening human rights In my role as the Prime Minister’s rights of people of all faiths or beliefs protections, and details the strength Special Representative on Preventing and none, I was honoured to be granted of our partnerships with them. Over Sexual Violence in Conflict, I was an audience with His Holiness the the last twelve months, my role and humbled to discuss the next steps in our Pope, and in my new role as the Prime our prioritisation of human rights global campaign with the 2018 Nobel Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom has brought me into contact with Peace Prize winners—human rights of Religion or Belief I met with leaders

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lord-ahmad-announces-funding-boost-for-preventing-sexual-violence-in-conflict Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

of many different faith communities of expression and information as a campaign and our ‘Year of Preventing to discuss what more we can do journalist in Honduras led Fortune Sexual Violence in Conflict’, which together to tackle the discrimination magazine to name her one of the will culminate in a major international faced by religious minorities across world’s 50 greatest leaders of 2018. conference in November. One the world. It is important to recognise of the specific outcomes of that The UK also continues to show global that faith in all its different reflections conference will be the launch of the leadership in the fight against modern is part of finding solutions to the Murad Code on documenting and slavery in all its forms, a priority for our many global challenges we face. investigating crimes of sexual violence. Prime Minister, Theresa May. I heard Named after the courageous Nadia In the autumn I launched the harrowing accounts from victims of Murad, it will encourage greater government’s new £12 million slavery when I visited a safe house adherence to international standards development programme through here in the UK last year. They made and best practice, with the aim of DFID to support Freedom of Religion me all the more determined to work achieving greater accountability, or Belief. The independent review with like-minded states, businesses and justice for survivors. There will of Christian persecution announced and civil society groups around the also be a declaration of humanity by the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy world, to eradicate this hideous crime. against stigma by faith and belief Hunt, in December is a further I am very encouraged that more heads from across the world. important new strand of our work. than 80 governments have signed the Prime Minister’s Call to Action, I look forward to continuing to The Foreign Secretary has also launched but there is so much more to do. develop these plans, delivering our an ambitious global campaign in key programmes and to working support of media freedom, and As I write, our plans are already well with partners across the globe within over the course of last year I met a advanced for our major human rights a strong rules-based international number of courageous journalists and initiatives of 2019—our review into system to promote, defend, and activists working to strengthen free the persecution of Christians; the strengthen human rights and expression. People like Dina Meza, prioritisation of Freedom of Religion freedoms for everyone, everywhere. whose work defending freedom or Belief; our ‘Defend Media Freedom’ CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 2

CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes

Democracy and 39% of the world’s population. The Constitution promised the devolution remaining 61% lived in a country of powers, funding and decision Democratic Freedoms designated as partly free or not free. making to local leaders, to increase The promotion of democracy and accountability and the quality of service It is the right of all people to be able to democratic freedoms is at the heart provision. The FCO and DFID worked choose, freely and fairly, those whom of the UK’s foreign policy. We believe to support this change by lobbying on they want to govern them; and it is that democratic institutions and constitutional issues, and by providing the right of all people to be able to put accountable government are the capacity-building programmes for themselves forward to contest elections foundations on which open, stable, officials in local government. peacefully. The UK government and prosperous societies thrive. The continued to support free and fair Through our Embassies and High Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, set elections around the world by providing Commissions, the UK continued out his vision for the UK’s role in technical and financial assistance to to promote good governance supporting the values of democracy. In international organisations which carry and support democratic political a speech in October he said the UK’s out election observation missions. institutions to create the foundations relationships with international partners These included the Commonwealth, where democracy might take root were underpinned by the values of the Organisation for Security and Co- and grow. For example, in Burma, democracy; rule of law; separation of operation in Europe, and the EU. But the the Departmental Policy Programme powers; respect for individual civil and political environment around elections supported civil society projects tackling political rights; a belief in free trade. continued to pose challenges. Freedom hate speech, and worked with former His vision is to see strong relationships House calculated in their report entitled political prisoners on mental health to help “build that invisible chain ‘Freedom on the Net 2018’ that issues. The UK funded the NGO Mon between those who share our values. elections were the catalyst for almost Youth Progressive Organisation to And make it as strong and resilient as half of the countries where internet create a forum for young people to it needs to be as new nations rise and freedom declined. During elections, engage in civil society and politics. In the world order is challenged anew.” there was often a sharp increase in the India, our network worked closely with Together with other government number of cases of censorship, technical the media, including by funding an departments, the FCO participated attacks, or arrests of government annual South Asia Journalism Fellowship in the inaugural National Democracy critics.[3] We followed closely the Programme under our flagship Week in July. The week celebrated presidential election in Egypt (26 to 28 Chevening brand. Last year we funded progress but also championed future March). The election was marked by 17 fellows, including seven from India. participation in the democratic process, international concerns about restrictions We have also provided project funding particularly by members of under- on freedom of expression and assembly. to Thomson Reuters in Karnataka to registered groups. Our Embassies and In Zimbabwe, the UK worked with run workshops for journalists to report High Commissions used the week to international partners through the multi- violence against women and girls. In demonstrate the UK’s commitment to donor Transparency, Responsiveness, September, in support of social cohesion strengthening our own democracy, Accountability and Citizen Engagement and diversity in Macedonia, the UK while at the same time working with (TRACE) programme. The TRACE initiated a new project through UNICEF other countries to strengthen theirs. programme set up an election situation entitled ‘Foundations for the Future’. room, which was the main civil society The project aims to strengthen the We saw a number of challenges to vehicle for observation and analysis delivery of quality pre-school education, democracy in the world in 2018. Figures of the 2018 elections. TRACE funded embedding values, social and emotional released by the non-governmental civil society organisations for the competencies, awareness, and organisation Freedom House, which deployment of 6,600 local observers cross-cultural skills in children. The tracks democratic trends, showed that through the Zimbabwe Election Support project also supports institutions in 2018 saw the 13th consecutive year Network, together with an additional modelling community-based services of democratic decline. While some 8,000 human rights monitors. In Nepal, for disabled children, to enable their countries took steps to strengthen following the December 2017 elections, improved inclusion in society. democratic freedoms, many more the FCO and DFID worked with the moved backwards.[2] The number government to fulfil the promises of of countries designated as ‘free’ the new federal system. Nepal’s 2015 stood at 85 out of 195, representing

[2] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world-2018-table-country-scores [3] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/freedom-net-2018/rise-digital-authoritarianism 3 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

The Community of Democracies The UK took up a six-month term as chair of the Executive Committee of the Community of Democracies (CoD) on 15 September. As chair, the UK worked to implement the CoD’s five-year strategic plan, adopted in June. In November, the CoD launched the UK-funded publication, ‘Best Practice in Community of Democracies’ member states engagement with, and protection of, civil society’.[4] The publication reported on the work of CoD member states to engage with civil society, and to encourage others to do so also. The CoD Working Group Wafa Bani Mustafa, Jordanian MP, addresses Westminster Foundation for Protecting and Enabling Civil Society for Democracy’s ‘Stop Violence against Women in Politics’ conference, London March 2018. Andy Aitchison / WFD issued its first Call for Recognition (to Uzbekistan), to highlight the positive the world also supports the UK’s more inclusive politics to overcome steps taken to advance civil society and security and prosperity objectives. the serious obstacles, including democratic freedoms. The working violence, which women face when WFD partners with UK political parties, group recognised improvements in they seek and attain public office. WFD parliaments and assemblies, and Uzbekistan’s regulatory environment for continued to work with the Coalition electoral and financial audit institutions civil society organisations. The British of Women MPs from Arab Countries to increase the effectiveness and Embassy is strengthening democracy to combat violence against women accountability of their counterparts in in Uzbekistan through projects which and to advance the Arab League’s over 30 developing countries. It also support engagement on a range of Convention to End Violence Against provides assistance to help ensure issues between civil society, media Women in the region. WFD supported credible and inclusive elections. and the government. We are also the Arab Women Parliamentarians’ building capacity through training, In May, the Office of the UN High Network for Equality’s adoption of a for example on anti-corruption, the Commissioner for Human Rights regional policy paper calling for changes delivery of services to the vulnerable, published a report entitled ‘Contribution to political party structures in its 14 and with the media on developing of parliaments to the work of the member countries, which would make objective, impartial content. Human Rights Council and its universal it easier for women to be elected. periodic review’. The report included WFD became the lead partner of guidance, based on the work of Westminster Foundation a £4 million programme, as part WFD and others, for parliaments to of the Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy help them enhance their protection for Democracy, to help include The Westminster Foundation for and promotion of human rights. Democracy (WFD) is the UK public body more members of minorities and dedicated to supporting democracy Promoting and protecting women’s vulnerable groups in policy-making around the world. Established in 1992, rights was central to WFD’s work in in 18 Commonwealth countries. 2018. In March, UK political parties WFD is mainly funded by the FCO At the Global Disability Summit in convened an international summit (which is the sponsoring department) July, WFD committed to help create to address the issue of violence and by DFID. WFD is a key delivery more inclusive political environments against women in politics. While the partner for the UK government, for persons with disabilities. In testimonies from women politicians through which the UK shares its Mozambique, WFD partnered with about the abuse they had suffered democratic experience and expertise. the University of Pretoria’s Centre was shocking, their courage and for Human Rights and the National WFD’s work is an important and determination were inspiring. A report Association of People with Disability distinctive part of our diplomatic and from the summit was submitted to the to improve the social, political, and development effort to strengthen UN’s Special Rapporteur on Violence economic inclusion of persons with respect for democracy. Strengthening against Women. In November, WFD disabilities in policy-making, ahead of democratic systems in developing supported a conference of women the general election in October 2019. In and transition countries around MPs from over 100 countries held in Kenya, WFD supported local disabled the House of Commons calling for

[4] https://community-democracies.org/?docs=best-practice-in-community-of-democracies- member-states-engagement-with-and-protection-of-civil-society CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 4

persons’ organisations in developing ways to ensure that persons with disabilities were included in policy- making. Following the March elections in Sierra Leone, where WFD promoted the inclusion of persons with disability, WFD worked to ensure that parliament, local councils, and political parties continued to mainstream disability inclusion policies throughout their work. In sub-Saharan Africa, young people make up half the population but are often excluded from political decision- making. In Uganda, WFD worked with the Parliamentary Youth Forum to ensure that young people’s interests were represented in parliament. In Nigeria, WFD worked with local partners such as the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund to educate underrepresented groups, including young women, about their right to participate freely in the upcoming general elections. In Sri Lanka, WFD presented an introductory briefing on business In 2018, press freedom came under prisoners and prisoners of conscience and human rights to a cross-party unprecedented attack around the were held in longer-term detention. parliamentary oversight committee world. According to the NGO Reporters In Tajikistan, through social media, and to the heads of the business without Borders, 63 journalists, 13 open letters, and lobbying, we actively and commerce ministries. bloggers and other citizen journalists, campaigned for and secured the and 5 media assistants were killed, release of an activist imprisoned for New counter-terror legislation was and 332 journalists were imprisoned.[5] reporting on local corruption. We also passed in May in the Indonesian The high-profile case of two Reuters lobbied for family members to leave House of Representatives, following journalists arrested under Burma’s the country to join exiled Tajik activists, extensive support from WFD in official secrets act for investigating which the government then permitted. 2017/18 to bring the legislation in a massacre in Rakhine State drew In 2018, we continued to work line with international human rights attention to the deep deficiencies with Access Now, a key partner in principles. The laws incorporate of Burma’s legal system, specifically our work to support freedom of many of the suggestions from civil with regard to press freedom. expression. Through its #KeepItOn society organisations which WFD Embassy officials lobbied the Burmese campaign, Access Now fought connected with the parliament, government, and on World Press internet shutdowns—which were on to ensure an evidence-based Freedom Day held a joint roundtable numerous occasions ordered during approach to law-making. with Dutch Embassy colleagues, to elections or public protests, and which highlight the work of local journalists. undermined human rights, disrupted Freedom of expression was tightly democratic processes, and risked Civil Society constrained in South Sudan. Many the safety of everyone affected. reporters exercised self-censorship in Freedom of Expression order to protect themselves and their The UK believes that freedom of families from persecution. Human rights Media Freedom expression is both a fundamental defenders, civil society activists, and To mark the International Day to End right and an essential element political opponents of the government Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists of any functioning democracy. suffered violence and intimidation, and on 2 November, the Foreign Secretary, Freedom of expression enables a number disappeared or were killed. Jeremy Hunt, gave an interview to media practitioners, civil society In Cuba, a number of journalists and Thomas Hughes, Chief Executive representatives, and ordinary citizens dissidents were arbitrarily detained of freedom of speech campaign to challenge and ultimately improve for exercising their rights to freedom group Article 19. Reflecting concern the work of their governments of expression, assembly, and political about the deteriorating situation for through open discussion and debate. association. A number of political journalists across the world, the Foreign

[5] https://rsf.org/en/barometer?type_id=233#list-barometre 5 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Secretary went on to announce in for journalists across Iraq to promote November that Media Freedom would media freedoms and to contribute to Profile: A human be his priority campaign for 2019. tackling issues such as hate speech. rights defender The aim of the campaign would be We have championed freedom of To mark Human Rights Day on to shine a spotlight on the issue, and expression and the safety of journalists 10 December, the UK highlighted to raise the cost for those targeting in multilateral fora throughout the the work of human rights journalists for their work, with the year. We made statements on media defenders around the world. aim of restoring the international freedom at the UN Human Rights Here is the account of one brave taboo on attacks against journalists. Councils in March and September. We HRD who participated in the Throughout 2018, UK Embassies have sought to protect international FCO’s Human Rights Day event, continued to raise media freedom commitments by co-sponsoring a Wanjeri Nderu from Kenya: with host governments as part of resolution on the safety of journalists “It was a pleasure to celebrate the ongoing discussion on human rights at the Human Rights Council, building International Human Rights day at and democracy. We have shown our on the Third Committee resolution we the Foreign Office in London, upon support in individual cases where media had already co-sponsored at the UN the invitation of the UK Minister professionals have been threatened or General Assembly in 2017. We have of State UN and Commonwealth, intimidated, as well as raising concerns continued to raise media freedom in the Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon. with those governments who have Council of Europe and the Organisation The recognition by Lord Ahmad introduced laws and policies that restrict for Security and Cooperation in Europe of the challenges faced by human media freedom further. We continued and used our membership of like- rights defenders, especially to work with media organisations minded groupings such as the Freedom women, from all over the world and civil society around the world to Online Coalition and the Community and the need to have a universal deliver projects to protect and enable of Democracies to promote media conversation about it, was highly journalists, including through the FCO’s freedom and safety of journalists. appreciated. Being an activist in Magna Carta Fund for Democracy and Looking ahead, we will be a country like Kenya is difficult. Human Rights, the cross-Whitehall putting the resources of the FCO We risk arrest, physical attacks, Conflict, Security and Stability Fund and behind a major campaign on threats, trumped-up charges, and other funding streams. For example, in media freedom throughout 2019, enforced disappearances. This Ethiopia we have provided training to including holding an international environment makes it very hard journalists through the Departmental conference on 10 to 11 July. to fight injustice, especially for Policy Programme. We also assisted volunteer activists who are not the Mexican government in the attached to organisations, who development of Policy Prevention Human Rights Defenders are not funded, and who do not Plans that eliminate territorial and 2018 was the 20th anniversary year of have international support. The social risks that create violence against the UN Declaration on Human Rights commitment by the UK Foreign journalists, and we hosted workshops [6] Defenders (HRDs). HRD Memorial , Office to focus more on the welfare of activists is a welcome move.” [6] https://hrdmemorial.org/about-the-project

Human rights defenders Dina Meza and Wanjeri Nderu, with Lord (Tariq) Ahmad and Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen, on Human Rights Day, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, December 2018 CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 6

a partnership of international Through multilateral fora, the UK Restrictions of Civil organisations, estimated that more continued to champion HRDs and to Society Space than 3,500 human rights defenders push for strong language in statements Restriction of civil society space had been killed since the declaration and resolutions. We co-sponsored continued in a number of countries. was adopted. According to Frontline a new UN resolution on freedom In China, civil society continued Defenders, 321 human rights defenders of assembly and association. This to be seriously restrained. Russia were killed in 2018 alone.[7] Many urged states to take concrete action continued to use its ‘Foreign Agents’ other HRDs were threatened, harassed, to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and ‘Undesirable Organisations’ law to arbitrarily detained, placed under and detention of peaceful protestors reduce civil society’s work. Restrictions surveillance, or simply disappeared. and human rights defenders for on civil society in Egypt continued in At the FCO’s Human Rights Day on exercising their human rights and 2018, with a series of laws impinging 10 December, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad fundamental freedoms of expression, on freedom of expression. A number of Wimbledon, Minister of State for peaceful assembly, and association. of independent media outlets and Human Rights, said “that we commit Additionally, we provided funding to civil society organisations closed to continue strengthening our support the International Service for Human under direct or indirect pressure. In for human rights defenders as we Rights to train HRDs from Colombia Turkey we followed closely the case collectively strive to build a better and Tunisia, enabling them to gain a of Amnesty International local chair world”. This included a commitment deeper understanding of UN processes Taner Kılıç, imprisoned on alleged terror to make UK support for human rights and how to mobilise support for UN charges, and made representations defenders more transparent in 2019. resolutions and their implementation. on his behalf at the highest level. The UK’s network of Embassies, High We funded the UN Focal Point for Mr Kılıç was released from pre-trial Commissions and other diplomatic Reprisals as a way of building a UN detention in August. We have provided missions supported HRDs in a variety of system-wide response to reprisals support to organisations monitoring ways, including: regular contact to learn faced by HRDs for cooperating with the situation of the press in Turkey about their work; trial observation; and the UN. We invited six civil society and have attended the trials of a both public and private diplomacy. In representatives, five of whom were number of journalists. We also lobbied the Philippines, we were concerned women, to brief the UN Security at the highest level for the lifting of by the vulnerability of HRDs, including Council during the UK’s Presidency the State of Emergency imposed at journalists, land rights campaigners, in August. The UK’s Mission to the the time of the failed coup attempt and members of the clergy. Members of UN in New York continued to take a in July 2016; this was done in July. these groups in particular were subject proactive approach to protecting the to harassment, and in some cases were space in which civil society can exist and murdered. The UK repeatedly called thrive. We regularly opposed increasing Gender Equality on the Government of the Philippines attempts by states such as Russia and to ensure adequate protections China to restrict the participation of Women and Girls’ Rights for members of these groups. In NGOs in UN meetings and events. The UK government is committed Colombia, we supported over 200 to pursuing a foreign policy which at-risk HRDs, through training on how consciously and consistently delivers for to protect themselves individually and Civil Society Engagement women and girls, and which showcases collectively. We provided legal support We worked closely with DFID and with the UK’s leading international in 14 emblematic court cases relating to representatives of interested NGOs reputation in this area. The promotion attacks on HRDs, following up on every to strengthen the implementation of of gender equality is also at the heart step of the procedure, representing the the FCO’s guidelines on working with of the UK’s work to promote economic victims in hearings, and helping them human rights defenders, which provide growth, peace, and stability. On with any further legal action. In India, practical advice for Embassies and High International Women’s Day (8 March), we supported a project with Sheffield Commission to help them assist and Penny Mordaunt, the then Secretary of Hallam University to improve access to support human rights defenders. At State for International Development, justice for female victims of violence, the Human Rights Defenders World launched DFID’s Strategic Vision for which trained 164 officers in four Summit in Paris in October, the FCO Gender Equality—a global Call to states. 2,000 Dalit women have also co-sponsored an Amnesty International Action to secure the rights of all girls been trained on legal rights, creating side event with the Norwegian Ministry and women, particularly those living the first ever network of women Dalit of Foreign Affairs, on developing in conflict and crisis. The FCO’s Special human rights defenders, and eight best government practice. Envoy for Gender Equality, Joanna Indian police officers also visited the Roper, promotes greater international UK for training on the protection of action on gender equality through her women and girls against violence. travel and engagement with partners.

[7] https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/global-analysis-2018 7 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramilla Patten, Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, and UNHCR Special Envoy Film Festival, ‘Fighting Stigma Through Film’, for Refugees, Angelina Jolie at the FCO Heads of Mission roundtable, ahead British Film Institue, November 2018 of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Film Festival, November 2018

Sustained commitment is vital. The tackling the stigma faced by survivors; Film’, at the British Film Institute in world today is witnessing a visible strengthening justice for survivors London in November. The festival drive against gender equality and and holding perpetrators to account; harnessed the power of film and women’s rights. We are working hard and preventing sexual violence in cinema to help fight the discrimination to counter this and drive progress. For conflict by tackling its root causes. faced by survivors of sexual violence in example, in an increasingly regressive conflict. Over two days we screened Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the global context, the UK continued over 30 films and documentaries from Prime Minister’s Special Representative to champion the protection of around the world, sharing stories of on Preventing Sexual Violence in sexual and reproductive health and survivors and of the inspiring people Conflict, engaged with key partners to rights (SRHR), including through the working alongside them. We ran spur the international community into launch by DFID of the £200 million workshops on various PSVI topics, led further action. He hosted a meeting Women’s Integrated Sexual Health by prominent experts, which offered of Commonwealth member states in programme, aimed at increasing the members of the public a chance to learn the margins of the Commonwealth availability of contraceptives across more about important issues relating Heads of Government Meeting in 27 countries in Africa and Asia. The to PSVI. We also brought a group of April. In September, he co-chaired programme aims to avert 2.6 million over 30 young filmmakers from 18 a meeting on PSVI during the UN unintended pregnancies, avert 1.7 conflict-affected and Commonwealth General Assembly, together with million unsafe abortions and avert countries for a three-day capacity- Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary- 16,240 maternal deaths. The UK has building programme, led by industry General’s Special Representative also been active diplomatically in professionals. The filmmakers for Sexual Violence in Conflict. multilateral forums in defending SRHR. learned skills and created networks In November, Lord Ahmad gathered which will ensure that they can take heads of mission accredited to the forward the fight against impunity Preventing Sexual Violence UK in London, to push forward PSVI and stigma in their home countries. in Conflict Initiative objectives. He also championed the On International Day for the Sexual violence as a weapon of war issue during overseas visits, including Elimination of Sexual Violence in continued to destroy, destabilise, and in March the first FCO ministerial visit Conflict in June, the UK launched, demoralise individuals, communities to Mosul, Iraq, in partnership with at UN Headquarters, FCO-funded and societies across the world in SRSG Patten, and during a visit to research by the London School of 2018. The Preventing Sexual Violence Kosovo with Baroness Helic in July. Economics Centre for Women, Peace in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) was The FCO Special Envoy for Gender and Security on the plight of children launched in 2012 by former Foreign Equality, Joanna Roper, in June born of sexual violence. ‘Closing the Secretary, Lord Hague, and UNHCR accompanied FCO Minister Mark Field Protection Gap of Children Born of Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie. The UK to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, to War’ highlighted the vulnerabilities continued to drive forward international understand the needs of Rohingya faced by children born of sexual efforts to prevent and respond to refugees, including survivors of sexual violence and how the international conflict-related sexual violence. violence, and to highlight UK support. community might improve their We continued to work towards Lord Ahmad hosted the first ever PSVI response to address the stigmatisation achieving our three objectives: film festival, ‘Fighting Stigma Through CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 8

they face, and the inter-generational resolution. It is part of wider efforts the leadership and participation of impact of sexual violence in conflict. to ensure that the UK’s diplomacy, women in developing strategies to development, and defence consciously prevent and counter violent extremism, Faith and belief leaders can play a and consistently delivers on gender with several ministerial roundtable key role in preventing or responding equality. We pay particular attention to discussions on the issue throughout the to conflict-related sexual violence by how the NAP is being implemented in year, and a conference at Wilton Park changing attitudes and behaviours. the nine focus countries: Afghanistan, in November on the gender dynamics To encourage and support this, Lord Burma, Democratic Republic of violent extremism. We developed Ahmad began consultations with of Congo, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, the first in a series of guidance notes faith and belief leaders, which will Somalia, South Sudan and Syria. to support the National Action Plan, continue in 2019, to discuss how they which will be issued in 2019. might help tackle the stigma faced Throughout 2018, the UK’s long- by survivors, and amplify messages standing international leadership The UK chaired the WPS Chiefs of about preventing sexual violence. on WPS was strengthened by our Defence Staff Network, encouraging promotion of women’s participation the most senior military leaders to in peace processes. This included the integrate gender perspectives and to Women, Peace and Security launch of the UK-funded network promote the role of women in armed Since the launch of the fourth UK of Women Mediators across the forces and in peacekeeping. The FCO National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Commonwealth (WMC), a commitment funded the attendance of students from Peace and Security (WPS) in January, made at the Commonwealth Summit Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Somalia the UK has continued to demonstrate in April. The FCO has worked closely at the inaugural Military Gender and global leadership of the WPS agenda with other regional women mediator Protection Advisors Course, led by the through its diplomatic, defence, and networks, the Nordic Women Ministry of Defence. UK mentoring development efforts. The fourth UK mediators, the Mediterranean Women and advisory support, funded by the NAP is the UK government’s five-year Mediators Network, and Fem-Wise, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund strategy which captures how we will in Oslo in March, and in New York (CSSF), to the Afghan National Army deliver our WPS commitments under in October. August saw a founding Officer Academy included a specific UN Security Council Resolution 1325 member from the WMC brief the focus on gender, with nearly 190 female to protect the human rights of women UN Security Council during an Open cadets graduating as of November. and girls, and to promote meaningful Debate on Mediation. We have made participation in conflict prevention and good progress on work to ensure

Launch of the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, January 2018 9 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

We worked with partners to maximise directly in 2018. In Syria, DFID partners the 20th anniversary of UN Security the impact of our collective efforts. reached 14,800 people through Sexual Council Resolution 1325 in 2020. For example, with Canada, we jointly and Gender-Based Violence services in delivered WPS objectives in Iraq and the first half of 2018 alone. In 2017/18, we were pleased to announce our UK funding also helped to contribute Violence against partnership with Nigeria for the to the education of over 670,000 Women and Girls G7 WPS Partnership Initiative. Civil children in formal schools, 48% of One in three women worldwide will society remained a key partner for whom were girls; the doubling of the experience physical or sexual violence the UK, given the vital role which it number of women White Helmets in their lifetime. This makes violence plays in resolving conflict and building to 147; and much-needed female against women and girls (VAWG) one peace. We supported grassroots engagement in Syria’s political dialogue. of the most widespread human rights women peacebuilders around the violations of our time. The UK continued Women’s political empowerment is world, through funding for the UN to lead global efforts to eradicate a cornerstone of DFID’s refreshed Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund VAWG in all its forms—including Strategic Vision for Gender Equality[8], (approximately £1 million targeting domestic violence, sexual violence, launched in 2018. The vision calls support in Iraq, matched by financial female genital mutilation (FGM), and for a sustained focus on existing support from Canada), and for NGOs child, early and forced marriage. DFID commitments for girls and women, working in each of our NAP focus supported women’s rights organisations especially in conflict and crisis; and a countries (through the International through multiple mechanisms, including greater focus on ensuring no girl or Civil Society Action Network and a £20 million contribution (for 2014 woman is left behind, including those the Women’s International League to 2020) to the UN Trust Fund to End with disabilities. In November, the UK for Peace and Freedom). During the Violence Against Women, including hosted the Women MPs of the World UK Presidency of the UN Security funding to support organisations Conference, as part of the celebrations Council in August, we welcomed working with disabled women and girls, to mark the centenary of women’s the first female civil society member who evidence shows are at four times (partial) suffrage in the UK. The historic to brief the council on Iraq. greater risk of violence, and an £11 conference brought together over million contribution (for 2015 to 2020) In Libya, through the CSSF, the UK 100 elected women parliamentarians to AmplifyChange to fund 40 grassroots provided £2.75 million over three years from across the globe to celebrate organisations. Over one million women, to support 20 civil society organisations their achievements and discuss how girls and boys have benefitted from the on women’s empowerment projects, to strengthen visibility and further UN Trust Fund’s programmes alone. alongside £1 million to train female empower parliamentarians to drive DFID’s £25 million flagship programme, and male mediators to promote change nationally and internationally. ‘What Works to Prevent Violence’, local reconciliation. In Somalia, UK Looking ahead, we will continue released new evidence on the most support to civil society groups aimed to support other countries in their effective interventions to drive down to encourage active participation by efforts to realise the WPS agenda, violence against women and girls in women in political processes as well including through consultations with some of the world’s most challenging as public decision-making; and helped civil society and academia in London, contexts. Several interventions achieved to provide vocational and technical New York and in our WPS focus significant reductions in violence, of up conflict resolution training for women, countries on the UK’s approach to to 50%, demonstrating that violence is from which 40,000 women benefited preventable. DFID also announced £50 million of new UK funding to support African-led movements to end FGM by 2030—the largest investment ever made by an international donor. The UK continued to work with all partners to ensure that women and girls are protected during humanitarian crises. DFID published a Technical Guidance Note for Humanitarian Advisers, and adapted the UK’s humanitarian funding guidelines to ensure that VAWG response and prevention is considered in all of DFID’s humanitarian programming.

Ya Kumba Jaiteh, Member of the National Assembly of the Gambia, [8] https://www.gov.uk/government/ addresses the Women MPs of the World Conference in the House publications/dfid-strategic-vision-for- of Commons, November 2018. Jessica Taylor / UK Parliament gender-equality-her-potential-our-future CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 10

For example, the protection and vetting and mandatory pre-deployment Framework’s terms and conditions. The safeguarding of women and girls training and communications projects, Prosperity Fund Framework now also was prioritised in the UK’s response focused on providing redress for includes the revised Code of Conduct to the Rohingya crisis. DFID allocated victims. Additional support has been in its call-off contracts. In addition, £70 million in new funding for this provided to support the work of the the FCO’s due diligence guidance has crisis in 2018. Up to 18% is devoted UNSG Victims Rights’ Advocate. been updated to ensure consistency to safety and protection of refugees, with the enhanced approach that In addition, we use our position in including prevention and monitoring DFID has developed, and the FCO’s the UN Security Council to ensure all of exploitation and abuse, support to Memorandum of Understanding and mandates for Peacekeeping Missions survivors of sexual and gender-based Grant Agreement templates have been contain language on protection violence, and strong safeguarding by revised to include language on SEA. of women and children from SEA service providers in the camps. Partners offences, and on accountability funded by DFID, such as the United measures. It is important we keep Nations Population Fund, have reached Children and Armed Conflict up pressure to maintain momentum over 250,000 people affected by The UK recognises that the enjoyment for reform, internally and externally, sexual and gender-based violence of human rights is substantially affected including on promoting greater with targeted training, psychosocial by instability and armed conflict. We transparency and accountability for support, and sexual and reproductive are fully committed to ending the investigations into performance failures health treatment. The UK also recruitment and use of child soldiers, which links to our Peacekeeping became the co-chair of the State and and to protecting all children in armed Reform work and ongoing Action Donors working group of the Call conflict, and are closely engaged for Peacekeeping implementation. to Action on Prevention of Gender- with UN and other international Based Violence in Emergencies. FCO are also working closely with programmes pursuing these aims. NATO on this issue. In November, The UK’s objectives for the Children the FCO deployed a senior policy Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Armed Conflict (CAAC) agenda advisor to provide technical and are primarily pursued through our The UK is a global leader on tackling policy support to the NATO Secretary engagement with the UN. We remain Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in General’s Special Representative on the largest single financial contributor the international community. The FCO is WPS, Claire Hutchinson, to support to the office of the UN Special driving up safeguarding standards in our the development of NATO SEA policy. Representative of the Secretary-General programming and in our engagement DFID brought together aid beneficiaries (SRSG) for CAAC, having contributed with multilateral organisations. including the UN to improve £800,000 in the last five years. We The UK is fully supportive of the UN safeguarding across the aid sector. At continue to be an active member of the Secretary-General’s victim-centred the DFID-led Safeguarding Summit UN Working Group on CAAC, leading strategy and zero tolerance approach ‘Putting People First: tackling sexual international action on the recruitment towards SEA. In June, the Prime exploitation and abuse and sexual and use of child soldiers and on child Minister, Theresa May, wrote to the harassment in the aid sector’ in October, protection. This includes pressing parties UN Secretary-General to set out the the then International Development listed in the UN Secretary-General’s action taken by the UK on a national Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, brought annual report on CAAC to agree basis to tackle SEA, and to make together partners from across the aid concrete action plans with the UN, suggestions about strengthening the sector—donors, partner governments, and funding projects to help protect UN’s response. A joint letter from the multilateral organisations, civil society and rehabilitate vulnerable children. Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and organisations, representatives of A number of key milestones on the the then International Development victims, survivors and whistle-blowers, CAAC agenda were reached in 2018. Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, to the UN contractors, and research institutions— The UK endorsed the Vancouver Secretary-General in December, calling to commit to a ‘root to branch’ change Principles ensuring that child protection for further action to prevent sexual in the way the sector operates. Several is an operational priority for UN and other forms of exploitation and senior representatives from across the peacekeeping missions. As a member abuse of power from happening, was sector spoke, including Lord Ahmad, of the Group of Friends on CAAC in signed by twelve other member states. who chaired the UN panel discussion Geneva, the UK participated in a joint The CSSF Multilateral Championing featuring Sigrid Kaag, Minister for statement to the 37th session of the our Values Programme continues to Foreign Trade and Development Human Rights Council, reiterating support efforts to stamp out SEA within Cooperation of the Netherlands, our strong support for the mandate the UN system, providing a further and senior UN representatives. of the SRSG for CAAC. The UK also $1 million during financial year 2018/19 In line with DFID, the FCO’s commercial endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration bringing our total to $3 million over team have already updated the FCO’s (SSD), a political commitment to reduce the last three years. These funds have Code of Conduct to incorporate good the impact of conflict on education. been used to support staff posts, to practice on SEA and have included Following UK endorsement, a further deliver more effective system-wide specific SEA provisions in the CSSF eight states followed suit, bringing coordination, and to establish robust 11 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

the number of supporting states to Lord (Tariq) Ahmad and HMA Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq, 82. International partners, NGOs, visiting schoolchildren in Darfur, Sudan, September 2018 and civil society organisations have reacted positively and are keen to work with the UK to ensure effective implementation. The UK has joined the cross-regional SSD core group with other ‘champion’ states, aiming to raise further the profile of the declaration. A cross-government CAAC Working Group was created to secure greater coordination across the wider CAAC agenda, and to oversee UK implementation of the SSD and other key instruments to which the UK is a signatory. The UK worked closely with Sweden and others to secure the adoption in July of Security Council Resolution 2427, strengthening protection mechanisms for children in armed conflict. The UK has shown its support for the SRSG for CAAC’s Global Coalition for Reintegration by joining the ‘Friends of Reintegration’ group. Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh out from school to gain literacy, Hasina, spoke passionately about the numeracy, and other skills relevant for Girls’ Education link between girls’ education and life and work. At the UN Human Rights Access to education is a human right. women’s economic empowerment. Council in June, the UK secured the support of 152 countries for a UK-led Education unlocks individual potential, At CHOGM, the then Foreign Secretary joint statement on girls’ education and benefits society as a whole, also announced the Platform for Girls’ calling on states to “leave no girl powering sustainable development. Education, a group of twelve influential behind”. At the UN General Assembly in The UK supports twelve years of figures responsible for championing September, the Prime Minister, together quality education for boys and girls, this issue during the UK’s 2018 to with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau starting with the basics of literacy 2020 term as Commonwealth Chair-in- of Canada and President Emmanuel and numeracy. Between 2015 and Office. The platform is co-chaired by Macron of France, held a high-profile 2018, the UK helped 11.4 million the Foreign Secretary and the Kenyan event on girls’ education, which children in developing countries Education Minister, Amina Mohamed. showcased the #LeaveNoGirlBehind receive a decent education, of whom They held their first meeting during the campaign. The importance of girls’ at least 5.6 million were girls. UN General Assembly in September. education was further underlined In 2018, the UK government launched Throughout 2018, the UK galvanised at the G20 Summit in November. the #LeaveNoGirlBehind campaign, international support for girls’ The FCO funded a number of a cross-government initiative calling education. At the G7 Summit, leaders individual projects aimed at tackling for twelve years of quality education committed to prioritise girls’ education, the barriers to girls’ education. For for all girls by 2030. Launched at the and the UK, EU, Germany, Japan, the instance, we amplified the reach and Commonwealth Heads of Government World Bank, and Canada pledged a impact of the DFID-funded Girls’ Meeting (CHOGM) in April, by the then total of over $3.8 billion. In addition to Education in South Sudan initiative. Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, the the £212 million pledged by the Prime In Afghanistan, the majority of campaign aims to achieve tangible Minster Theresa May at CHOGM, the the estimated 3.7 million children improvements in girls’ education UK pledged £187 million to the second out of school are girls. In addition by: leading by example; building phase of the UK-funded ‘Girls’ Education to DFID’s Girls’ Education Challenge, international political commitment; Challenge’ (GEC) programme—the which has supported 300,000 girls boosting global investment in largest international fund supporting in attending primary school, the FCO education; harnessing UK expertise; over one million marginalised girls to focused on strengthening the capacity and connecting with the British public. enrol in school, stay in education, and of the Afghan education system to At CHOGM, heads of government learn. The GEC also supports up to measure progress and deliver results. collectively committed to twelve 500,000 highly marginalised girls who years of quality education, and the have never attended or have dropped CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 12

In Colombia and Sudan, the FCO DFID’s Work and Opportunities for tolerance and non-discrimination has supported projects to enhance Women programme continued to help towards LGBT people, and to girls’ enrolment, access and retention deliver higher incomes, and improved address discriminatory laws. in schools so that they can enjoy a working conditions for up to 300,000 In January, the Minister for Human comprehensive and quality education. women in developing countries. A Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Meanwhile, other FCO projects have first partnership was formed with Wimbledon, met Victor Madrigal- supported research, for instance in Marks and Spencer, which focused Borloz, the newly appointed UN Egypt, to inform policy on improving on women in leadership positions Independent Expert on Sexual learning outcomes for girls. for their agri-business and garment Orientation and Gender Identity, supply chain, aiming to reach 80,000 More generally, in February, DFID to set out UK priorities on Gender women. Negotiations were held with a set out a new education policy to Equality and LGBT rights, and our further two companies with a view to help children learn in some of the ongoing support for the Independent securing similar partnerships in 2019. world’s poorest, more fragile and Expert role—a UN mandate which conflict-affected countries, through the UK fought hard to secure in 2016. improvements in teaching which Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, He also met UN LGBT Core Group benefit all children in the classroom. members in New York in June, to set This includes supporting ambitious Transgender Rights out UK efforts to advance equality and system reform to help teachers success The UK is committed to the principle non-discrimination through the UN and keep children safe; and providing of non-discrimination on all recognised system and other multilateral fora. targeted support to disadvantaged grounds, including on the basis of We continued to urge the international girls, children with disabilities, and sexual orientation and/or gender community to address all incidents of those affected by conflict and crisis. identity. LGBT people are not asking violence and discrimination against for special treatment or additional LGBT people. Our overseas missions rights; merely the same dignity, monitored and raised LGBT human Women’s Economic respect and rights which international rights in their host countries, worked Empowerment human rights law offers all other with and supported civil society In 2018, the UK continued to provide individuals citizens. The UK works organisations, and responded to strong support to the UN Secretary- through international organisations, LGBT human rights violations on a General’s High-Level Panel on including the UN, the Commonwealth case-by-case basis. For example, in Women’s Economic Empowerment. and European institutions, to promote

Rainbow flag flies on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office building in London, for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, May 2018 13 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Indonesia UK officials continued to In July, the UK government published committed to the eradication of all raise concerns over national and local a comprehensive LGBT Action Plan forms of modern slavery and human legislation which risked discrimination which responded to the findings trafficking by 2030. The Prime Minister, against minority groups. The UK was of its 2017 national survey of LGBT Theresa May, has made the fight against also one of 16 countries which invoked people. In terms of its international modern slavery—both domestically and the Organisation for Security and work, the government pledged abroad—one of her personal priorities. Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ‘Moscow in the Action Plan to: continue its The FCO works very closely with other Mechanism’ obliging Russia to facilitate promotion of LGBT rights through government departments on this issue. independent investigation into the multilateral organisations; deliver an At the UN General Assembly in 2017, detention, torture, and reported killings international conference focusing the Prime Minister launched the Call to of homosexual men in Chechnya on the issues faced by LGBT people Action to End Forced Labour, Modern which had begun in January 2017. around the world; support countries Slavery and Human Trafficking at a which want help to repeal laws In April, at the Commonwealth Heads high-level event co-hosted by the UN discriminating against LGBT people; of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Secretary-General. We continued to and continue funding to promote the Prime Minister, Theresa May, encourage governments to endorse the equality for LGBT people worldwide. expressed regret that discriminatory Call to Action. By the time of the UN legislation continued to affect the lives With a core objective to increase General Assembly in September, over of people across the Commonwealth, respect for equality and non- 80 countries had done so—a concrete with 35 out of 53 Commonwealth discrimination for all, the FCO’s sign of the growing international member states criminalising consensual Magna Carta Fund (MCF) committed consensus against modern slavery, same-sex relationships. The Prime £1.1 million to LGBT rights projects with endorsements from source, Minister announced a £5.6 million worldwide. The figure represented transit and destination countries. programme to support Commonwealth a 107% increase in funding on the The message is clear: that those who countries wishing to combat structural previous financial year, and 10% of endorsed the UK’s Call to Action will and systematic inequality adversely the MCF’s 2018 allocation. Through not tolerate crimes related to modern affecting women and girls, and DFID’s UK Aid connect programme, slavery and human trafficking. groups discriminated against because up to £12 million will be available Together with the US, Canada, of their sexual orientation or gender for a consortium of organisations to Australia, and New Zealand, the identity. The then Foreign Secretary, promote LGBT rights and inclusion. UK launched a set of principles for Boris Johnson, discussed LGBT rights At the FCO International Human Rights transparency in public procurement and with a range of foreign ministers Day event on 10 December, Lord for the removal of forced labour and during CHOGM, including a session Ahmad announced that the UK had modern slavery from supply chains. At a attended by over 30 Commonwealth successfully bid to be the next co- side event during UNGA in September, ministers. The CHOGM Communiqué chair of the Equal Rights Coalition, a bringing together some of our Call to contained the most progressive group co-founded by the UK in 2016 Action partners (Argentina, Australia, Commonwealth language yet on LGBT bringing together 40 governments Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Nigeria, rights. To promote change, the UK to work to achieve equality for LGBT and the US), the then Secretary of commissioned an International Best people. Alongside our co-chair, State for International Development, Practice Guide to Equality on Sexual Argentina, the UK will work with Penny Mordaunt, announced that Orientation and Gender Identity, international civil society to share the UK would increase its funding to to facilitate decriminalisation and best practice, skills, and experience to combat modern slavery from £150 legislative reform, which was published tackle violence and discrimination. million to over £200 million. Private during CHOGM week in April. companies and business spoke at Publicly demonstrating our commitment the event about how they were to LGBT rights, the UK marked the Modern Slavery eliminating modern slavery from their International Day Against Homophobia, Modern slavery exists in all societies. supply chains, including through Biphobia and Transphobia on 17 It is an umbrella term which covers the innovative use of technology. May, Pride, and other local anti- offences of slavery, servitude, The UK continued to use its discrimination events in the UK and forced and compulsory labour and membership of multilateral overseas. Our posts around the world human trafficking. According to organisations to advance work on also flew the rainbow flag whenever the Global Estimates on Modern the modern slavery agenda and on judged appropriate and not harmful Slavery 2017, published by the reinforcing the global consensus. to do so. In Paraguay, the UK International Labour Organisation Modern slavery was on the agenda Ambassador was the first ambassador and the Walk Free Foundation, there of both the G7 and G20 Summits in to address the local Pride parade, were 40.3 million people living in 2018, and of the Commonwealth in addition to his extensive media conditions of modern slavery. Heads of Government Meeting in work, which stimulated considerable In line with the Sustainable London. We continued to ensure debate of a normally taboo subject. Development Goals, the UK is that modern slavery issues were CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 14

Number 10 and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office participated in a nationwide coordinated light- up in recognition of Anti-Slavery Day, October 2018, alongside 40+ national landmarks raised when countries underwent and construction industries, and rights impacts from business activity. their Universal Periodic Review at safe migration. The UK contributed The UK encouraged and supported the UN Human Rights Council. £20 million to the Global Fund to countries to develop their own End Modern Slavery, which will be National Action Plans in this regard. In addition to our multilateral work, working in India and Bangladesh. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, The FCO and the Department for Minister of State for Human Rights, In 2019 we will use the Magna Carta Business, Energy and Industrial instructed the UK’s diplomatic network Fund and the Home Office’s Modern Strategy led the implementation of to build bilateral partnerships in Slavery Fund and Modern Slavery the recommendations of the Joint order to counter modern slavery. Innovation Fund, to identify where Committee on Human Rights’ report Each country has its own challenges, the UK can make a difference; and on the UK government’s National and we recognise that we can will work with our partners both Action Plan on Business and Human only make progress if we work internationally and within the UK Rights. The FCO also promoted the together with others individually to government to build the global alliance work of the UK’s National Contact build sustainable partnerships. necessary to make a real difference Point for the OECD Guidelines in the fight against modern slavery. on Multinational Enterprises. The UK signed Memoranda of Understanding on aspects of combating The UK joined the advisory council modern slavery with Malta and Human Rights and of the Centre for Sports and Human the Philippines, and worked to Rights’ advisory council, launched in improve the effectiveness of the law the Private Sector June. The centre aims to support the enforcement authorities including prevention of human rights harms in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Business and Human Rights from occurring through sport; to Philippines. We undertook projects The UK continues to promote support access to effective remedy to collect better data on modern human rights in businesses, both where harms have occurred; and slavery in order to understand better domestically and in multilateral fora, to promote a positive human rights the scale of the problems in Sudan, through the UN Guiding Principles legacy from sport and sporting events. Indonesia, South Asia, and Latin on business and human rights. We The FCO will support the centre in America. The UK supported projects believe that these principles are the its work in 2019, including its work looking at child labour, children in global standard for preventing and promoting human rights around conflict, those working in the garment addressing the risks of adverse human 15 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Prime Minister Theresa May and FCO Minister Harriett Baldwin meeting victims of modern slavery, support workers and members of the community at The Salvation Army, Nigeria, August 2018 forthcoming major sporting events, Private Security Companies Group, which provides a valuable such as the Pan-African Games. The Montreux Document, originally forum to strengthen further the development of industry standards. Through the FCO’s Magna Carta Fund ratified in 2008 by 17 states, describes and our global network of Embassies the application of international law and High Commissions, we funded to the activities of Private Security Responsible Sourcing Companies (PSCs) operating in an several Business and Human Rights Companies involved in the mining of armed conflict zone. It sets out good projects. For example, in October, high-value-added minerals including practice to help states implement the British Embassy in Guatemala tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold these obligations. The UK advocated organised a business and human (3TG) can generate income, prosperity, the implementation of the Montreux rights week, inviting two British and stability for local communities. Document via the International Code of experts to share their experience and However, in conflict areas there is a risk Conduct for Private Security Providers. best practice on the links between that some proceeds from mining may The code outlines a set of principles businesses and human rights. be diverted to support armed conflict for PSCs, showing how to translate and to commit human rights abuses. them into standards, governance, and Voluntary Principles on oversight mechanisms. The UK is on The UK remains committed to the Security and Human Rights the Board of the International Code of principles and values of the Kimberley The Voluntary Principles on Security and Conduct Association (ICoCA), along Process (KP) and will continue to be Human Rights (VPs) provide guidance with representatives from companies an active and independent participant on responsible business practice to and civil society. We supported and once we no longer participate through mining and other extractive businesses promoted the benefits of PSCs pursuing the EU. Since the KP was established operating in high-risk and conflict certification to recognised international in 2003, trade in conflict diamonds affected areas. In March, the UK took standards, including via their has fallen from 15% of global trade in the chair of the Voluntary Principles membership of ICoCA. We supported diamonds to less than 1%. The UK’s Initiative. Further detail on the UK’s VPs PSCs in developing and implementing participation in the KP has enabled work in the past twelve months can be monitoring and grievance processes. us to take a leading role in preventing [9] the rough diamond extraction found in our 2018 VPs Annual Report. We continued to work closely with industry from fuelling conflict, and in the UK PSC sector through the improving working conditions. The Security in Complex Environments Government Diamond Office, based

[9] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-principles-on-security-and-human-rights- for-businesses-operating-in-fragile-environments-2018-uk-annual-report CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 16

in the FCO, and UK Border Force are The UK continued to support projects Indonesia, Iraq, Sudan, Tunisia, responsible for implementing the KP and provide advice and assistance and Algeria. He met people who had and or preventing illicit rough diamonds to countries which participate in been targeted because of their faith, from entering or leaving the UK. the OGP, for example in Bosnia such as members of the Yezidi and and Herzegovina, where the Christian minorities in Iraq. He also The UK encourages British importers transparency agenda is particularly met victims of persecution who now of 3TG minerals to carry out their helpful in countering corruption live safely in the UK. During a visit responsibilities based on the OECD Due by building citizen trust in data to Egypt in November, Lord Ahmad Diligence Guidance for Responsible provided by the government. chaired a round table discussion with Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict- Christian and Muslim leaders of the Affected and High Risk Areas. We importance of defending FoRB, and remain a member of the Governing Freedom of Religion announced UK funding for a joint Board of the European Partnership scholarship with Al-Azhar University in for Responsible Minerals (EPRM). We or Belief Cairo for the academic year 2019/20, contributed funding to the EPRM and Denial of the right to Freedom of to bring Al-Azhar students to study OECD regional project programmes, Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a matter in the UK’s leading universities. including £75,000 towards a train- of increasing international concern. the-trainer project in Colombia. We Violations in 2018 ranged from The UK government significantly worked with NGOs and companies inhibiting the freedom to worship, for increased its funding support for FoRB to map the provisions of future UK example in the Maldives and Russia, in 2018. Lord Ahmad and Lord Bates 3TG conflict minerals legislation. to discrimination or targeted attacks launched the UK government’s first ever against members of minority groups programme to find innovative solutions because of their religious identity, such to promote and defend FoRB with £12 Transparency and as in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Burma. million of funding to help ensure that Open Government all people, irrespective of their religion During 2018, 215 million Christians or belief, are empowered and have The UK recognises the power of worldwide faced persecution for their equal opportunity to realise their rights. transparency in tackling corruption, faith. Christian women and children The FCO also increased its support for promoting accountability, and are particularly vulnerable, and are FoRB projects, with over £1 million for building stronger and more stable often subjected to sexual violence as a projects in Iraq, Malaysia, Burma states through creating links between result of their beliefs. On 26 December, and Sudan. In addition, UK support citizens and governments. The UK the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, for the UN Development Programme’s has led the world on this agenda, announced that he had asked the Funding Facility for Stabilisation and the FCO aspires to be a world Reverend Philip Mounstephen, Bishop helped to rebuild communities leader in transparency. Key milestones of Truro, to lead an independent in areas liberated from Daesh in have included releasing details of all review of the support which the FCO Iraq, including in predominantly our Official Development Assistance provides to persecuted Christians. The Christian and Yezidi areas. funded projects, and participation review will map levels of persecution in the Aid Transparency Index. and discrimination against Christians Lord Ahmad regularly met The Open Government Partnership around the world; assess the impact of representatives of civil society (OGP) was established in 2011 to the FCO’s current and recent support; organisations and faith groups in the provide an international platform and make recommendations. UK and overseas, to find ways to work together to deliver positive change on for civil society actors committed In July, the Prime Minister , Theresa FoRB. Through the FCO’s multilateral to making their governments more May, showed her commitment to and bilateral work (including at the UN open, accountable, and responsive supporting FoRB by appointing Lord and OSCE), we regularly spoke out in to citizens. The OGP drives reform (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon as her opposition to discrimination against through locally-led National Action Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion members of minorities. The UK also Plans, produced through collaboration or Belief. This new position has enabled co-sponsored the resolution ‘Rights of between governments and civil the FCO to increase significantly its persons belonging to national or ethnic, society, supported by the OGP. In focus on this universal human right. religious and linguistic minorities’, which July, the UK attended the fifth OGP As Special Envoy, Lord Ahmad has led was adopted by consensus in April. Summit in Tbilisi and announced a international FoRB diplomacy efforts; £12 million programme enabling the defended the right to FoRB in key Lord Ahmad also worked to promote UK government, Parliament and civil countries where the UK can have a real FoRB internationally, working closely society to support open governance in influence; and responded quickly, along with key partners such as the Holy See, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and with our diplomatic network, to specific the EU’s Special Envoy for Promotion Pakistan. The programme contributes instances where FoRB is under attack. of Freedom of Religion, and the UN to a new OGP Multi-Donor Trust Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Fund, hosted by the World Bank, and Lord Ahmad led our efforts to increase Religion or Belief. In July, Lord Ahmad co-financed by France and Canada. advocacy on FoRB with visits to many took part in a high-level ministerial countries to promote FoRB, including 17 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

meeting in Washington D.C. with limitations on religious freedoms, Universal Periodic Review at the UN Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, including restricting Christian Human Rights Council in November. following which the UK and US schools opening days and reports In 2019, we will continue to use our issued a joint statement calling for the of churches being destroyed. As diplomatic network to defend FoRB; protection of the Baha’is in Yemen. well as funding FoRB projects, we promote respect between religious maintained a regular dialogue with 2018 saw an increasing number of communities; and tackle violations the Sudanese government on these FoRB violations in many parts of the of FoRB overseas. We will start to issues and saw success in restrictions world. In Pakistan, the constitutional look into the role of education in being lifted on Christian schools. discrimination against Ahmadi Muslims, promoting respect between people the misuse of blasphemy legislation, In the Middle East, the UK was of different religions and of no and in particular the case of Asia Bibi, at the forefront of global efforts to religion, and will develop a toolkit made global news. The UK government bring Daesh to justice for their crimes, to challenge educational norms regularly applied diplomatic pressure including through our commitment of which incite violence and hatred. on countries which abused their £1 million in support of an investigative blasphemy laws to target religious team to collect evidence of Daesh minorities. These diplomatic efforts crimes. We supported efforts to help Post-Holocaust Issues were often not publicised because of Christians and other minority groups The UK government continued to the sensitivity of the issue, and of the in Iraq to return home, and in Syria promote Holocaust education and need to protect those abused and we provided a range of support to remembrance. In January, the FCO persecuted. The UK did make public help bolster civil society, and promote together with the Embassy of Israel statements where we judged doing human rights and accountability. The co-hosted an event to commemorate so was in the best interests of victims, UK government has provided £252.5 Holocaust Memorial Day. Among for example when Lord Ahmad met million of humanitarian relief to Iraq the high-profile speakers were the Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister to since 2014, and £2.71 billion to Syria Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin call for the protection of members of and Syrian refugees since the start of Welby; the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim religious minority communities and the conflict. This is the UK’s largest Mirvis; and Israel’s Ambassador to the raised specific cases and concerns. ever humanitarian response to a crisis. UK, Mark Regev. The event enabled the London diplomatic community to In Burma, we saw worrying levels of We have serious concerns about reflect on ‘The Power of Words’, the violence in Kachin and Shan states. deepening crackdown by the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day, Much of the violence targeted members Government of China on religious and to consider the continuing evil of of minority groups in particular the and ethnic minorities, including anti-Semitism. British Heroes of the Rohingya. We continued to press the credible reports of the use of political Holocaust medals were presented Government of Burma on the need re-education camps, and widespread to honour British nationals who had for interfaith dialogue and religious surveillance and restrictions targeting performed acts of courage and self- tolerance, and to encourage legislative particularly Uyghur Muslims. We sacrifice in order to help Jewish people reform as part of this process. raised our concerns on a number of and others during the Holocaust. occasions, including during China’s Members of minorities in Sudan continued to suffer, with worrying CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 18

Byson Kaula and his mother, Lucy. Byson is one of over 140 prisoners formally sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in Malawi, and who have been released thanks to the Malawi Resentencing Project, BBC, Mary Goodhart

Lord Pickles, UK Envoy for Post- application in June 2019, and continue >> move towards a moratorium on Holocaust Issues, continued to lead to encourage others to join the IHRA. the use of the death penalty; the government’s international The UK supported the work of the >> stop the use of the death work on post-Holocaust Issues. Lord International Tracing Service (ITS), penalty against juvenile and Pickles visited a number of countries as a member of its International vulnerable offenders; and including Italy, Austria and Belarus. Commission. Lord Pickles worked >> be transparent about how they In Rome he called on countries to with the ITS to make their records use the death penalty, in line adopt the International Holocaust accessible digitally, allowing victims of with international standards. Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working the Holocaust and their family members definition of anti-Semitism. In October, According to the 2018 report from to undertake research more easily. [10] commemorative events marking the Amnesty International , global 75th anniversary of the liquidation of executions fell by 31%, reaching the Minsk Ghetto in 1943 took place, Death Penalty and lowest figure in at least a decade. and Lord Pickles visited Belarus where However, several countries saw a rise he met the Foreign Minister, Vladimir Torture Prevention in executions, including Belarus, Makei. Lord Pickles laid flowers at The UK’s long-standing policy is Japan, Singapore, South Sudan the Trascianiec extermination camp to oppose the death penalty in all and US, while Thailand resumed and met members of the Belarusian circumstances, as a matter of principle. executions. China remained the world’s Jewish community and individuals We consider that its use undermines top executioner, followed by Iran, working on Holocaust education. human dignity, that there is no Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Iraq. conclusive evidence of its deterrent As a founding and active member of The FCO continued to press for death value, and that any miscarriage the IHRA, the UK supported efforts penalty reform through our network of of justice leading to its imposition to make progress on several practical diplomatic missions, our partnerships is irreversible and irreparable. post-Holocaust issues, such as property with experts in international NGOs, restitution, and the identification The UK continued to play a leading and by collaborating with other and protection of sites of particular role in pressing to reduce the use of countries which share our goal to significance during the Holocaust. the death penalty overseas, through abolish the death penalty worldwide. Lord Pickles took part in meetings multilateral institutions including the There was some progress in 2018. On on property restitution in Poland, UN, and through targeted bilateral World Day Against the Death Penalty and met the US Special Envoy for interventions in priority countries. (10 October), the Government of Holocaust issues, Tom Yazdgerdi. Lord We encouraged those countries Malaysia announced its intention Pickles actively championed Australia’s which retain the death penalty to: to abolish the death penalty. The application for membership of IHRA Caribbean Court of Justice declared the at the IHRA meeting in June: we look >> reduce the range of crimes mandatory use of the death penalty forward to the vote on Australia’s carrying the death penalty; unconstitutional in Barbados, an

[10] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/04/death-penalty-dramatic-fall-in-global-execution/ 19 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

issue which had occupied domestic supporting ratification processes and Export Controls and international tribunals for over a by strengthening the implementation UK export licensing processes are key decade. The incoming administration of safeguards during the first hours of to ensuring responsible UK defence is acting to amend the legislation. The police custody. The APT helped establish and security exports. All export licences UK commissioned a public opinion a National Preventative Mechanism are rigorously assessed on a case-by- survey on attitudes to the death penalty in Panama and Local Preventive case basis against the Consolidated EU in Zimbabwe. The report identified Mechanisms in São Paulo, Rondônia and and National Arms Export Licensing that public opinion was not a barrier Alagoas in Brazil. The British Embassy Criteria. The government will not to abolition, and the president and in Afghanistan provided programme issue a licence if doing so would be justice minister have since publicly funding to enable the Gender Equality inconsistent with our international condemned the death penalty. At the and Development Organisation to obligations. These obligations include UN, the biennial resolution calling strengthen police training, following those related to sanctions or to the for a moratorium on the use of the a critical report by the UN Assistance Arms Trade Treaty or where there is a death penalty received its highest ever Mission in Afghanistan on the treatment clear risk that the items exported might level of support, with 121 member of detainees in police detention. be used for internal repression; for the states voting in favour at the General The project supported the Afghan commission of a serious violation of Assembly (up from 117 in 2016). police to build capacity and prevent International Humanitarian Law; for mistreatment, in accordance with The UK remained very concerned the provocation or prolongation of international best practice and in about the continued use of the death armed conflicts, or the aggravation compliance with international human penalty in Belarus. Our Embassy in of existing tensions or conflicts in rights standards. Our Embassy in Beijing Minsk worked with UK NGO Death the country of final destination; for worked on a project to improve pre-trial Penalty Project and the International aggression against another country; justice in China, and in the Philippines Commission against the Death Penalty or for asserting a territorial claim by the FCO launched a project seeking to to raise awareness of the arguments force. These criteria apply to all types of share UK experience on how complaints against the death penalty. The FCO licence applications, without distinction relating to detention are handled. continued to raise concerns over the between civilian or military use. use of the death penalty in the US. During 2018, the Export Control Joint Unit, located within the Department The FCO supported several projects Overseas Security and for International Trade, with input through the Magna Carta Fund Justice Assistance from advisory departments, assessed dedicated to abolishing the death The FCO continued to work with 16,559 Standard Individual Export penalty. In Malawi, a project on organisations across the UK Licence applications and issued 12,943, re-sentencing concluded in March, government to implement the latest refused 226 and revoked 4 licences. ensuring that the majority of the 168 Guidance on Overseas Security individuals affected by the mandatory and Justice Assistance (OSJA). This death penalty received a re-hearing, guidance is the government’s tool Migration and with 112 being granted an order of for assessing the human rights risks immediate release. The FCO, working Human Rights of our overseas security and justice with the NGO Reprieve, delivered a According to the UNHCR, in 2018 assistance work and for identifying project to support citizens on death approximately 141,000 migrants measures to mitigate those risks. row in Malawi and Tanzania and to crossed the Mediterranean or Aegean campaign for the abolition of the death An estimate of the number of OSJA to Europe, a 24% reduction from 2017, penalty. The FCO also facilitated a cases from across government and the lowest total of migrants since visit by the UK All-Party Parliamentary during FY 2018/19 is as follows: 2013. The estimated number of dead Group on the Abolition of the Death Number of and missing is also slightly lower than Penalty to Indonesia, to inform OSJA cases for in previous years, although fatality efforts to revise the penal code in a Region FY 2018/19 rates on some routes have increased. way that would reduce recourse to The challenges relating to safe, orderly the death penalty as a sentencing Europe 205 and regular migration continued measure—especially for drugs offences. Central Asia 63 to be complex. Mechanisms and The FCO funded projects aimed Americas 189 structures remained fragile, and at preventing torture, in particular migrants undertaking these journeys to encourage states to ratify and Middle East and 261 continued to face multiple threats. implement the UN’s Optional Protocol North Africa Intervening at all stages of a migrant’s to the Convention against Torture. Sub-Saharan 191 journey—in countries of origin, transit, and destination—to reduce We supported the Association for Africa the drivers of irregular migration, the Prevention of Torture (APT) to South Asia 102 tackle people-smuggling and reduce the risks of torture and ill- human trafficking, and protect the treatment in south and east Asia by Asia Pacific 267 CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 20

The then Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, uses British Sign Language to introduce her opening speech at the Global Disability Summit, London, July 2018

vulnerable, remains important. This EU Frontex operations. Since May 2015, Amendment’). We are working with ‘whole of route’ approach underpins UK assets have saved over 31,000 lives, states and other partners to transfer the UK government’s efforts to and destroyed 172 smuggling boats. the remainder as soon as possible. address irregular migration. The UK endorsed the UN Global The UK’s £75 million ‘Safety Support Compact for Safe, Orderly and Economic and and Solutions Phase 2’ migration Regular Migration, adopted by the UN programme provided humanitarian General Assembly in December. This Social Rights protection to vulnerable people provides a non-binding international travelling along the migration routes framework to manage migration with The Rights of People from West Africa via the Sahel a menu of activities and approaches with Disabilities to Libya, and raised awareness of relevance to countries of origin, An estimated one billion people among prospective migrants about transit and destination. The Global around the world have some form the dangers of onward travel. Compact helps protect migrants of disability—80% of whom live in around the world through international At the Salzburg EU Summit in a developing country. The UK has cooperation, and emphasises that September, the Prime Minister, Theresa recognised that disability is both a human rights apply equally to migrants. May, proposed a range of measures cause and consequence of poverty, to tackle organised immigration As of September, the UK had resettled and that people with disabilities are crime. These included working with over 13,900 refugees from Syria under less likely than others to be able to internet platforms to remove material the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement lift themselves out of poverty. The UK advertising illegal immigration services, Scheme. We have pledged to resettle government’s vision is a world where and increasing member state referrals 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. By all people with disabilities, in all stages to Europol. In addition, the Prime 2020, we aim to have resettled 3,000 of their lives, are engaged, empowered, Minister proposed coordinated strategic children and their family members and able to exercise and enjoy their communications to counter smugglers’ from the Middle East and North rights on an equal basis with others. narratives and to inform individuals Africa under the Vulnerable Children’s In July, the UK government, in of the alternatives to migration. Resettlement Scheme; over 1,000 partnership with the Government of have been resettled so far. We have The UK maintained a Search and Rescue Kenya and the International Disability also already relocated to the UK capability in the Mediterranean and Alliance, hosted the UK government’s over 220 of the 480 unaccompanied Aegean Seas under Operation SOPHIA first-ever Global Disability Summit. The children specified under Section 67 of (the EU’s counter migrant-smuggling summit heightened global awareness the Immigration Act 2016 (the ‘Dubs operation in the Mediterranean) and of the need to include disabled 21 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

people and address their needs fully Water and Sanitation The UK continued to support Gavi, in development policies. Over 170 The UK recognises that the right to the Vaccine Alliance, to reach 60% of governments, civil society and the water and sanitation derives from the the world’s children with life-saving private sector organisations made right to an adequate standard of living. vaccinations. UK funding will directly global and national commitments at Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) immunise 76 million children between the summit, and over 320 organisations 6 calls for universal access to safe 2016 and 2020, saving 1.4 million [11] signed the Charter for Change , water and sanitation. The SDG baseline lives. The UK continued to be a world openly committing to working report showed that, in 2015, 39% of leader in tackling Neglected Tropical together and stepping up ambition the world’s population lacked access Diseases (NTDs) and continued to for the inclusion of disabled people. to a safe water supply, and 61% lacked implement programmes to protect over 200 million people from NTDs. In The UK’s work in 2018 on the access to safely managed sanitation. In April, the UK co-hosted a successful inclusion of disabled people extended financial year 2017/18, the UK helped Malaria Summit with Commonwealth beyond the summit, and many DFID 13 million people gain access to water countries, pledging to halve the programmes reached people with and sanitation, of whom 7 million incidence of malaria by 2023. disabilities. DFID launched the new were in Africa. Current programming Disability Inclusive Development indicates that by 2020 the UK will have Programme, aiming to deliver tangible helped over 60 million people gain Social Protection access since 2015. The UK continued outcomes to improve the lives of people Globally there has been progress in to support the robust collection of with disabilities by 2024, by enabling reducing poverty, but extreme poverty global and national data on progress up to 100,000 people with disabilities remains high and is increasingly on SDG 6 through the WHO and to access health services, up to 45,000 concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program on people with disabilities to increase fragile and conflict-affected states, water and sanitation. We also worked their incomes, and 10,000 children and among marginalised groups, to ensure water and sanitation for with disabilities to access education. especially those facing multiple health care facilities in poor countries In December, DFID launched its first forms of disadvantage (for example, to help reduce disease, and so tackle ever Disability Inclusion Strategy, which women with a disability). Social anti-microbial resistance by reducing set out the approach to mainstream protection is critical to helping the the unnecessary use of antibiotics. the inclusion of disabled people across poorest and most vulnerable to meet the organisation, with time-bound The UK will continue to support their basic needs, achieve important commitments over the next five years. poor people in gaining access to human development goals, and water and sanitation in 2019 in 25 have more control over their lives. countries in Africa, Asia and the Despite rapid expansion in recent The Rights of Older People Middle East, putting an increasing years, social protection coverage Many older people have no reliable focus on strengthening national remained very low. Only 18% of source of income and are much more systems of service delivery. the poorest quintile in low income likely to have disabilities. Approximately countries receive social assistance. 80% of people aged 60 years or The UK invested in social protection older will live in developing countries Rights to Health in 23 countries, working with partner by 2050. Work on ageing is integral Worldwide, millions die from governments to increase the reach, to the UK’s approach to the UN’s preventable causes, especially the most quality, and sustainability of social programme on inclusion ‘Leave No One disadvantaged. Countries with weak protection systems. In 2019, the UK Behind’. In this context, DFID signed health systems are vulnerable to health will continue to focus on building the Inclusive Data Charter to improve shocks, including outbreaks of disease. sustainable social protection systems, the use of inclusive and disaggregated The UK directly supports developing with particular attention to gender data, and published a draft action plan countries to achieve universal health issues and humanitarian contexts. of steps to realise its vision. The UK coverage, including by strengthening government also continued to take health systems to enable better access the lead in the UN Titchfield Group on to high-quality essential services without The Overseas Territories Ageing and Age Disaggregated Data. risk of financial hardship. Globally, DFID is investing in strengthening the World Each Overseas Territory has its own In 2018, DFID continued its partnership Health Organisation’s role in universal Constitution, government, and local with the Government of Uganda since health coverage, health systems laws. The UK government continued to 2010 to roll out a Senior Citizens Grant. and emergency preparedness and expect the territories to abide by the The programme currently supports response. The UK continues to invest same basic standards of human rights 153,000 older people and will expand in research, including new treatment as the UK. We continued to encourage to over 220,000 in the next two years. options for drug resistant tuberculosis. them to agree to the extension of UN human rights conventions ratified

[11] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-disability-summit-charter-for-change CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 22

by the UK, but to do so only when young people. In the Turks and the grounds of its incompatibility with they were ready to apply them. Caicos Islands, our support helped the Bermuda Constitution. A ruling in the police to enhance their capability November by the Bermuda Supreme The UK government continued to on child safeguarding, and to establish Court that same-sex couples should be work with the governments of the a child protection centre designed entitled to marry was appealed to the Overseas Territories to help them to provide multi-agency support to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. deliver their commitment to ensure vulnerable children. In 2019, the UK A case was filed in the Cayman the highest possible standards for the government plans to continue to this Islands courts following the refusal to protection of children and promotion important work, including supporting grant a marriage licence to a same-sex of children’s welfare. We developed the territories as they develop, finalise, couple. We believe that the strongest, tailored programmes of support with and begin to implement their National safest, and most prosperous societies a number of territories. These aimed Response Plans on child safeguarding. are those in which all citizens can live to build the capability of key staff freely without fear of discrimination, (particularly police, social workers Same-sex marriage has been legal in and where all citizens, including LGBT and educators); recognise child abuse Pitcairn since May 2015 and in the people, can play a full and active part and tackle it effectively; enhance Falkland Islands, St Helena, Tristan in society. In 2019, we will continue legal frameworks; and develop more da Cunha and Ascension Island to encourage and engage with all of robust systems to enable agencies since 2017. In Bermuda, the Domestic the Overseas Territories in 2019 to to work together effectively on child Partnerships Act came into effect on 1 work towards greater equality, and to safeguarding. For example, the UK June, and removed the entitlement for ensure that all legislation is compliant government supported the Cayman same-sex couples to marry, though it with human rights obligations. Islands to improve their multi-agency provided for both same- and opposite- response on child protection, and to sex domestic partnerships. The act establish a helpline for children and was challenged through the courts on 23 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System

Human Rights at the UN girls’ education, LGBT rights, Rights (OHCHR), in promoting and media freedom, and freedom of protecting human rights worldwide. The UN is the leading international religion or belief, at all relevant UN The UK will therefore seek re-election forum for the development of collective fora, making recommendations to the HRC in 2020 for the 2021 to standards on human rights, scrutiny of concerning modern slavery at all 2023 term, after its current term human rights violations and abuses, Universal Periodic Review sessions. comes to an end in December 2019. and dialogue between states. The main intergovernmental forum on The UK also continued to co- human rights is the Geneva-based UN sponsor a number of resolutions Country issues Human Rights Council (HRC), of which in UN fora reinforcing women’s The UK has continued to raise Burma at the UK was re-elected as a member rights, including on girls’ education, the UN through the HRC, at the Security in 2016. Other important UN fora violence against women, and Council and in the General Assembly, in include the UN General Assembly Third discrimination against women. order to maintain international focus on Committee, the UN Security Council The UK also worked through the UN the serious human rights issues there. (UNSC) and the UN Commission on to raise concerns with regional UN During our presidency of the Security the Status of Women. Zeid Ra’ad Al offices about increasing reports of Council in August, we invited the Fact Hussein stepped down as UN High human rights violations and abuses in Finding Mission to brief the Security Commissioner for Human Rights at the countries such as Cameroon. The UK Council, following their powerful end of August, and Michelle Bachelet encouraged the UN Office for Central report—this was the first time that an took up the position at the start of Africa to continue to focus on building HRC-mandated investigation had briefed September. The UK thanks former High the capacity of regional organisations the UNSC in formal session. In the Commissioner Zeid for his tireless efforts to enable delivery of their early warning margins of the UN General Assembly on behalf of global human rights, and mechanisms, conflict prevention, (UNGA) in September, the Foreign has already begun working closely and peace-building initiatives.[12] Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, with his French with High Commissioner Bachelet. counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, hosted a meeting on the Rohingya crisis, and The UK also supports the work Human Rights Council of the UN’s expert human rights called for urgent action to be taken by mechanisms, including the treaty In June, the US announced its decision the international community. We also bodies (bodies of experts set up to to withdraw from the Human Rights played a leading role in ensuring that monitor state compliance with their Council (HRC). While the departure the resolution co-sponsored by the human rights treaty obligations) and of the US is regrettable, the HRC EU and the Organisation for Islamic special procedures (expert individuals or has continued to hold human rights Cooperation (OIC), adopted by the HRC working groups mandated to monitor violators to account, with sessions in in September, included an independent and review specific country or thematic June and September continuing to mechanism to advance accountability issues). The UK has an ‘open invitation’ pass important resolutions on Syria, in respect of crimes against humanity to all special procedure mandate holders Burma, Democratic Republic of and genocide, by collecting and to visit the UK and we encourage Congo, Burundi and Yemen. preserving evidence, and by preparing case files for use by national and other states to do the same. Likewise, While the UK shares US concerns that international courts. This work was we encourage mandate holders to the focus in the HRC’s agenda on bolstered by a new joint EU-OIC operate within the terms of their the Occupied Palestinian Territories/ General Assembly resolution, which the mandate and to respect the code of Israel under what is known as Item UK was active in helping to negotiate, conduct set out in HRC resolution 5/2. 7, is disproportionate, unhelpful, and and which called for the expeditious damaging to the council’s credibility In 2018, the UK increased its support establishment of the mechanism. for UN human rights work. This we remain fully engaged with efforts included money for UK projects on to strengthen the HRC and to ensure The UK continued to lead action in preventing conflict and combating that it continues to hold human the HRC on Syria, and to form part sexual and gender-based violence, rights violators to account. The UK of the core group for the UNGA Third and country specific projects. will continue to be a strong advocate Committee resolution. The March of the HRC and strongly supports its session of the HRC renewed the During 2018, the UK continued to work, and that of the UN Office of mandate of the Commission of Inquiry raise the priority issues of modern the High Commissioner for Human (CoI) on Syria for another year. The UK slavery, gender equality including

[12] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/preventing-further-conflict-in-cameroon-and-the-lake-chad-basin CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 24

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad announcing the launch of the ‘Children Born of War’ report at the Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict at the United Nations, June 2018

continued its commitment to support achievement of a negotiated two-state its illegal annexation and sought important accountability work, including solution. The UK therefore again voted to ensure Russia’s accountability through a contribution to the UN’s against the Syrian Golan resolution, for its actions in Crimea. International, Impartial and Independent and for the first time voted against the At the March session of the HRC, Mechanism. We also repeatedly raised accountability resolution, abstaining on the UK again worked closely concerns about violations and abuses the settlements resolution, and voting with the authorities of Libya and of human rights, and of international in favour of the resolutions on both self- the African Group to agree a humanitarian law at the UNSC, and determination and human rights in the resolution which sought to improve hosted an Arria format meeting at Occupied Palestinian Territories. In accountability for human rights which the CoI briefed the council. his address to the Council in June, then violations and abuses in Libya. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made In March, the HRC renewed the it clear that in 2019 we would vote The June session of the HRC adopted mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur against all resolutions under Item 7. a resolution on the Democratic on Iran. The UK is part of the core Republic of Congo (DRC), which group on the UNGA Third Committee The EU and Japan jointly led a resolution passed by consensus. The resolution resolution, and we remain concerned on the Democratic People’s built on the report of the team of about limitations on freedom of religion Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the HRC international experts into alleged or belief, and restrictions on freedom and at the UNGA Third Committee. The human rights violations and abuses in of expression, on the operation of the HRC resolution continued to address the Kasai provinces, and established rule of law, and on women’s rights. the most serious issues related to the a robust follow-up mechanism to dire human rights situation in DPRK, The March session of the HRC also assess, support, and report on the but noted developments such as the passed five resolutions under Agenda implementation by the DRC authorities ratification of the Convention on the Item 7 ‘Human rights situation in of the team’s recommendations related Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Palestine and other occupied to impunity. It also tasked the High Third Committee resolution similarly Arab territories’. The UK shares the Commissioner to monitor and report recognised developments on family international community’s conviction regularly on developments in the Kasais. reunions and diplomatic talks between that a two-state solution is the only the DPRK, the Republic of Korea and The September HRC passed two sustainable path for delivering justice the US, but also for the first time resolutions on Yemen, after efforts to and human rights for both Israelis included language on gender equality. negotiate a single consensus text failed. and Palestinians. The UK supports an The resolution tabled by a group of effective HRC as a central element of At the UNGA Third Committee, the Arab states, calling for further technical the rules-based international system. UK was in the core group supporting assistance to the Yemeni National However, the existence of a dedicated a resolution tabled by Ukraine Commission of Human Rights, was agenda item (Item 7) which singles on human rights in Crimea. The adopted by consensus, while the text out Israel does little to advance the resolution condemned Russia for led by the Netherlands, which renewed 25 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

the mandate for the Group of Eminent, a joint statement on girls’ education, sexual orientation or gender identity as International, and Regional experts which called on states to “leave no girl the determinant on one of the groups. to monitor and report on the human behind, and provide opportunity for at rights situation, passed after a vote. least twelve years of quality education for all girls and boys ... to work together Universal Periodic Review Taking over the role previously played to make this vision a reality as a matter In 2018, the third cycle of the Universal by the US, the UK was instrumental at of urgency”. This statement was signed Periodic Review (UPR), a UN process the September session of the HRC in by 152 countries—a record number in which the human rights records of brokering agreement on a resolution for any UK initiative at the HRC. UN member states are subject to peer on technical assistance and capacity- review, entered its second year. As a building to improve human rights in At UNGA in September, the Prime strong supporter of the UPR process, Sudan, which renewed the mandate for Minister, Theresa May, together with the UK participated in all reviews (42 the Independent Expert, unless a fully Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada in total) in 2018, raising human rights mandated OHCHR office is established. and President Emmanuel Macron of concerns such as freedom of religion or France, held a high-profile event on In September, the HRC also renewed belief, freedom of expression, women’s girls’ education, which showcased the mandate of the Commission of rights, children’s rights, LGBT rights, the #LeaveNoGirlBehind campaign. Inquiry on Burundi, with an increased the death penalty and modern slavery, vote. At the UNGA Third Committee, The June session of the HRC adopted among others. During Russia’s review Burundi objected to the inclusion of a resolutions on the ending of female in May, the UK expressed concern dialogue with the CoI in the agenda, genital mutilation, discrimination against over the deteriorating human rights but its procedural efforts to prevent women, and violence against women situation and Russia’s disregard for the dialogue were voted down. and girls. In November, the UNGA Third international commitments, and raised Committee passed resolutions on child, LGBT rights and the protection of LGBT Supporting reconciliation and reform early, and forced marriage, trafficking people, as well as media freedom. In in Sri Lanka remained a priority. In in women and girls, violence against November, both China and Saudi the March and September sessions women, efforts to end obstetric fistula, Arabia came up for review. The UK of the HRC, we delivered joint and female genital mutilation. The UK raised China’s political and civil rights statements on behalf of the core and other partners spoke strongly in record, including increased restrictions group, and took over from the US favour of sexual and reproductive health on the freedoms of peaceful assembly, as the core group coordinator. and rights (SRHR). Alongside objections expression, and religion or belief, The UK also led a joint statement by long-standing opponents of SRHR, with a particular focus on Xinjiang, on the Maldives in March, changed US policy prevented progress as well as the increased persecution on behalf of 40 countries. in this area. The UK and likeminded and harassment of those peacefully countries were able to resist their efforts exercising their constitutional rights. At In all HRC sessions, the UK also to remove or caveat existing language. Saudi Arabia’s review, the UK focused worked with partners to renew the on women’s rights, severe constriction mandates of (among others) the Special The UK again worked successfully of political space, mass arrests of Rapporteurs on Eritrea and Belarus, to help secure consensus on the human rights defenders, increased use and Independent Experts on Mali, two religion-related resolutions of terrorist courts for political dissidents, Côte d’Ivoire and Central African at the HRC and the UNGA Third and continuing extensive use of the Republic. We raised concerns about Committee: on Freedom of Religion death penalty. The UK also called a number of countries in our national or Belief (led by the EU), and on for comprehensive and transparent statements, including China and Combating Intolerance (led by the investigations into the murder of Egypt, and in March responded to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. repeated violations of international law The UK again lobbied in support of by Russia and its flouting of the Rules- The UK will continue to promote best the biennial UNGA Third Committee Based International System, including practice as the third cycle continues resolution on a ‘Moratorium on the by its use of a nerve agent in Salisbury. in 2019 and will participate in all use of the Death Penalty’, which upcoming reviews. The UK will continue passed with the highest vote count to raise important human rights yet, signalling an increase in support Thematic issues issues, including freedom of religion for the global trend towards abolition. At the opening of the June session of or belief, freedom of expression, the HRC, the then Foreign Secretary, Also at the UNGA Third Committee, the women’s rights, children’s rights, Boris Johnson, gave a speech UK spoke out against an amendment to LGBT rights, the death penalty and emphasising the importance of twelve the resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary modern slavery, among others. years of quality education for girls. or Arbitrary Executions which would He also hosted a side event on girls’ have removed agreed language, setting education with Kenyan Education out groups of people vulnerable to Treaty Monitoring Bodies Minister, Amina Mohamed, and with extrajudicial killing. Proponents of the and Special Procedures Andria Zafirakou, winner of the 2018 amendment wanted to remove the list The UK extends a standing invitation Global Teacher Award. The UK drafted solely because it included a reference to to any UN Special Rapporteur who CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 26

wants to undertake an official visit. In policy within the Security Council The UN’s Special Political Missions 2018, the UK received the UN Special on Burma, Yemen, and Libya. (SPMs) are important instruments for Rapporteur on contemporary forms of delivering effective peacebuilding, Responsibility to Protect is a further racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia as is the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). tool available within the UN system and related intolerance, Tendayi SPMs are the UNSC’s primary tool to prevent atrocities. The UK Achiume; the Special Rapporteur on for delivering peacebuilding activities provided £75,000 to support the the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci; in conflict-affected areas. The UK work of the Global Centre for the and the Special Rapporteur on extreme leads within the UNSC on SPMs in Responsibility to Protect. This funding poverty and human rights, Philip Alston. Somalia, Libya, Iraq, and Colombia. helped to strengthen international We support this work through our understanding of the obligations which position as a permanent member ‘responsibility to protect’ brings, and UN Security Council on the UNSC, setting and reviewing raises awareness of countries at risk. mission mandates. The UK has been The Security Council the largest contributor to the PBF since its establishment. To enable the PBF to As a permanent member of the Peacebuilding achieve the Secretary-General’s desired UN Security Council (UNSC), the The UK continued to support UN goal of significantly increasing the scale UK is committed to supporting peacebuilding, both financially and of its peacebuilding efforts, the UK the three pillars of the UN’s work: politically, in line with our National confirmed that it will double its annual maintaining international peace and Security Strategy priorities. The UK contribution to the PBF, from £8 million security; fostering development; and supported the Secretary-General’s to £16 million, in financial year 2019/20. protecting and promoting human reforms in this area, which aim rights. In 2018, the UK worked to deliver a more coordinated UN to ensure that the protection and approach to peacebuilding across Peacekeeping promotion of human rights remained the conflict continuum. The reforms UN peacekeeping plays a crucial role prominent in UN Security Council will lead to delivering peacebuilding in preventing inter-state conflict, resolutions and other products. initiatives which address the underlying ending cycles of civil war, mitigating causes of conflict, including in peaceful Set within the context of the UN humanitarian crises, and extending countries at risk of a return to violence, Secretary-General’s framework of state authority where state capacity is or in countries where conflict has not sustaining peace and supporting the weak or contested. It helps create the yet occurred. The structural reforms to ‘Peace Continuum’, the UK supported conditions for lasting peace, promoting the UN’s peace and security architecture UN institutions in their efforts to a secure environment in which non- and the development system will prevent conflict, and to help countries military conflict prevention activities also support peacebuilding goals by emerging from violence progress can take place. The impact of war making the UN more efficient, and its towards sustainable peace. The UK falls primarily on civilians, particularly various bodies more coordinated. maintained its support for the UN women and children. Civilians continue Secretary-General’s initiatives to Linked to atrocity prevention, the UK to be the victims of violence, and are reform and refresh the UN. These focused on a number of thematic sometimes deliberately targeted. This reforms will enable the UN to deal agendas which contribute to building is why the UK ensures that protecting with complex future challenges inclusive and stable environments, civilians and reducing the threat of flexibly, creatively, and efficiently. and help prevent conflict and possible human rights violations and abuses atrocities. These priorities included is a core element of all peacekeeping women, peace and security, girls’ operations where this risk is present. Mass Atrocity Prevention and education, children and armed conflict, The UK continued to work closely Responsibility to Protect the Preventing Sexual Violence in with the UN and member states to Conflict Initiative, tackling modern The UK is committed to early and reform UN peacekeeping, focusing slavery, promoting freedom of religion effective international action to on the ‘3Ps’: better mission Planning; or belief, and—as articulated by the prevent mass atrocities, which are of more and better Pledges of personnel Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, in grave concern to the UK government. and equipment; and stronger mission his speech at the Policy Exchange in Addressing and preventing conflict, Performance. We pursued this reform October[13]—freedom of the media. instability, and state failure is a key through mandate negotiations in the This programme activity is consistent priority running through UK aid policies UNSC, direct support to missions and with and supports the UN’s activities and programmes. This includes the countries contributing troops and police, on the rule of law, good governance, prevention of identity-based mass and by using our influence and funding and human rights, since we believe violence, alongside other forms of to improve UN structures and policies. that they are the fundamental building violence and instability. We continue UK funding helped leverage additional to drive international policy, leading blocks for sustaining peace.

[13] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/an-invisible-chain-speech-by-the-foreign-secretary 27 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, London, April 2018 funding from other member states. For Commonwealth Heads of All Forms of Discrimination against example, our peacekeeping programme Government Meeting Women, and encouraged continued helped to identify and reduce gaps in action to prevent child, early and forced In April, the UK hosted the peacekeeping capabilities through the marriage, and female genital mutilation. Commonwealth Heads of Government UN’s Strategic Force Generation Cell. meeting (CHOGM), which 46 heads Bearing in mind that 35 of 53 The UK’s peacekeeping support strategy of state and 49 foreign ministers Commonwealth member states complements and contributes to the attended and agreed actions and criminalise consensual same-sex UN Secretary-General’s Action for commitments to create a fairer, more relationships, the Prime Minister, Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. A4P secure, more sustainable, and more Theresa May, expressed regret over includes independent, strategic reviews prosperous future. Ahead of the the legacy of violence, and even of eight peacekeeping missions (part- intergovernmental meetings, three death, which outdated discriminatory funded by the UK), and an action plan days of official fora provided the space legislation continues to inflict on LGBT to improve the safety and security of for business, civil society, and women people across the Commonwealth. peacekeepers. A4P also produced the and youth representatives to feed their The Prime Minister was clear that Declaration of Shared Commitments perspectives into the intergovernmental the UK stands ready to support any on UN Peacekeeping Operations, on discussions which followed. Commonwealth country wishing to which we worked closely with the reform outdated legislation which The CHOGM communiqué included UN Secretariat, including co-chairing discriminates on the grounds of sex, forward-leaning language on a range consultations, and which the Foreign gender identity, or sexual orientation. of issues, including the importance Secretary endorsed in August. The To underpin this commitment, of social, economic, and political focus is now on A4P implementation. the UK launched a £5.6 million participation for all Commonwealth programme, led by a consortium citizens. Leaders agreed to address of civil society organisations which the stigma of disability and mental Commonwealth will provide advice and assistance to health, and encouraged member The Commonwealth continues to be interested Commonwealth states. states to ratify and implement the an important forum for the protection, UN Convention on the Rights of As Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, promotion and strengthening of Persons with Disabilities. They further the UK will continue to work with the democracy, human rights, good committed to ratify and implement three pillars of the Commonwealth— governance, and the rule of law. the Convention on the Elimination of the Commonwealth Secretariat, its CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 28

member states, and its organisations institutions. The heads of government the EU statement under the HRC’s ‘Item and networks—to strengthen agreed ‘Revised Commonwealth 4’ (situations which require the HRC’s cooperation, solidarity, and delivery Guidelines for the Conduct of Election attention) on the worsening human on a range of human rights issues. Observation in Member Countries’. This rights situation in Venezuela. The UK The UK believes that by upholding was a new approach which puts greater contributed towards EU resolutions on the values and aspirations of the emphasis on the whole electoral cycle. a number of priority thematic issues, Commonwealth Charter, member In September, the Foreign Secretary, such as freedom of expression (both states can ensure a fairer future, which Jeremy Hunt, announced further UK online and offline), freedom of religion is essential for the development of support for the Commonwealth Election or belief, women’s rights, and gender peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. Observation Programme, which, since equality. The UK’s influence ensured the adoption of the revised guidelines, the EU’s constructive engagement in has delivered observation missions the UN Open Ended Working Group Commonwealth and Human in three countries. In November, on ageing, which met in July. Rights Institutions the Commonwealth Parliamentary The UK was also a major contributor At CHOGM, heads of government Association and Westminster to the EU position at the annual recognised the importance of sharing Foundation for Democracy launched Commission on the Status of Women. human rights best practice and updated benchmarks for democratic UK Heads of Mission, working closely expertise. They agreed to support legislatures. The benchmarks form with their EU colleagues, contributed National Human Rights Institutions part of the UK-funded Commonwealth towards local EU human rights (NHRIs) and enable effective Partnership for Democracy, which strategies guiding engagement with participation by Commonwealth aims to promote inclusive and host countries. In the Organisation for states in the Universal Periodic Review accountable democracies with the Security and Cooperation in Europe, the process at the Human Rights Council increased participation of women, UK was the lead EU member state in the (HRC). The UK delivered on these members of minorities, and members Permanent Council advancing freedom commitments by funding the Equalities of other underrepresented groups. of assembly and freedom of the media, and Human Rights Commission, in their In September, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad drafting and delivering statements on role as chair of the Commonwealth attended the Commonwealth behalf of the 28 EU member states Forum of NHRIs (CFNHRI), and by Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). The both in the Permanent Council and at ensuring that the annual meeting of CMAG received an update from the Europe’s largest human rights gathering, the CFNHRI could take place in the Commonwealth Secretary General on the Human Dimension Implementation margins of CHOGM. In partnership developments in member states, and Meeting in Warsaw in September. with the Secretariat for Pacific recognised the important work of the Communities, the UK provided support Commonwealth’s organisations in for Pacific Commonwealth countries advancing the fundamental political The Organisation for Security to establish and strengthen NHRIs, values of the Commonwealth. CMAG, and Cooperation in Europe and deliver each state’s international in conjunction with the Good Offices The Organisation for Security and human rights commitments. of the Commonwealth Secretary Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provides In Geneva, the UK facilitated greater General, plays a fundamental role in a forum for dialogue between its 57 engagement from member states championing the values and principles participating states, including on human by funding the appointment of two of the Commonwealth Charter. rights. The UK Ambassador chaired resident human rights advisers in the Human Dimension Committee the Commonwealth Small States (HDC), the OSCE human rights forum, Office. The FCO also hosted a series Europe for a second consecutive year, leading of meetings of all Commonwealth thematic meetings on issues including Permanent Representatives to discuss The European Union media freedom, freedom of religion human rights issues and how they The UK continued to help shape the or belief, gender equality, freedom could cooperate more effectively in EU’s human rights priorities in both of association, and democracy. The the HRC. We look forward to working the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) UK also ran HDC events on freedom with the five Commonwealth member and the UNGA Third Committee. of cultural expression, and on states due to join the HRC in 2019. We contributed to the drafting of combatting racism and xenophobia. resolutions tabled by the EU on As HDC chair, the UK led negotiations Protecting and Promoting countries with the most egregious on potential new human dimension Democracy human rights records, such as DPRK, commitments for the Milan Ministerial Syria, Democratic Republic of Council in December. Following At CHOGM, heads of government Congo, Burundi and Burma, and considerable UK effort, in close acknowledged the importance of on the illegally annexed Autonomous cooperation with the Italian OSCE promoting peace, providing access to Republic of Crimea and the city of chairmanship, OSCE states reached justice for all, and building effective, Sevastopol (Ukraine). Also of note were consensus on a new human dimension accountable, and inclusive national the UK’s successful efforts to strengthen decision for the first time since 2014. 29 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

The OSCE representative on freedom of The UK demonstrated its continued Despite these successes, the CoE faced the media described the decision as a commitment to the CoE treaty system significant challenges, with Russia “landmark”. Member states also agreed by ratifying the Convention on the continuing to withhold its budgetary a new commitment on preventing and Protection of Children against Sexual contribution, in protest at action combating violence against women. Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, known taken against its delegates in the CoE as the Lanzarote Convention. The Parliamentary Assembly following the Beyond the HDC, at Europe’s biggest UK also signed a new convention annexation of Crimea. This led to a human rights conference, the relating to sports competitions[14] deficit of over €54 million in the CoE’s Human Dimension Implementation and ratified two amending protocols budget. The CoE Secretary General, Meeting in Warsaw in September, to existing ones on European Thorbjørn Jagland, introduced a the UK delivered six statements, Landscape and on Personal Data. first outline of plans for reforms to and organised well-received events mitigate the impact of this shortfall. on fundamental freedoms and new 2018 was the 20th anniversary of the The UK offered advice and support. technologies, and on human rights CoE European Charter for Regional defenders. Throughout the year, the and Minority Languages.[15] In May, the The UK strongly supported the UK worked closely with like-minded UK hosted a visit from a Committee appointment of an independent states to keep human rights on the of Experts, which reported positively investigation panel in relation to agenda of the weekly OSCE Permanent on the UK’s implementation of the allegations of corruption in the CoE Council. The UK was also active in two charter in several fields, with special Parliamentary Assembly, and welcomed Vienna-based initiatives, Democracy mention given to work in the Isle the findings of the resulting report.[19] Defenders, and the Group of Friends of Man, Scotland, and Wales. on the Safety of Journalists, and were The UK has been one of the most one of 16 states to invoke the OSCE International vocal supporters of reform of the Vienna Mechanism and the Moscow European Court of Human Rights Criminal Justice Mechanism in relation to violations of (ECtHR)[16], to improve its efficiency, Support for international criminal the human rights of LGBT people in and ensure that the court can focus justice is a fundamental part of the Chechnya in the Russian Federation. on the most important cases before UK’s foreign policy. Our approach it, underpinned by the requirement is not limited to punishing the Council of Europe for robust implementation of the perpetrators: it aims to help victims The Council of Europe (CoE) remained European Convention on Human Rights and their communities come to an important institution for the at the domestic level, in line with the terms with the past, to contribute advancement of UK human rights principle of subsidiarity. In April, the UK to lasting peace and security, and to objectives in Europe. The Minister for supported the Danish chairmanship to deter those who might otherwise Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan secure the adoption of the Copenhagen commit such violations in the future. Declaration[17], which carried forward Duncan, reaffirmed the value attached The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the process of reforming the ECtHR, by the government to the work of the the world’s first permanent independent building on the progress provided by CoE in a Westminster Hall Debate in international criminal court with the 2012 Brighton Declaration.[18] April. The Minister for Human Rights, jurisdiction over the most serious crimes Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, On implementation of judgments, of international concern, including attended the CoE’s ministerial meeting the UK in the Committee of Ministers genocide, crimes against humanity, in Denmark in May, where he ensured welcomed Azerbaijan’s release of Ilgar and war crimes. The UK government that modern slavery and freedom Mammadov in August, following the believes that the ICC has an important of religion or belief were explicitly ECtHR’s 2014 ruling, although there role in pursuing accountability when referenced in the chair’s proposed remained concern that his release national authorities are either unable or list of topics on which the Council of was conditional. In December, the unwilling to do so. We provided both Europe should focus over the coming Committee of Ministers approved the practical and financial support to the years. Lord Ahmad also met Dunja non-legislative package of measures court, contributing £9.7 million in 2018. Mijatović, the new CoE Commissioner put forward by the UK government as The ICC considered situations from for Human Rights, with whom the UK implementation of ‘Hirst No 2 v UK’, across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, had worked closely in her previous and closed its supervision of this long- South East Asia and South America, role in the OSCE as Representative running judgment on prisoner voting. with proceedings continuing in three on Freedom of the Media. trials: the Ongwen case (Uganda), the

[14] https://rm.coe.int/16801cdd7e [15] https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-charter-regional-or-minority-languages [16] https://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home [17] https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/copenhagen-declaration-adopt-1 [18] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brighton-declaration-on-echr-reform-adopted [19] http://assembly.coe.int/Communication/IBAC/IBAC-GIAC-Report-EN.pdf CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 30

Ntaganda case (Democratic Republic Cooperation to secure a UN Human up humanitarian access to Rakhine of Congo), and the Gbagbo and Blé Rights Council Resolution to establish State, and to establish the conditions Goudé case (Ivory Coast). Al Hassan a mechanism to collect and preserve for the eventual safe return of the (Mali), and Yekatom (Central African evidence of human rights violations refugees who fled to Bangladesh. Republic) were surrendered to the ICC. to support future prosecutions. In 2018 the UK supported efforts In June, the ICC’s trust fund for victims In Nepal, we supported victims of to establish an EU global human launched an assistance programme armed conflict who are operating rights sanctions regime. We have in Central African Republic, to as part of the organisation ‘Conflict continued to coordinate with EU provide physical and psychological Victims Common Platform’, to member states to make further rehabilitation, as well as material enable them to hold and document advances towards a new regime. support, for victims and their families. truth telling conventions, and to At the UN, we championed imposing The UK contributed to the work of the improve understanding of human further designations on individuals trust fund for victims in Mali. The UK rights abuses perpetrated during the under the Libya sanctions regime to continues strongly to support the role conflict. Our funding helped them to support our wider efforts to address of the ICC. Positive reform is required memorialise how they were affected human trafficking and to make for the ICC to fulfil its mandate as by the conflict, and to mark their progress on reaching an inclusive intended under the Rome Statute. The subsequent struggle for justice. political settlement in Libya. Working UK will work with other States Parties closely with our partners, we secured and the ICC to achieve this goal. Sanctions agreement at the UN to impose The International Residual Mechanism sanctions against six major people- Sanctions, such as arms embargoes, for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) continued traffickers operating in Libya. This asset freezes, and travel bans, are one its mandate to fulfil the residual was a first for the UN and was the of the tools the UK uses, in coordination functions of the International Criminal result of work initiated by the UK. with multilateral bodies, to promote Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia human rights and democracy. We Currently the UK’s legal framework for (ICTY) and the International Criminal use sanctions as part of a broader sanctions is derived from EU law. In Tribunal for Rwanda. The tribunal political and diplomatic strategy, anticipation of the UK leaving the EU, heard the high-profile appeal case aiming to change behaviour, constrain Parliament passed the Sanctions and for Radovan Karadžić, who had been the ability of those sanctioned to Anti-Money Laundering Act, which convicted by the ICTY of committing continue unwanted behaviour, or signal received Royal Assent on 23 May. The genocide during the Balkans conflict. disapproval of that behaviour. The UK act provides powers for the UK to The IRMCT also continued to hear promotes a ‘Smarter Sanctions’ policy make secondary legislation to allow the retrial in the case of Stanišić and to ensure that sanctions are both legally us to take a range of actions against Simatović and issued a decision in the robust, and effective in delivering our those suspected of gross human rights Šeselj contempt case. The UK supported policies, including on human rights. This violations, as well as other criteria. the Extraordinary Chambers in the includes considering when sanctions Courts of Cambodia and the Residual should be increased or lifted, and Special Court for Sierra Leone through guarding against harmful consequences a total contribution of over £500,000. such as humanitarian suffering, which The UK has been at the forefront of undermine the long-term viability of international efforts to gather and sanctions as a foreign policy tool. analyse evidence of atrocities committed In 2018, we worked with EU partners in the Middle East. We contributed to impose travel bans and asset freezes £250,000 to the UN International, on members of the Burma armed Impartial, and Independent Mechanism forces (Tatmadaw), Border Guard to support the preparation of legal Police, and associated individuals who cases for serious crimes committed in committed human rights violations Syria since March 2011. The UK led against ethnic minorities, including international efforts on UNSCR 2379, the Rohingya in Rakhine State. These which resulted in the creation of the violations included obstructing the United Nations Investigative Team for provision of humanitarian assistance to the Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD) civilians in need, and obstructing the to collect, preserve, and store evidence conduct of independent investigations of Daesh crimes in Iraq. To date the into allegations of serious human UK has contributed more than £1 rights violations or abuses. Along million to the operation of UNITAD. with continued diplomatic efforts, In reaction to the Rohingya crisis in the Burma sanctions regime is an Burma, the UK worked closely with important tool to attempt to deter the EU and the Organisation of Islamic further human rights violations, to open 31 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 3: Human Rights Programme Funds

Human Rights Magna Carta Fund >> promoting gender equality; >> promoting the active participation of and Democracy for Human Rights women in peacebuilding discussions; Programme Spending and Democracy >> expanding the reach and The UK’s extensive diplomatic work The Magna Carta Fund for Human implementation of the Preventing on human rights and democracy is Rights and Democracy (MCF) is Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative; supported through a diverse portfolio the FCO’s flagship fund to deliver >> strengthening the efficiency of policy programme work. This FCO projects around the world aimed and capacity of the UN; policy programme spending is designed at furthering human rights and >> strengthening the Commonwealth; to achieve specific outcomes to defend democracy objectives. MCF projects or promote human rights in priority complement our diplomatic work to >> supporting the International countries, while remaining flexible further British interests overseas by Criminal Court; to enable us to adapt to changing tackling the root causes of human rights >> working with business to deliver circumstances and work with a variety violations, strengthening institutions stability in conflict zones. of partners. In some cases the FCO’s and governance, supporting the Departmental policy programme funding provides long-term support promotion and protection of human funding also helps advance the UN’s on issues which require sustained rights, and promoting democracy Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), engagement to deliver change. In and the rule of law. The fund’s main in particular goals 5 (Gender Equality) other cases the FCO uses programme focus is to support projects and and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong funding to support emerging priorities activity in the 30 Human Rights Priority Institutions). The FCO is committed and campaigns like modern slavery Countries identified in this report. to making its policy programme and girls’ education. Sometimes our The MCF allocated approximately spending as transparent as possible. programmatic support increases the £10.6 million to projects in financial More details of the FCO’s Overseas UK’s access and influence and can be year 2018/19 focusing across a range Development Assistance funded human directly linked to achieving a specific of human rights and democracy rights and democracy programming objective like the passage of improved [20] themes including strengthening civil are available on GOV.UK and via legislation. In other cases it is a way society, abolition of the death penalty, the International Aid Transparency to support local stakeholders to keep [21] promoting democracy, freedom of Initiative’s online registry. issues on the agenda in circumstances religion or belief, freedom of expression, where change is contested and slow. preventing torture, the rights of FCO’s human rights and democracy LGBT people, and the rule of law. Case Studies of programme spending across the globe Programme Work supported: democracy; freedom of supporting Human expression; human rights defenders; Supporting the Rules- justice and penal reform; LGBT rights; Based International Rights and Democracy media freedom; work to tackle modern In 2018, the FCO funded the ‘Road slavery; the Preventing Sexual Violence System to Abolition’ project, which seeks to in Conflict Initiative; torture prevention; The rules-based international system progress the abolition of the death responsible business; women and girls’ is founded on relationships between penalty in Malawi and challenge the rights and international justice. This is states, and through international death penalty in Tanzania. It built in addition to DFID programme spend institutions and frameworks which upon the successes of the ‘Malawi overseas, and funding through cross- share rules and agreements on Resentencing’ project run by NGO government funds such as the Conflict, behaviour and standards. In financial Reprieve from 2016 to 2018, which Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). year 2018/19, in addition to MCF saw the majority of the 168 individuals funding, the FCO allocated £7.79 million affected by the mandatory death to work supporting the rules-based penalty in Malawi receive a rehearing. international system which directly Of these, 154 individuals received a new and indirectly supported human sentence, 112 of which were granted rights and democracy including: an order of immediate release. These successes laid the ground work for

[20] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-aid-tackling-global-challenges-in-the-national-interest [21] https://iatistandard.org/en/using-data/iati-tools-and-resources/using-iati-registry/ CHAPTER 3: FCO Human Rights Programme Funds 32

the next two-year ‘Road to Abolition’ project starting in 2018 which sought to empower and strengthen the capacity of local lawyers and grassroots organisations to campaign for legal abolition in Malawi and to use strategic litigation to secure restrictions to the death penalty in Tanzania. The UK has a long-standing policy to oppose the use of the death penalty. Our policy programmes support this work by either helping increase the number of abolitionist countries, reducing the number of executions and restricting its use, and reducing the use of the death penalty against juvenile and vulnerable offenders. In 2017/18, the project on ‘General Standards for Death Penalty Drug Cases’ in China provided effective guidance for lawyers defending cases across China and included guidance, workshops and training to enhance the ability of defence lawyers to apply different techniques and arguments. Defence lawyers have drawn directly on the guidelines to successfully overturn several death penalty verdicts. A community consultation by the Women’s Taskforce, Sudan, November 2018 A free and independent media is essential. It can act as an enabler for Advisor for Human Rights to strengthen As part of a longer-term project which the full range of human rights and local capacity to use non-judicial started in 2014, the FCO continued to contributes to good governance, remedies to resolve potential conflicts. provide funding for work in Kosovo democracy and equality. Our Community-focused guidelines aimed that provided access for survivors of programmes work to promote at preventing conflicts have also been sexual violence, including minorities, a free and independent media developed and delivered to business, to trauma-sensitive multidisciplinary and to contribute to the safety of local organisations, and communities, rehabilitation. The majority of the journalists worldwide. In 2017/18, the at regional and national level. beneficiaries reported improved psychological functioning and improved MCF supported media freedom in In Sudan, FCO funding over two relations with family members Uzbekistan, by helping deliver media years has supported the creation of a and their community. Two surveys content from Reuters Media Express Women’s Taskforce (WT) to hold regular showed significant positive change to a number of regional TV stations community consultations across Sudan, and perception of the general public with significant viewing figures advocate women’s participation in the towards victims of gender-based national and regional peace-building Prosperous societies go hand in hand violence. This project significantly processes and coordinate with the with table and secure countries. As contributed towards the completion work of other civil society organisations a result, one of the key areas of the of secondary legislation for reparation and women’s rights defenders. As programme is working with the private schemes for victims of sexual violence well as advocacy work domestically, sector and civil society on initiatives during the conflict in Kosovo. that tackle the drivers of conflict. In the WT also represents the views of 2017/18, the MCF supported a project Sudanese women internationally: in Colombia to introduce the UN members campaigned for the human Guiding Principles on Business and rights situation in Sudan to be fairly Human Rights, and to reduce conflicts represented at the Human Rights associated with business operation Council, and they brought the views of in conflict-affected areas. The project women in conflict areas in Sudan to the successfully constructed a protocol of Commission on the Status of Women. early alerts and urgent measures with The WT’s work has also supported other the Working Group of Coal Companies. UK projects with the African Union. The project worked with the Presidential 33 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 4: Consular—Human Rights and Assistance

Consular Cases of forced marriage. We also work to most effective. We work closely remove the need for consular assistance with legal teams engaged by British The advice and practical support by altering attitudes to forced marriage; nationals facing the death penalty, provided by UK consular staff to supporting improved detention and are supported in this work by support British nationals overseas when conditions; increasing awareness of two respected NGOs: Reprieve, and something goes wrong is at the heart international standards; and informing the Death Penalty Project, which of the FCO’s work. Our priority is to British nationals of the law and provide legal assistance and advice. assist those most in need, with the level customs in other countries and the In 2018, the UK supported projects and type of assistance offered tailored potential penalties for violating them. to the individual circumstances of each which contributed to a greater culture person. The UK continued to provide of compliance with human rights professional, non-judgmental assistance Death Penalty standards in those countries which to British nationals overseas, irrespective retain the death penalty. For example, As of December, 14 British nationals of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, in Indonesia we funded a project faced the death penalty worldwide. gender identity, marital status, disability, which aimed, through a series of Over 30 more were detained on charges expert-led workshops, to improve and religion or belief. We dealt with over which could attract the death penalty 22,000 new assistance cases in 2018. the training available to lawyers if the defendants were found guilty. handling death penalty cases. Respect for an individual’s human rights The UK opposes the use of the death is integral to the provision of consular In 2019, we will continue to penalty in all circumstances. If a British assistance. We continue to lobby against intervene in death penalty cases national is facing a charge which the death penalty and judicial corporal as necessary and to look for other carries the death penalty, or has punishment; raise allegations of torture opportunities to support local efforts been sentenced to death, with their and mistreatment and other human to abolish the death penalty. consent we will normally intervene rights violations; provide support to and seek to prevent their execution at those in detention; and give advice and whatever stage and level is deemed support to victims and potential victims CHAPTER 4: Consular—Human Rights and Assistance 34

Torture and Mistreatment The UK takes all allegations of torture and mistreatment affecting British nationals extremely seriously. With the consent of the affected individual, we follow up as soon as possible with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case. Our overriding priority in such cases is to ensure the safety of the person involved. If the person is detained or in hospital, our support could include increasing the frequency of our visits, assisting the individual to gain access to medical treatment, or considering support for a transfer to another wing or facility. FCO Minister Harriett Baldwin speaking at the 40th anniversary of Prisoners Abroad, London 2018 Although we cannot ourselves formally investigate torture or mistreatment awareness of forced marriage, and allegations overseas, with the Overseas Detainees to help professionals recognise the individual’s permission we can raise In addition to taking action on specific warning signs and take the right them with the local authorities, human rights violations, we aim to action to protect children and demanding an end to the mistreatment support the welfare of all British adults from this abhorrent abuse. and investigation of the incident, nationals in detention overseas who in line with international standards. request consular assistance. As of In November, the UK hosted a two- When responding to an allegation, November, the FCO was supporting day international conference on consular staff will avoid any action 2,335 British nationals in detention Ending Female Genital Mutilation which might increase the risk to the overseas (including those in police (FGM) and Forced Marriage, bringing person concerned, or to any other custody, in immigration detention, on together international FGM and forced person who may be affected. remand, and sentenced prisoners). marriage experts, law enforcement practitioners, politicians, activists, In addition, we hold periodic reviews of To do this, we work in close partnership and survivors. This offered a forum all such cases to identify regional trends, with the respected charity, Prisoners to discuss the response to the crimes and develop strategies to engage and Abroad, which offers practical and and to share best practice, strengthen lobby the local authorities. In November, emotional support to British detainees links, and consider further action we reviewed a total of 132 allegations oversees and to their families in which might be taken internationally. reported to the FCO, of which 91 the UK. We worked together on were reported since November 2017. over 1,000 cases, particularly those The UK continued to fund five NGOs, involving vulnerable detainees. The based both overseas and in the UK, We also consider how we can help Minister for Consular Services, Harriett to provide refuge for those at risk improve countries’ compliance with Baldwin, co-hosted a reception in abroad and to support repatriated their obligations to prevent and November to celebrate the 40th victims of forced marriage. combat torture and mistreatment. For anniversary of Prisoners Abroad. example, in Thailand we worked in In 2019, the FMU will continue to partnership with the local authorities engage internationally with likeminded and experts to identify areas of policy Forced Marriage countries to share best practice; or practice which may present a risk to provide assistance to victims and the fair, reasonable, and safe treatment The UK remains a world leader in potential victims; build frontline of detainees, and to recommend the fight to tackle forced marriage, capability; and raise awareness of the improvements. This work led to the with the Forced Marriage Unit issue across communities in the UK. development of standard operating (FMU), a joint FCO and Home Office procedures for prisons. A similar project Unit, leading efforts to combat the was developed to improve the operation practice at home and abroad. of immigration detention centres. In 2018, the FMU provided advice or In 2018, we continued to train and support related to a possible forced advise our staff on international marriage in over 1,700 cases relating obligations on torture and mistreatment to over 70 countries. We delivered and on the appropriate action outreach events to a wide range of to take in high-risk countries. agencies, schools, and communities. Through these, we aimed to raise 35 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries

Afghanistan enhance the Afghan government’s with the EU on the World Day Against capacity to counter such attacks the Death Penalty and when Minister The ongoing conflict continued to be on freedom of religion or belief. for Human Rights Lord (Tariq) Ahmad the greatest barrier to improving the of Wimbledon met Afghanistan’s Although significant progress has been human rights situation in Afghanistan. Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah. The most pressing human rights issues made on women’s rights since the end concerned civilian casualties in the of the Taliban regime in 2001, women Modern slavery remains a problem conflict, women’s rights, the situation of continue to face major challenges, in Afghanistan, despite the Afghan religious minorities, media freedom, and primarily in relation to gender- government making efforts to torture and ill-treatment in detention. based violence, access to education, improve the situation through a political participation, and economic revised penal code. This increases In 2018, the UN Assistance Mission to empowerment. In May, UNAMA the penalties for human trafficking Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented highlighted how violence against crimes, and criminalises activities 10,993 civilian casualties. Of these, women remained widespread, and relating to ‘bacha bazi’, a practice 3,804 represented civilian deaths; access to justice for victims continued to whereby men exploit boys for social an increase in 11% as compared to be inhibited.[25] The UK provided funding and sexual entertainment. The most [22] 2017. Anti-government elements— to improve the health sector response to common forms of modern slavery predominantly the Taliban and Daesh— gender-based violence. We also carried include labour exploitation, sexual were responsible for the majority out work to widen access to education exploitation, and forced marriage. of casualties. In October, UNAMA among the most marginalised girls. Despite the media’s greater released a special report expressing The UK’s Girls’ Education Challenge independence and diversity than particular concern over the increased has helped over 300,000 Afghan under the Taliban regime, Afghanistan use of deliberate and indiscriminate girls attend primary school. A second still ranked only 118 in the World attacks by anti-government elements phase will support over 70,000 highly [23] Press Freedom Index.[26] The safety against the civilian population. marginalised girls to go on to secondary of journalists remained a critical education. Afghanistan remains a focus 2018 also saw an increase in mass problem. Reporters without Borders country in the UK’s National Action Plan casualty attacks directed specifically describe Afghanistan as one of on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). at the Shi’a Muslim religious minority, the most dangerous places in [24] We will continue to work with the many of whom are ethnic Hazara. the world for journalists to work. Afghan government in implementing UNAMA documented 705 civilian The high and growing number of its own National Action Plan on casualties resulting from such attacks journalist deaths continued, with WPS to ensure that women have a in the first nine months of the year. 14 journalists being killed during meaningful role in Afghan society. Attacks also targeted the Sikh and 2018.[27] The security challenges Hindu community; an attack in The Afghan government has been faced by journalists put freedom of Jalalabad in July killed 19 people, able to reduce, but not eliminate, expression under serious threat. including the sole Sikh candidate in the instances of torture and ill-treatment Parliamentary elections took place in parliamentary elections. Daesh claimed of people detained by the Afghan October, with high numbers of Afghan responsibility for the majority of attacks National Police and National Directorate people, including women, turning against religious minorities. British of Security, since the publication out to exercise their right to vote. Embassy staff in Kabul maintained of UNAMA’s 2017 Treatment of This was despite a difficult backdrop regular engagement with Hazara and Detainees report. The death penalty of security threats and organisational Sikh representatives in the Afghan also remains a legal punishment in challenges. UNAMA documented 56 parliament and with members of their Afghanistan. The UK continues to deaths and 379 injuries among civilians wider communities. The UK government express its strong opposition to the resulting from violence against polling continued to highlight the need to use of the death penalty, including

[22] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/afghanistan_protection_of_civilians_annual_report_2018_final_24_feb_2019_1.pdf [23] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/protection_of_civilians_in_armed_conflict_ special_report_suicide_and_other_ied_devices_october_2018_-_english.pdf [24] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/protection_of_civilians_in_armed_conflict_ special_report_suicide_and_other_ied_devices_october_2018_-_english.pdf [25] https://unama.unmissions.org/women%27s-rights-reports [26] https://rsf.org/en/ranking [27] https://rsf.org/en/barometer CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 36

centres and voters during the three related to his activity on social media, In July, Alistair Burt co-chaired the days in which voting took place.[28] in addition to the two-year sentence UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group in he had already served. We urged the London, which focused on a number In 2019, we will continue to encourage Government of Bahrain to protect of areas, including the provision of progress on human rights in freedom of expression for all its UK expertise in support of Bahraini- Afghanistan, particularly in the priority citizens in line with its international led reform initiatives. The Minister areas of civilian casualties, womens’ commitments. The then Minister for also responded on behalf of the UK rights, media freedom, the protection of the Middle East, Alistair Burt, issued government to a debate on Bahrain in minorities, and torture and ill-treatment statements expressing our concerns in Westminster Hall on 11 September.[30] in detention. We will do so bilaterally February and December. Bahrain was This covered a range of issues, including and with international partners, through ranked 166 on the World Press Freedom human rights, and the Minister our excellent relationship with the index score[29], down from 164 in 2017. commented on the unprecedented Afghan government, and in partnership Bahraini reform programme while with key civil society organisations. The UK government issued a noting that we raise concerns. statement of concern over the life sentence handed down to Sheikh Bahrain was elected to the UN Human Bahrain Ali Salman, the former Secretary Rights Council in October. The UK 2018 saw a mixed picture of General of the proscribed Bahraini believes this to be an opportunity for challenges and positive developments group Al Wefaq Society. We Bahrain to strengthen its engagement with regard to the human rights continue to monitor the case. with the UN human rights institutions, situation in Bahrain. The UK including the Office of the UN The UK worked with Bahrain’s government continued to reiterate Human Rights Commissioner. independent human rights oversight the need for the state to protect and bodies, including the Ministry of In November, Bahrain held defend universal human rights. Interior Ombudsman, the Special parliamentary elections for the Deprivation of nationality, where this Investigations Unit, the Prisoner and fifth time. Alistair Burt issued a renders an individual stateless, remained Detainees’ Rights Commission and statement welcoming the successful a concern. The UK raised this issue with the National Institute for Human conclusion of elections, and noting the Government of Bahrain. Bahraini Rights, the first such organisations to that Bahrain was one of only two courts ordered the removal of Bahraini be established in the region. The UK Gulf countries with a democratically- nationality from a number of individuals, has supported the development of elected parliament. The UK welcomed the majority of whom having been effective mechanisms to hold state continuing progress in and commitment convicted of acts of terrorism. Bahrain institutions, including the police, the to the democratic process. is not a signatory to the 1954 and security service and the prison service, There was progress on a number 1961 UN Conventions on Statelessness to account. Getting this right will have of other human rights issues. New and is not bound by their provisions. a positive impact on a range of human legislation providing for alternatives to rights issues, including providing Bahrain retains the death penalty, but detention for some criminal offences independent oversight of security did not carry out any death sentences in was implemented. Bahrain became personnel, monitoring standards 2018. The UK welcomed the decision of the first country in the Arab region of detention, and investigating King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who, in to be granted Tier 1 status in the US allegations of mistreatment. April, commuted the death sentences of Department of State Trafficking in four individuals who had been tried and While these human rights oversight Persons Report.[31] This means that convicted in a capital case. However, bodies still have more to do, they Bahrain has fully met the Trafficking we remained concerned about the have already had a positive effect, Victims Protection Act’s minimum death sentences which continued to including by prosecuting police standards, including the prohibition be handed down by Bahraini courts. officers accused of human rights of severe forms of trafficking in The UK is firmly opposed to the death abuses. Following an investigation persons and punishment of acts of penalty and it is our long-standing conducted jointly by the Ministry of such trafficking. Bahrain is recognised policy to oppose capital punishment in Interior’s Ombudsman and the Special as a regional leader on work to all circumstances. The Government of Investigations Unit, the Bahraini combat human trafficking; Bahrain Bahrain is fully aware of our position. Ministry of Justice ordered a retrial co-hosted an event with the UK on in the capital cases of Muhammad modern slavery in the margins of the The UK government raised concerns Ramadan and Hussein Moosa. The UN General Assembly. Bahrain built over the upholding of the five-year UK welcomed this decision and we on its strong reputation on women’s sentence given to Nabeel Rajab, a continue to monitor these cases. empowerment, with the Supreme Bahraini activist convicted on charges

[28] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/special_report_on_2018_elections_violence_november_2018.pdf [29] https://rsf.org/en/ranking_table [30] https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-09-11/debates/D741EBB4-DB9C-4F66-AF85-B0E1043E5214/Bahrain [31] https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/ 37 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Council of Women proactively the UN General Assembly. Ministers Dhaka, 54 journalists were charged promoting the participation of women repeatedly raised concerns about in 2018 under the Information and in public life. The first female Speaker of the election with the Government Communication Telecommunications Parliament (and currently the only one of Bangladesh and with opposition Act, which criminalises the posting in the Middle East) was elected, and parties throughout 2018. While it was online of inflammatory or derogatory the number of women MPs doubled encouraging that all opposition parties information against the state or following the elections in November. eventually contested the elections, there individuals. Dr Shahidul Alam, a photo- were credible accounts of obstacles, journalist and human rights activist, The UK will continue to support including arrests, which constrained or was arrested under the act in August. Bahraini-led reform in 2019 by prevented campaigning by opposition The Foreign Secretary, other ministers, providing a range of technical parties, and of irregularities in the and the High Commission raised Dr expertise to promote the rule of conduct of elections on polling day Alam’s case with the Government law and further develop the work which prevented some people from of Bangladesh. Dr Alam was of Bahrain’s human rights oversight voting. The UK urged a full, credible and subsequently released in November. bodies. We believe that working transparent resolution of all complaints together in this way offers the best Bangladesh has a National Plan of related to the conduct of the elections. opportunity to see the positive changes Action to Combat Human Trafficking which the Government of Bahrain The number of reports of extrajudicial for 2018 to 2020. Progress remained has committed to implementing, killings and enforced disappearances slow, but we continued our work on including on international agendas during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s preventing child labour, child marriage such as women’s empowerment ‘war on drugs’, which took place from and irregular migration. Our modern and combating modern slavery. May to July, supported allegations slavery strategy pulls these and other that the security forces continue to thematic work strands together, We will continue to engage with be able to act with impunity. Many and we will use the UK Bangladesh the Bahraini government and incidents from previous years remained Strategic Dialogue in 2019 to pursue relevant institutions on a wide unresolved. The FCO continued to these issues in greater depth. range of human rights issues and, raise the importance of compliance where appropriate, will continue to We saw no progress towards the with human rights standards with the have open and frank discussions, abolition of the death penalty: 191 Government of Bangladesh, including both in private and in public. death sentences were reportedly issued at the Universal Periodic Review at the (including 19 for the 2004 attack on UN Human Rights Council in May. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina), although People’s Republic Freedom of expression attracted none were carried out. On World Day of Bangladesh significant UK and civil society attention Against the Death Penalty, the UK following the introduction of a new joined other EU members to call on the The protection of human rights and and controversial Digital Security Act in authorities to introduce a moratorium democracy in Bangladesh diminished October. The Bangladeshi government on executions as a first step towards in 2018, and a general election in sought to reassure the public that the the abolition of capital punishment, December was affected by numerous law was designed to protect privacy and to reiterate our opposition to the credible allegations of irregularities and and maintain religious harmony, but death penalty in all circumstances. by significant violence. There was an civil society saw it as a restriction on increase in allegations of extrajudicial The UNHCR estimated that the freedom of expression ahead of the killings and freedom of expression Rohingya refugee population in general election. The British High was further reduced. Homosexuality Bangladesh increased by a further Commissioner joined an EU statement remains illegal in Bangladesh, and LGBT 14,649 during the period between raising concerns that the act would campaigners have been targeted by January and October. This brought unduly restrict freedom of expression extremists in the past and remain under the total population of refugees who and calling for it to be brought in line pressure. Enforced disappearances, have fled atrocities in Burma to over with the provisions of the Universal freedom of religion or belief, and 900,000. Bangladesh showed great Declaration of Human Rights, and modern slavery remain UK human generosity in welcoming the Rohingya the Minister for Asia, Mark Field, rights priorities in Bangladesh. refugees and conditions in the refugee raised the issue with Bangladesh’s camps in Cox’s Bazar improved in The UK was consistent and clear that Information Minister in December. comparison with the start of the we wanted to see free, fair, inclusive, Bangladesh is ranked 146th out of crisis in August 2017. However, risks and peaceful elections which would 180 countries in the 2018 World remained, including of sexual violence, support Bangladesh’s development as Press Freedom Index compiled by trafficking, violent crime, abduction, a democratic and prosperous country. Reporters Without Borders, the same exploitation, and limited access to The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, position as in 2017.[32] According basic services for men, women and delivered this message to Prime Minister to Ain o Salish Kendra, a law and children in the camps. Challenging Sheikh Hasina in September during mediation organisation based in conditions and issues relating to their

[32] https://rsf.org/en/ranking CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 38

A young child looks at the camera as his mum takes him to a clinic to be checked for diphtheria in the Kutupalong camp for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, January 2018, Russell Watkins/DFID legal status under Bangladeshi law of others who have criticised the the Burmese government to implement meant that access to justice and security civilian government or the military. the Rakhine Advisory Commission’s remained limited. The UK committed recommendations, which would be a In September, the UN Independent an additional £70 million through UN clear and demonstrable step towards International Fact Finding Mission agencies and NGOs, prioritising the improving the human rights situation. (FFM) published its report on the protection of rights, including essential situation in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan Human rights violations and abuses documentation, child protection, anti- States. Drawing on 875 detailed were also documented in Shan and trafficking measures, case management interviews conducted in five countries, Kachin states, where decades of conflict for survivors of abuse and exploitation, the report’s recommendations between ethnic armed organisations and legal assistance services. The total included that senior Burmese military and the military continued to displace UK commitment is £129 million. generals should be investigated thousands. In December, fighting and prosecuted in an international between the Arakan Army and the Burma (Myanmar) criminal tribunal for genocide, war Burmese military in Rakhine State crimes and crimes against humanity. escalated, displacing upwards of The human rights situation in Burma 10,000 people. A Rakhine nationalist remained poor in 2018. In addition to In Rakhine State, the FFM found that leader was also imprisoned amid abuses and violations suffered by the the Rohingya continued to be denied civil unrest. The FFM found evidence Rohingya, human rights violations were freedom of movement, with those of soldiers shooting civilians, and of committed by the Burmese security remaining in Rakhine state confined widespread looting and the destruction forces across the country, including in to their houses with limited access to of homes. Striking similarities were Shan, Chin, and Kachin States. Lack markets and livelihoods. The Rohingya found in operations and conduct of accountability for these crimes continued to fear for their safety, lacking across different states, indicating a remained a concern. Widespread protection against vigilante attacks systematic approach by the military. gender inequality persisted, with and theft of property, and fled to women severely underrepresented Bangladesh at an average rate of 1,733 Following the release of the FFM report in public life. Freedom of expression per month. The UK provided emergency in September, the UK invited the FFM continued to be restricted, as shown food, safe water and hygiene for members to brief the UN Security by the sentencing of two Reuters nearly one million people living in Council in October. The UK played a journalists in November, and the arrest refugee camps or host communities in leading role in the UN General Assembly Bangladesh. The UK continued to urge Third Committee resolution on Burma, 39 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

expressing concern at the human rights the trial of two Reuters investigative and a lack of public trust allowed situation. Through the EU, we pushed journalists, who were sentenced to this culture of impunity to flourish. to maintain pressure on the military seven years in jail in November for As a result, a deep and widespread by imposing targeted sanctions on 14 their reporting on military violations. climate of fear existed in Burundi individuals. Burma took an encouraging The Embassy raised concerns over the where there remained little space step in June, launching a domestic arrest of two Eleven Media journalists for normal democratic freedoms. Commission of Inquiry to investigate for defamation, and issued a statement On 17 May, the Burundian government alleged violations and abuses. However, condemning the sentencing of three held a referendum to amend the questions remain over the credibility activists for peacefully protesting against Constitution to allow the president and transparency of the inquiry’s work. the conflict in Kachin. The Assistance to stand for a third term. There were The UK was instrumental in establishing Association for Political Prisoners in repeated violations of the human rights an investigative mechanism through Burma reported in December that of people who refused to register to the UN Human Rights Council. This will there were 35 political prisoners vote, or who were suspected of calling document, store and analyse evidence and 292 awaiting trial. The UK also on voters to reject the constitutional of the most serious international crimes funded projects to support the mental amendment. Of voters, 73% voted in and violations of international law, and health of former political prisoners. favour of the constitutional amendment, prepare files to facilitate and expedite In 2019, the UK will continue to which further strengthened and possible future criminal proceedings. work for a sustainable resolution concentrated presidential powers. Throughout Burma, women continued to the situation in Rakhine, with Incidents of hate speech continued, to be heavily underrepresented in a country-wide focus on freedom increasing the risk of fostering a decision-making processes. Only 10% of expression and on preventing climate of ethnic confrontation. Many of national MPs are women (the second sexual violence in conflict. broadcasters, including the BBC, were fewest in ASEAN) and only State suspended from reporting within Counsellor and de facto leader Aung Burundi, and those who continued San Suu Kyi holds a national ministerial Burundi were subject to a number of limitations, position. Of the almost 17,000 ward The main human rights violations restricting civil society and media space. and village administrators across the in Burundi in 2018 concerned country, about 100 are women. The democracy, freedom of expression, The political crisis severely affected British Embassy supported work at sexual violence, slavery, torture, and the economic and social rights of the local, state and regional level to discrimination against LGBT people. the population, often resulting improve women’s participation in in democratic freedoms being The most serious violations of human politics, peace, and civil society. undermined. According to a report rights, notably extrajudicial killings, by the UN Commission of Inquiry The UK supported the Girls’ National arbitrary arrest and detention, on Burundi in September, the Conference to create ‘safe networks’ for torture, sexual violence, and enforced Government of Burundi failed to girls to discuss politics with confidence. disappearances continued unchecked. devote the greatest possible share of We launched the National Action Plan The UN Commission of Inquiry on its domestic resources to the realisation on Women, Peace and Security 2018 to Burundi corroborated this trend in of economic and social rights.[35] A 2022, with Burma as a focus country. September.[33] The human rights three-month suspension was imposed To raise awareness of sexual violence in organisation Ligue Iteka registered on the operations of all international conflict, the UK invited two filmmakers 1,884 people killed, 892 tortured and NGOs, unless they complied with a from Burma to attend the international 10,776 persons arbitrarily arrested range of conditions, including meeting film festival in London in November, since the outbreak of the political ethnic staff quotas. This suspension which focused on fighting the stigma crisis in April 2015.[34] The National had a direct impact on the most associated with sexual violence. Intelligence Service and the police were vulnerable in the population who rely Within Burma, the UK supported most frequently responsible for these on NGOs to meet their basic needs. Action Aid Myanmar to deliver a violations. However, the ruling party’s project which empowers women to youth league, the Imbonerakure, took Burundi had the second highest identify their safety needs and raise an increasing role in the Government prevalence of modern slavery within their concerns with the authorities. of Burundi’s security apparatus and in Africa because of compulsory civic the persecution of political opponents service requirements in areas such as Freedom of expression faced and civil society representatives, while education or national defence.[36] further challenges. During his visit in operating outside any formal structure September, the Foreign Secretary raised The Burundian government viewed of accountability or state control. concerns with Aung San Suu Kyi over same-sex relationships as being against The judiciary’s lack of independence

[33] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundiReportHRC39.aspx [34] http://ligue-iteka.bi/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/DECLARATION-70-ANS-DUDH.pdf [35] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundiReportHRC39.aspx [36] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/regional-analysis/africa/ CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 40

Burundian culture, maintaining the ban In 2019, the UK will continue to focus secondary displacement of 42,000 on homosexuality introduced in 2009. on preventing human rights violations people, deaths of over 100, and massive Under Burundian law, a person engaged and abuses, especially in the run-up to destruction to the assets and shelters in sexual relations with someone of the the 2020 presidential elections. The UK of already very vulnerable people. same sex may be fined and imprisoned will support regional and international The United Nations Development for up to two years. LGBT people efforts to find a peaceful political Programme (UNDP) 2018 Human continued to face threats of physical solution to the conflict within Burundi, Development Indices and Indicators intimidation, arrest, and discrimination. in line with the Arusha Accords, and will report ranked CAR second from bottom work with the international community The Burundian government’s policy of of the 188 countries included in the to bring an end to the violence and non-cooperation in multilateral fora analysis.[39] The 2018 Global Slavery to hold the perpetrators to account. continued. It ordered the closure of Index estimated that 101,000 people in the Office of the United Nations High CAR were absolute victims of modern Commissioner for Human Rights in Central African Republic slavery.[40] Consequently, the human Burundi, restricting their capacity to rights outlook for CAR remained The human rights situation in Central report on human rights violations. extremely difficult and complex. African Republic (CAR) continued to The UK’s human rights objectives in deteriorate. Human rights abuses and The UN Independent Expert on the Burundi focused on human rights violations included killings, torture, situation of human rights in CAR monitoring and minimising violations, conflict-related sexual violence, the cited the fight against the impunity of opening up political space, and recruitment of children to armed perpetrators of serious human rights media freedom. Funded by the UK groups, attacks on humanitarian violations and abuses as essential government, the Burundi NGO ‘Bridges workers, civilians, and UN peacekeepers, to solving the country’s crisis. to Justice’ provided training to judicial attacks on schools, hospitals, and The lack of a functioning judicial system police officers on respecting the human places of worship, and denial of resulted in little action being taken to rights of suspects and those detained. access to humanitarian aid. Religion address grave human rights violations At least 150 judicial police officers continued to be used as an instrument and abuses. However, progress was from across the country benefited of violence, with attacks often taking made towards establishing a Special from this training.[37] The UK provided place along ethnic and religious lines. Criminal Court (SCC) with a mandate funding to support local human rights In September, the UN Independent to end impunity for crimes under networks and an independent media Expert on the human rights situation international law. The court held its outlet. The Minister for Africa, Harriett in CAR, Marie-Therese Keita Bocoum, inaugural session on 22 October. The Baldwin, met the Burundian Foreign reported that more than 60% of UK commended the effort taken by Minister at the UN General Assembly, violations and abuses of human rights the CAR government and partners and urged the Burundi government and international humanitarian law had which made this possible. The court to respect fundamental freedoms been perpetrated by members of armed will investigate, prosecute and try for all, stressing the importance of groups.[38] Widespread and violent serious violations of human rights continued engagement within the clashes continued between various and serious violations of international Inter-Burundi dialogue to resolve the armed groups, including ex-Séléka, humanitarian law, in particular the continuing political crisis and ensure (Muslim) rebel factions, Antibalaka crime of genocide, crimes against open and inclusive elections in 2020. (Christian) and criminal gangs, who humanity, and war crimes committed The UK worked through the EU and UN control large areas of the country, in CAR since 1 January 2003. to intensify international monitoring and particularly in and around mining areas. One of the key demands at the Bangui reporting of human rights violations The situation was exacerbated by Forum in 2015 on national reconciliation and abuses. We lobbied to ensure that ongoing impunity, as well as contempt was the call for accountability and Burundi remained on the UN Security for and violation of international justice. The overarching objective Council agenda. The UK supported humanitarian law by armed militia. of the SCC’s work will be to fight the rollover of the suspension of direct The resurgence of human rights impunity, strengthen the rule of law, EU financial support to the Burundian violations and abuses in the country has and, crucially, support victims who administration, ensuring that EU resulted in large numbers of displaced lie at the heart of transitional justice. development funds went directly people and refugees. In November, Between November and December, to programmes which benefitted violent clashes between armed militias there were two high-profile transfers the Burundian population, and not in the town of Alindao occurred in of CAR nationals to the International through government channels. internally displaced camps in Alindao, Criminal Court in The Hague. Those and Batangafo. This resulted in the accused are being tried for serious

[37] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-funds-training-on-human-rights-for-burundian-police-force [38] https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G18/247/50/PDF/G1824750.pdf?OpenElement [39] http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2018_human_development_statistical_update.pdf [40] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/findings/regional-analysis/africa 41 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

atrocities, including crimes against shift the international understanding including some MPs, continued to be humanity. This marked a significant of human rights to focus more on concerned that Falun Gong practitioners step by the CAR authorities in taking development, and on social and might be victims of organ harvesting. the fight against impunity seriously. economic rights. The continuing The authorities tightened their control detention and trials of human rights In November, the UK participated in the over freedom of expression, association, lawyers and defenders, and lack of Universal Periodic Review at the Human and assembly. Tens of thousands of due process and judicial transparency, Rights Council of CAR’s fulfilment of its social media accounts were made remained important concerns. human rights obligations. A UN report illegal, millions of online posts deleted, containing stakeholder submissions and China’s escalating crackdown in and many online news outlets closed. observations highlighted an array of Xinjiang, particularly against Uyghur LGBT relationships were banned from complex human rights violations and Muslims, was a major human rights being shown in the media and forced abuses by a number of armed militia.[41] concern for the UK in 2018 and ‘conversion therapy’ continued. Chinese Human Rights Watch noted “the lack of was an important focus for our Foreign NGO legislation continued to access to the health service for victims lobbying.[43] There were credible close off international links, causing of sexual violence due to insecurity, reports of more than one million continued damage to local civil society poverty, and stigma”.[42] Furthermore, Uyghur Muslims and members of other development.[44] Freedom House members of the armed forces continued ethnic minority groups being held in again ranked China bottom in the to use sexual violence as a weapon extrajudicial ‘political re-education’ world for Net Freedoms.[45] Reporters of war and as a mechanism to punish camps, of widespread surveillance Without Borders once again ranked women and girls, with instances of and restrictions targeted at minorities, China as the country with the most gang rape being particularly serious. and of families detained and children journalists in jail, with 60 in detention. We recommended that CAR should forcibly adopted. China cited ‘de- Lawyers and human rights defenders abolish the death penalty, investigate extremification’ as its motivation. We continued to come under significant all reported cases of sexual exploitation assessed that China’s actions were pressure. Lawyer Wang Quanzhang was against children, and establish a national indiscriminate and disproportionate, tried on 26 December, having spent action plan to protect children against and risked fuelling ethnic tensions. over three years in pre-trial detention. sexual violence. The CAR government Restrictions to the freedom of religion Lawyer Yu Wensheng was detained will respond at the 40th session of the or belief and restrictions targeted at in January, but was not brought to Human Rights Council in March 2019. ethnic minorities continued across trial. Gao Zhisheng remained missing. In 2019, the UK will continue to work China, particularly in the Tibet Many lawyers working on ‘sensitive’ with the UN and EU to improve the Autonomous Region and other Tibetan issues had their licences revoked. In political and security situation in areas. Tibetan language advocate Tashi July, Liu Xia (widow of Nobel Peace CAR, and to provide humanitarian Wangchuk was sentenced in May to five Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo) was allowed assistance. The UN peacekeeping years in prison. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, to leave China, but the next day mission (MINUSCA), renewed from 13 the Dalai Lama’s choice of Panchen veteran pro-democracy campaigner December 2018 to 15 November 2019, Lama, remained missing. There were Qin Yongmin was sentenced to 13 will maintain its focus on the protection reports of self-immolations in Sichuan. years in prison. Swedish national of civilians. The UK will support the (and Hong Kong bookseller) Gui New regulations introduced in February EU training mission in prioritising Minhai was detained in January. gave the authorities more control over human rights educational training for how individuals practised their religions. The People’s Assessors law, adopted CAR’s armed forces, ensuring that In September, the Vatican signed an in April, sought to promote public deployments are effected in a way agreement on the appointment of participation in the justice system. which minimises the risk to civilians. bishops with China. However, reports However this was preceded by of the persecution and detention of the introduction of the National China Christians continued, and Beijing’s Supervisory Law in March, which largest house church (the Zion legalised extrajudicial detention Civil and political rights in China Church) and the Early Rain Covenant without access to a lawyer for up to continued to be eroded, with the Church in Chengdu were closed. six months, including for foreigners. situation in Xinjiang in particular China continued to use the death attracting international condemnation. Members of the Falun Gong movement penalty, with the number of people China became more active in the UN continued to be targeted for peacefully executed remaining a state secret. Human Rights Council, attempting to following their belief. Some observers,

[41] https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/central_african_republic/session_31_-_november_2018/a_hrc_wg.6_31_caf_3_e.pdf [42] https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/central_african_republic/session_31_-_november_2018/a_hrc_wg.6_31_caf_3_e.pdf [43] UK’s response is outlined in our reply to a petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221342 [44] Further detailed analysis can be found in Lord Ahmad’s 2018 autumn statement: https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/human-rights-priority-countries-autumn-2018-ministerial-statement [45] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/freedom-net-2018 CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 42

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, measures, and the exploitation of Colombia’s Constitutional Court raised human rights concerns with vulnerable Venezuelans escaping the intervened in a long-running President Xi and Premier Li during her situation in their home country. political dispute by ruling that sexual visit to China in January. The Foreign violence crimes would be tried by The situation for human rights Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, also raised the transitional justice system (rather defenders did not improve: according to concerns during his visit in July; and than the ordinary justice system), the UN High Commissioner for Human ministers and senior officials issued meaning that perpetrators could Rights, 110 human rights defenders statements and raised concerns with benefit from the transitional system’s were murdered. The Colombian their counterparts. Ministers and alternative punishments, and avoid Attorney General’s Office reported officials met human rights defenders, imprisonment even if convicted. Civil significant advances in investigations and British diplomats attempted to society organisations had argued this of around half the cases reported attend trials, but were not allowed was a vital step to foster truth on the by the UN between 2016 and July access. We made recommendations scale of the issue and fight impunity. 2018, but impunity—especially for to legislators on several draft laws. those responsible for ordering these While the formal conflict has We funded projects across China, attacks—remains extremely high. ended, sexual violence remains including on improving access to justice widespread in Colombia. In the first in the criminal system and expanding The Colombian government ten months of 2018, the Colombian space for civil society. China did not demonstrated a genuine interest government acknowledged almost agree dates for the 25th round of the in building a more comprehensive 20,000 cases, while the Attorney UK-China Human Rights Dialogue. protection system for human rights General’s office issued over 34,000 defenders, but the process remained The UK was vocal in the UN Human protection orders for those deemed bureaucratic and lacked capacity. Rights Council. We included China in at risk of intra-family violence. Nonetheless, the issue attracted real our Item 4 (situations which require attention and political will. For the first The UK provided training for over the council’s attention) statement time in almost a decade, the Colombian 150 local authorities and health at every session, supported EU government agreed to a formal visit providers to improve the quality of statements, and participated in of a UN Special Rapporteur. During service for victims of sexual violence. China’s Universal Periodic Review. his visit to Colombia in December, In addition, we provided training In 2019, we will continue to monitor Michel Forst, the Special Rapporteur on gender issues and gender-based the human rights situation and to on the Situation of Human Rights violence to over 1,600 students, raise our concerns on the full range Defenders, highlighted the magnitude women, and community leaders, from of human rights issues; we expect our of the problem and issued initial nine regions, as part of the global focus will continue to be on Xinjiang. recommendations, observing that there campaign to end the stigmatisation was evidence of systematic targeting in of victims of sexual violence. There was increased pressure on Hong the attacks on human rights defenders. Kong’s high degree of autonomy and Modern slavery became a visible the rights and freedoms guaranteed In 2018, the challenges faced by issue on Colombia’s human rights by the Joint Declaration; particularly human rights defenders remained agenda. The migration of Venezuelans freedom of expression and press one of the UK’s top priorities. We to Colombia—around 1.3 million freedoms. Examples included the supported over 200 at-risk human are thought be living in Colombia, refusal of a visa extension and rights defenders, through training on many of whom are vulnerable—led subsequent denial of entry to the how to protect themselves individually to a massive rise in reported cases of Financial Times Asia news editor and and collectively. We provided legal sexual exploitation across the country. the prohibition of the pro-independence support in 14 emblematic court Between January and October, there Hong Kong National Party.[46] cases relating to attacks on human were nearly 300 reports of sexual rights defenders, following up on exploitation in the city of Cartagena every step of the procedure. alone, where a police operation Colombia freed nearly 100 Venezuelan victims. The UK continued work to tackle In 2018, the second year after the According to the Colombian authorities, impunity in historic cases of sexual signing of the peace agreement with there are 870,000 children between violence which had occurred during the Revolutionary Armed Forces the ages of 5 and 17 working as Colombia’s long internal conflict. of Colombia (FARC) in November child labourers in Colombia. We facilitated the documentation 2016, the Colombian government’s of around 2,000 cases presented The UK supported prevention efforts to ensure universal enjoyment before Colombia’s transitional justice campaigns for 150 girls from vulnerable of human rights and fundamental system, introduced after the signing communities and started a multi-year freedoms were hampered by of the peace deal with the FARC. regional programme—working across limited state capacity in rural areas, eight countries—to identify gaps in slow implementation of legislative

[46] The government’s six-monthly report on Hong Kong outlines our assessment in full: https:// www.gov.uk/government/collections/six-monthly-reports-on-hong-kong 43 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

routes for modern slavery victims, and Democratic People’s families. Unfortunately, the DPRK develop recommendations for public regime continued to use family policy to tackle modern slavery. Republic of Korea reunions as a political tool, with the Despite the Democratic People’s welfare of the affected families a In May, Colombia underwent the Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s diplomatic minor consideration. Approximately Universal Periodic Review process activity in 2018, there was no visible 600 Koreans from 169 families were at the UN Human Rights Council. improvement in the human rights reunited, but only for a matter of The UK statement specifically situation. The regime continued to hours. The ageing participants will highlighted continuing violence deny its citizens freedom of expression, probably never see each other again. against human rights defenders, and of religion or belief, and sought to impunity in conflict-related sexual The UK continued to raise and exercise total control over information violence, and concerns related to challenge the DPRK’s human rights and social life. The press were not free modern slavery, while recognising the record in multilateral fora. We were to report on the real situation inside efforts of the Colombian government particularly active at the UN Human the country, to ensure that media to tackle these challenges. Rights Council (HRC), which in March coverage did not contradict the regime’s adopted a resolution to pursue the The UK has sought to address ideology and propaganda. Those prosecution of North Korean leaders human rights risks in the Colombian who did not follow regime orthodoxy and officials responsible for crimes mining industry by encouraging faced imprisonment or death. against humanity. In June, the then compliance with the OECD’s Due The DPRK was once again top of Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, Diligence Guidance and by fostering the Global Slavery Index in 2018[47], opened the 38th session of the HRC partnerships between the private with an estimated 2.6 million North with a call on states to support twelve sector and international organisations, Koreans—one person in ten—a years of quality education for girls. local government, and civil society to victim of modern slavery. People Following this call, and engagement support responsible mining practices. worked long hours for minimal or no by our Embassy in Pyongyang, the The UK provided £71,000 to fund a payment. This included students and DPRK decided to become one of project to support the engagement schoolchildren routinely taken out the states which signed up to a joint of the private sector with Colombia’s of school to take part in rice or tree declaration of commitment. This was Truth Commission in its work as part of planting, or other communal activity. a positive step which we welcomed. Colombia’s transitional justice process. The DPRK authorities continued to deny At the 39th session of the HRC in Concluding in early 2018, the project allegations of human rights violations September, we called on the DPRK developed methodologies, tools, and and to refuse human rights practitioners to engage constructively with the recommendations aimed at addressing access to the country. They refused international community during its next and promoting the role of the private to cooperate with the UN Office of Universal Periodic Review in 2019. sector in the transitional justice process. the High Commissioner for Human At the UN General Assembly in In 2019, we will continue promoting Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur November, the UK was a main sponsor the creation of better collective and on the situation of Human Rights in through the EU, and together with self-protection mechanisms for human North Korea, Tomás Ojea Quintana. Japan, of a Third Committee resolution rights defenders and will continue They continued to reject the 2014 on the human rights situation in the strengthening our work preventing Commission of Inquiry report, which DPRK. The General Assembly adopted sexual violence, with a special had highlighted wide-ranging and the resolution by consensus for the focus on justice access and health ongoing ‘’crimes against humanity”.[48] third consecutive year. The resolution services improvement. In addition, In November, Human Rights Watch called on the DPRK to protect its we will start the implementation released a detailed and deeply population from crimes against of recommendations to tackle troubling report ‘You Cry at Night humanity, and included strengthened modern slavery in the region. but Don’t Know Why’[49] about language on gender equality. On the policy side, we will be sexual violence against women We also played a prominent role in paying special attention to the in the DPRK. The report detailed enforcing UN Security Council sanctions recommendations made by Michel numerous accounts of acts of sexual on the DPRK. That work will continue Forst on Human Rights Defenders and violence committed by high-ranking in 2019, when under UNSCR 2397 all the advances made by the government party officials, prison guards, police UN member states will be required one year after Colombia’s UPR. officers, prosecutors, and soldiers. to repatriate North Korean overseas 2018 saw memorable steps forward workers by the end of the year. Such in inter-Korean rapprochement, workers are forced overseas to earn including the reunion of separated money for the regime and often work

[47] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2018/data/country-data/north-korea/ [48] https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/coidprk/pages/reportofthecommissionofinquirydprk.aspx [49] https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/northkorea1118_web2.pdf CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 44

in conditions tantamount to slavery abuses included: sexual and gender- assembly, and refrain from using in their host country. We urge all based violence, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against protesters. member states to take seriously their detention, extrajudicial killings, Armed groups continued to target obligations under UNSCR 2397 to inhumane and degrading treatment, civilians indiscriminately, including repatriate DPRK overseas workers. We and restrictions to democratic space. committing mass killings, abductions, are examining the implementation UNJHRO reported that 61% of the torture and sexual violence. UNJHRO reports submitted to the UN as part of human rights violations and abuses documented the continued recruitment these obligations closely, and continue recorded in 2018 were carried out and use of children by armed groups to engage with states that host DPRK by state agents. Armed groups and militias, as well as grave human workers in violation of sanctions. continued to target civilians, carrying rights abuses including sexual violence, out serious human rights abuses Through DFID, the UK provided killings and maiming. The UK has including mass killings. Impunity for $70,000 to the UNICEF Bangkok focused on long-term stability and those committing human rights abuses regional office in July to contribute peacebuilding in eastern DRC through and violations remained widespread. to child protection and education our contributions to the UN Stabilisation campaigns in the DPRK. UNICEF Restrictions to democratic space, Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), the work successfully encouraged incremental but freedom of expression and the right of the Department for International important changes in the DPRK system. to peaceful assembly remained a Development (DFID), and programmes But there was very little progress in concern. On 21 January and 25 supported by the Conflict, Stability and the DPRK’s implementation of the February, peaceful demonstrations by Security Fund (CSSF). In December, recommendations made by the UN the Lay Coordination Committee of the the UK supported the rollover of Committee on the Rights of the Child Catholic Church were responded to EU sanctions against 14 individuals during their visit in September 2017. violently by state officials, resulting in responsible for human rights abuses and at least seven deaths. The authorities for obstructing the political process. The UK continued to use its bilateral regularly suspended internet and relationship to engage with the DPRK Sexual and gender-based violence SMS access across the country in government on its human rights record. (SGBV) perpetrated by state officials response to demonstrations. Throughout 2018, the Ambassador and armed groups remained high. and other embassy officials raised In the build up to elections on 30 Rape, including mass rape, continued their concerns in meetings with DPRK December, UNJHRO reported that to be used as a weapon of war. The officials in Pyongyang, while FCO activists, journalists and members of UK helped fund Trial International, officials used meetings in London with political parties continued to suffer who provided support for survivors, DPRK Embassy officials to do the same. intimidation and arbitrary arrests, and promoted accountability for sexual several protests and political gatherings violence crimes, built local capacity In 2019, the UK will continue to raise were repressed by state agents using to effectively document, investigate the human rights situation in the DPRK excessive force. The electoral campaign and litigate sexual violence cases, and at every opportunity. We will urge itself included incidents of violence provided non-financial assistance to the regime to cooperate fully with across the country, the suspension of sexual violence survivors. UK-funded relevant UN human rights mandate campaigning in Kinshasa for several education and health programmes set holders, and allow them immediate days, and a decision from the electoral up 820 school-related gender-based and unhindered access to assess commission to suspend elections in violence monitoring committees in four directly the human rights situation in Beni, Butembo and Yumbi until March provinces. The aim of the committees the country. In coordination with our 2019, meaning that approximately was to curb school-based gender partners, we will also use the Universal 1.2 million people were not able violence, provide SGBV survivors with Periodic Review as a means to engage to vote in presidential elections. post-exposure prophylaxis kits, and the DPRK in meaningful dialogue on its International observers outlined that establish a legal clinic for victims. In human rights record, and seek specific although election day itself passed addition the UK established 47 micro- areas for constructive engagement with an atmosphere of relative calm, credit groups which have benefitted and improved performance. there were incidents of violence in 556 women. Dr Dennis Mukwege several areas of the country, and there was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Democratic Republic were a number of reported technical prize for his treatment of women who and procedural delays, incidents of have been victims of violent rape and of the Congo assisted voting, and congested polling sexual assault and his efforts to raise The human rights situation in the stations. Throughout the preparation awareness about rape as a weapon of Democratic Republic of the Congo for elections, during and after the war. The UK is supporting the scoping (DRC) continued to deteriorate in 2018. vote, the UK pressed through the phase of a pilot project managed by The UN Joint Human Rights Office UN, EU and bilaterally for the DRC the Mukwege Foundation to set up (UNJHRO) reported 6,831 human rights government to open up political a survivors’ assistance fund in DRC. violations and abuses throughout DRC space, release political prisoners, lift This will assess how financial support in 2018, a 5% increase compared to a block on internet communications, for survivors of sexual violence can be 2017. Human rights violations and recognise peoples’ right to peaceful implemented on a national basis. 45 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

The UK has focused other human long-running investigation into the indecency after publishing a video on rights programme work on protecting funding and activities of local and Facebook criticising the government’s political space and peacebuilding. international NGOs operating in Egypt. failure to combat sexual violence. We supported projects to educate The presidential election in March Cases of torture, enforced human rights defenders and promote was marked by international concerns disappearance, and extended pre- conflict resolution. The UK helped about restrictions on freedom of trial detention continued to be widely fund the United Nation Joint Human expression and assembly. The National reported. At least 250 cases of enforced Rights Office, which tracks human Elections Committee threatened to fine disappearances were documented by rights violations and abuses in DRC. voters for abstaining, while the chief lawyers, with thousands of individuals We financed projects in support editor of an independent website was estimated to be in pre-trial detention, of the Preventing Sexual Violence detained for translating a New York often in solitary confinement for Initiative, tackling modern slavery, and Times report on electoral bribes. extended periods. Journalist and human improving democratic participation. rights activist, Hisham Gaafar, continued A series of laws continued to restrict In 2019, the UK will continue to support to be held in pre-trial detention beyond freedom of expression. In particular, the protection of civilians through the two year maximum allowed under the new Law Regulating the Press, our contributions to MONUSCO Egyptian law, while photo-journalist Media and the Supreme Council and humanitarian funding. FCO ‘Shawkan’ remained in detention for Media Regulation prohibited programmatic work will remain focused months after his release date. the press, media and websites from on the Preventing Sexual Violence publishing ‘false news’, granting The use of the death penalty continued. in Conflict Initiative, press freedom, the Supreme Council very broad At least 542 death sentences were women, peace and security, modern censorship powers, and enabling issued—a significant increase on the slavery and increasing democratic the criminal prosecution of media 331 sentences issued in 2017. While space following the elections. We workers. According to the Committee the number of executions is difficult will continue to encourage the DRC to Protect Journalists, there were 25 to verify, at least 37 executions were government, as a member of the journalists in prison in 2018—the third reported in 2018. Both UK and EU UN Human Rights Council, to take highest number in the world.[50] statements at the Human Rights Council steps to demonstrate leadership on on 18 September expressed concerns at respect for human rights. This includes Media independence continued the use of mass trials, and called for the encouraging active cooperation with to decline, with some of the few suspension of death sentences. At least the UNHRC investigation into the remaining outlets being closed directly one loophole in the Child Law allows human rights abuses in the Kasais area or indirectly. Over 500 websites, children to stand trial alongside adults of southern DRC bordering Angola. including many providing virtual in these mass trials, placing children private networks and mainstream at risk of receiving death sentences. news, had been blocked since Egypt 2017, preventing Egyptians from The UK government consistently raised The human rights situation in Egypt accessing independent information. concerns about human rights with the authorities. The Prime Minister, Theresa continued to give cause for concern, Egyptian lawyers documented at May, called President Sisi on 4 April with new restrictions on media and least 61 arrests targeting the LGBT and spoke of the opportunity which he online freedoms, and a campaign community in 2018, mostly on now had to take Egypt further along against civil society by the authorities. charges of ‘debauchery’ or ‘inciting the path of democratic transition. In Human rights defenders, artists, debauchery’. Several detainees reported September, we raised our concerns at media workers, and activists were that they were subject to forced anal the Human Rights Council, and then detained on charges of association examinations while in detention. with terrorist groups, spreading false Minister for the Middle East and North news, or attempting to overthrow the The Government of Egypt showed Africa, Alistair Burt, raised concerns government. However, there were some positive intent on gender issues. about restrictions on civil society during positive developments, for example on However, the activities of grassroots his visit in October. In November, the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), feminist organisations were restricted, Minister for Human Rights and the where President Sisi was vocal about the and in some cases they were prevented Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on need for peaceful co-existence between from operating altogether. In March, Freedom of Religion or Belief, Lord Christians and Muslims, particularly in the women’s rights organisation, Nazra Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited Cairo, the face of a continuing terrorist threat. for Feminist Studies, was forced to to reaffirm our mutual commitment to The UK welcomed the announcement shut down its office, as a result of the FoRB and to progress on human rights. Foreign Funding Case. Activists who on 4 November that the 2016 NGO law In 2019, we will continue to urge Egypt spoke out about sexual harassment would be amended, and the acquittal to uphold the highest standards of also faced legal charges. Amal Fathy in December of 43 defendants of the human rights, including by protecting was given a two-year jail sentence so-called Foreign Funding Case—a the freedoms set out in the 2014 for spreading false news and public

[50] https://cpj.org/data/imprisoned/2018/?status=Imprisoned&start_year=2018&end_year=2018&group_by=location CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 46

Constitution. Our priorities will include during protests in 2017 following roles and power relations in changing media freedom, civil society, and the closure of a religious school. social attitudes towards FGM. criminal justice. We will continue to Eritrea continued to operate a system In July, the presidents of Eritrea and support programmes designed to of universal and compulsory national Ethiopia signed a peace declaration, support Egypt’s stability, prosperity, service, with few exemptions, which for ending years of hostility between the and democracy, including through an many was open-ended. The justification two states. This was cemented by a independent and flourishing civil society. for such service had been the frozen further peace agreement agreed in conflict—‘no war, no peace’—which Jeddah on 16 September, coming a Eritrea had existed between Eritrea and few days after the formal re-opening of Ethiopia for a number of years. There the border. Many Eritreans thereafter The main human rights problems in continued to be credible reports that enjoyed free movement to Ethiopia Eritrea were the continued use of many of those in national service were and reunification with family members arbitrary detention as a means of allocated poorly paid non-military for the first time in a generation. suppression, and the indefinite system jobs in industry and construction. of national service. A Human Rights Despite these positive and welcome Council resolution on 6 July highlighted Eritrea was ranked 179th out of 180 political developments, Eritrea did these concerns and renewed the in the World Press Freedom Index, not announce any meaningful reform mandate of the Special Rapporteur on with all media closely controlled by of national service, nor release any the human rights situation in Eritrea. the state. Journalists were arbitrarily political detainees from detention. In detained, with one group having been September, the Minister for Africa, Eritrea has no constitutional held incommunicado and without Harriett Baldwin, raised our concerns government or elections and 2018 trial since 2001. However, there was about this lack of progress with Eritrean saw a continued poor record on no attempt to block access to foreign Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh. arbitrary detention, in particular of broadcasters, or internet sites. political opponents and adherents to In 2019, the UK will continue to press unapproved religions. It is not possible Impressive improvements on some for meaningful reforms in Eritrea, to obtain verifiable information, because key indicators of social, particularly particularly regarding national service the government does not allow any women’s, rights were made. Eritrea’s and justice, and for the release of access to places of detention and does next national report to the Convention political activists, journalists, and not shares information on detainees. on the Elimination of all Forms of worshippers detained arbitrarily by the There are consistent reports that Discrimination against Women, state. Eritrea’s Universal Periodic Review numerous high-profile political figures due in 2019, is expected to show report (UPR), due in January 2019, will remain in detention, including leaders of good progress in girls’ education; be an important point of engagement an opposition movement (G-15), which combatting female genital mutilation with the international community on tried to force a return to constitutional (FGM); combatting child, early, and human rights. The UN and the EU government in 2001. They remain in forced marriage; and providing supported Eritrea in implementing detention with no access to justice. In access to healthcare. A new five-year some of the recommendations from September, there were credible reports health strategy drawn up in close the 2014 UPR as part of a UNDP- that former minister, Berhane Abrahe, consultation with the World Health led programme, focusing among was detained following the publication Organisation included strong plans in other things on issues such as the of his book in which he criticised maternal and child health. A campaign, development of the rule of law, and government policy. His wife, Almaz launched in December, to achieve the rights of children and the disabled. Habtemariam, was already in detention. Open Defecation Free status by 2020, In 2019, we will offer the Government had positive indirect implications for of Eritrea support in implementing The Government of Eritrea permits and girls’ education, as they are the ones the 2019 UPR recommendations, and regulates the practice of four religions: who stay home to tend the sick. making progress on human rights- Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran related issues more generally. Christianity; and Sunni Islam. Activity DFID has contributed to tackling FGM in by other religions is suppressed and Eritrea through its funding of the United there are frequent reports of groups of Nations Population Fund and Unicef Iran peaceful worshippers being detained. (UNFPA-UNICEF) Joint Programme Iran continued to violate human Even those practising permitted on Female Genital Mutilation, which rights. The UK government’s main religions can face censorship. Patriarch has entered its third phase (2018 concerns were the widespread use of Abune Antonios of the Orthodox to 2021). The programme aims to the death penalty, limitations on the Church has been in detention for over accelerate the abandonment of FGM right of women to participate fully eleven years. More positively, in June, through a holistic and multi-sectoral in society, the lack of access to legal there was credible reporting that a approach at all levels from household representation and of fair trials for group of around 90 detainees, thought to government. The programme dual nationals (covered in more detail to include minors, had been released has also placed more emphasis on in the consular section), and violations from detention. They had been arrested gender norm transformation to of the right to freedom of expression, highlight the importance of gender 47 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

and to freedom of religion or belief. Rights in Iran issued a statement in continued, resulting in the arrest and One positive development was the November, calling on Iran to guarantee imprisonment of several women. application of the Anti-Narcotics Law, the rights of those arrested, including Iran continues to deny consular introduced in 2017, which appeared the right to fair legal proceedings. access to dual nationals in detention. to have reduced the number of There were wider concerns with In November, the Foreign Secretary people sentenced to death in Iran. freedom of expression in Iran. At visited Iran and raised the cases of a Not all executions in Iran are made least nine journalists and 20 citizen number of British-Iranians detained in public so it is difficult to accurately journalists, including bloggers and Iran, including that of Nazanin Zaghari- monitor how many take place each social media activists, were imprisoned Ratcliffe, who was arrested while on year. NGOs estimate there were 285 during 2018. The government exerted holiday in Tehran in 2016. We will executions in Iran in 2018.[51] Though some form of control over the majority continue to raise our dual national significantly lower than the figure for of newspapers, TV, and radio stations, detainee cases with Iran, including 2017, Iran still ranks as one of the most and restrictions were in place on the making requests for medical treatment prolific users of the death penalty use of the internet. During the protests, and access to legal representation. globally. This included eleven public the authorities suspended the Telegram In 2019, we will continue to hold Iran to executions, a practice which usually messaging app (consistent with the account for its human rights record. We involves death by hanging in a public Iranian authorities’ sustained attempts will support human rights resolutions square, and at least six executions of to control social media). On 30 April, on Iran at the UN Human Rights Council juvenile offenders, under 18 at the time a judicial order was issued stating that and the UN General Assembly, as we of their arrests. Execution of juvenile Telegram would also be permanently did in 2018 as co-sponsors, and will offenders violates the International banned on the grounds that it was continue to support the mandate of Covenant on Civil and Political Rights being used to spread ‘propaganda’ the UN Special Rapporteur for Human and the Convention on the Rights of the and to incite ‘terrorist activities’. A Rights in Iran. We will also coordinate Child, both of which Iran has ratified. number of major social networking with EU Member States on the next websites, including Facebook, Twitter, At least 15 executions for drug-related EU-Iran human rights dialogue. and YouTube, remain banned in Iran. crimes took place in 2018, according to estimates by the organisation Iran Iranian authorities continued to violate Human Rights. In applying the 2017 the right to freedom of religion or Iraq Anti-Narcotics Law, the Prosecutor- belief, and to discriminate against The principal human rights concerns General announced in July that 1,700 ethnic minorities. Members of in Iraq in 2018 were the lasting cases of prisoners sentenced to death religious minorities faced restrictions effects of Daesh atrocities, the use of or to life imprisonment for drug-related and discrimination for peacefully the death penalty, gender disparity crimes had been reviewed, with most manifesting their beliefs. For example, in society and politics, violations of sentences reduced to imprisonment, members of the Baha’i faith were the right to freedom of religion or and 1,300 more were outstanding once again subject to persecution. belief and freedom of expression, and awaiting review in court. The The authorities continued to pursue and the excessive use of force against death penalty still applies to the the economic persecution of Baha’i, demonstrators. Following significant production and distribution of particular including through shop closures, military progress against Daesh at amounts of opium, heroin, and and by the denial of mainstream the end of 2017, 4.1 million internally methamphetamine, as well as for armed education. Despite notionally benefiting displaced persons had safely returned smugglers, ringleaders, and financiers. from constitutional recognition and home by December 2018 to begin protection, Christians continued to rebuilding their lives, while 1.8 million This positive news was tempered by be persecuted in a systemic and remained displaced. National elections the Iranian authorities’ response to institutionalised manner. In June, four in May were held according to the protests which started at the end recent converts to Christianity were democratic standards and were largely of 2017 and continued into 2018, and each sentenced to ten years in prison, peaceful. However, the continuing in particular by reports of deaths in and in December 114 Christians were security threat of Daesh, preparation custody, including from torture, of arrested on charges of proselytising. for elections, and a protracted period those detained for participating. The of government formation distracted the UN High Commissioner for Human Women in Iran continued to be denied Government of Iraq from addressing Rights issued a statement in January the same rights and privileges as men, major human rights issues. stressing that peaceful protests must and to face discrimination, ranging not be criminalised, and highlighted from mandatory wearing of the hijab, There was a pressing need to address reports that more than 20 people, unequal rights in marriage, divorce, the societal effects of Daesh atrocities, including an eleven-year-old boy, and child custody, to being unable to in particular the stigma associated with had died, and hundreds had been attend sporting events. Protests against survivors of sexual violence, children arrested during the protests. The the compulsory wearing of the hijab born of rape, and widows of Daesh UN Special Rapporteur for Human

[51] https://iran-hrm.com/index.php/2018/12/06/iran-human-rights-monitor-2018-annual-report/ CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 48

members. The UK funded projects to of gender equality in society and the pressure. We will continue to press reduce stigma, promote community in politics, including by supporting for improvements on human rights, action to prevent sexual violence, the formation of a women’s caucus with a particular focus on the women, and facilitate access to services for to strengthen the voice of Iraq’s peace and security agenda, and on survivors. The UN Investigative Team, 83 female MPs. We worked closely freedom of religion or belief. Ensuring established following UN Security with the UN Assistance Mission to the rule of law and fundamental Council Resolution 2379, was deployed Iraq to support the development of human rights are crucial to Iraq’s to Iraq to embark on its mandate to Iraq’s second National Action Plan long-term stabilisation and security. hold Daesh accountable by collecting, on Women, Peace and Security. preserving, and storing evidence of Lack of security, access to services Daesh crimes. This included supporting The State of Israel and jobs, and marginalisation in and complementing investigations general were the principal concerns and the Occupied carried out by the Iraqi authorities, for Iraq’s religious and ethnic minority and exhuming mass graves. The first Palestinian Territories communities, which in turn accelerated mass grave exhumation took place on 2018 saw continued violations by the the emigration of members of minority 15 March 2019 in the village of Kojo, Israeli government of international groups. We consistently raised with the the hometown of Nadia Murad. The human rights and international Government of Iraq, including the new UK-led Preventing Sexual Violence humanitarian law in the context of Foreign Minister, the need to protect in Conflict Initiative is working with Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, vulnerable people, including members partners to develop the Murad including East Jerusalem, and Gaza of minority groups. By December, we Code. Drawing on the International (Occupied Palestinian Territories, or had contributed over £14.4 million Protocol on the Documentation and OPTs). There were also continued to the UN’s Funding Facility for Investigation of Sexual Violence in human rights abuses by the Palestinian Stabilisation to help the Government Conflict and in consultation with Nadia Authority (PA), and by Hamas, the of Iraq rebuild communities in liberated Murad’s Initiative, the Murad Code de facto administration in Gaza. areas, including the Ninewa Plains, will capture international standards home to many minority groups. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza was and best practice that governments, exacerbated by unrest linked to the international agencies and NGOs While Iraq’s media environment ‘Great March of Return’ protests. should adhere to when gathering remained relatively free in comparison Palestinian demonstrations along the evidence for judicial purposes. to the wider Middle East region, Israel/Gaza security fence included serious issues persisted. In April, The use of the death penalty remained violence and the launching of incendiary Human Rights Watch reported arbitrary a significant concern over the summer, devices into Israeli territory. The Israeli detentions and violence by Kurdish when the then Prime Minister Haider Defence Forces were criticised for security forces against protesters and al-Abadi expedited cases of convicted using live fire in response. United journalists. In July, the Government of Daesh members, with strong public Nations Office for the Coordination of Iraq shut down the internet for several support. The Iraqi Ministry of Justice Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports days to disrupt the organisation and announced that 32 executions had that 184 Palestinians were killed (180 reporting of protests in southern Iraq. taken place between January and by live ammunition), including 35 In September, Amnesty International August. The UK publicly condemned children and medical and humanitarian reported that the Iraqi security forces the use of the death penalty on a workers. Over 25,000 Palestinians had responded with excessive force number of occasions, and continued were injured in demonstrations in and violence to these protests. The UK to press the Government of Iraq to Gaza between 30 March and 31 repeatedly underlined the importance improve transparency on death penalty December. The UK supported calls of an effective and impartial media. To cases, and adhere to international for an independent investigation. support fundamental media freedoms, standards on due process and fair trials. we funded training for 280 journalists, 1,153 rockets and mortars were In the run up to the national elections media specialists, social media launched indiscriminately from Gaza in May, the intimidation of female activists, and university professors. towards Israel, reaching a peak of 450 candidates forced some to withdraw on 12 November. The Israeli Air Force In 2019, the UK will both press and their candidacy. The UK and EU responded with strikes against Hamas support the Government of Iraq jointly and publicly criticised this and militant sites. Sniper fire, rockets, to make substantive reforms to be behaviour. Despite Iraq’s Constitution missiles, and explosive devices from more inclusive, protect vulnerable requiring 25% of MPs to be female, Gaza killed 3 and injured 20 in Israel. people, deliver services to all Iraqis, women remained sidelined from and ensure that the conditions which Israel continued to impose strict political decision making. October enabled Daesh do not return. The movement and access restrictions saw the murder of two high-profile formation of a new Government of in Gaza. The UK funded projects women, Souad al-Ali and Tara Fares, Iraq is an important opportunity to to ease those restrictions and the demonstrating the continuing threat continue Iraq’s positive human rights conditions caused by them. of violence against women. The UK trajectory, but we need to maintain regularly highlighted the importance 49 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Israel continued its systematic policy of institutional reforms. We continued In 2019, we will continue to work of settlement expansion, a breach of to urge the PA to respect human rights, towards improving human rights, international humanitarian law, and ensure that complaints of mistreatment and will support renewed peace advanced 7,663 housing units in the or arbitrary detention were properly negotiations leading to a two-state West Bank, which the UK continued investigated, and continue to improve solution, including through our to oppose. The then Minister for the the security sector’s compliance project work with NGOs. We will Middle East, Alistair Burt, condemned with human rights standards. continue to raise our concerns with plans announced in December to the Israeli government on instances In June, PA President Mahmoud Abbas construct over 2,800 settlement units. constituting a breach of international signed instruments of Palestine’s human rights or international The number of acts of violence and accession to seven human rights humanitarian law in the context of vandalism against Palestinians by conventions. However, the PA Israel’s occupation of the OPTs. We extremist settlers in the West Bank continued to restrict space for civil will continue to oppose human rights rose, with the OCHA reporting that society actors in the West Bank, as abuses by the PA and Hamas. the monthly averages were the well as limit freedom of expression. highest recorded since 2014. OCHA In Gaza, Hamas continued to exercise reported that 31 Palestinian citizens strict control of civil society. Libya had been killed in 2018 by Israeli LGBT rights remained restricted in the Human rights abuses in Libya in 2018 forces and settlers in the West Bank. OPTs. Same-sex sexual activity, although included loss of life, limits on freedom The Israeli Security Agency reported legal in the West Bank, remained taboo of expression, and discrimination that nine Israeli citizens, more than in Palestinian society. It is illegal in Gaza, against women and girls. Libya’s double the number in 2017, had been carrying a ten-year prison sentence. instability and insecurity exacerbated killed by Palestinians from the West these problems; Libya lacked a stable Bank, as well as five Israeli soldiers. Hamas issued 13 death sentences in 2018. While the UK maintains a and unified government or credible Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses no-contact policy with Hamas, we institutions, leading to impunity for and other structures continued: 459 have made clear publicly, including armed groups and to a divided society. structures were demolished or seized, through EU statements, our objections The UK worked to address this situation and 472 Palestinians were displaced, to its use of the death penalty. through a comprehensive approach: including 216 children. We continued we fully supported the UN-led political to urge the Israeli government not to There was limited progress as far process to support progress towards demolish the Bedouin village of al- as women’s rights in the OPTs were greater security and stability, and a Khan al-Ahmar. Through the funding concerned. In July, the Committee range of UK programming aimed to of legal aid, the UK continued to on the Elimination of Discrimination tackle some of the most acute human support Palestinians whose homes against Women welcomed efforts to rights challenges. UK programming faced demolition or who faced reduce discrimination, while underlining also supported efforts to improve eviction in Area C of the West Bank. the need to adopt a comprehensive human security, including through definition of discrimination against We continued to seek improvements removal of explosive threats. women and to incorporate in the treatment of Palestinians in commitments effectively into law. Episodic violence contributed to the Israeli detention, with a particular displacement and death of many focus on minors, of whom 203 were Israel remained a robust open civilians. Fighting in September in detained at the end of December, democracy with a vibrant civil society. Tripoli killed over 100 people, including the lowest monthly figure in two However, pressure continued on civilians, and indiscriminate shelling years. At the end of December, the those criticising Israel’s conduct in affected several neighbourhoods. total number of Palestinians held the OPTs. This included rhetoric Meanwhile, the Benghazi-based in administrative detention by the by politicians, pressure on foreign Libyan National Army’s continued Israeli authorities increased to 494 governments to cease funding for campaign to regain control of (compared with 425 held at the end certain NGOs, and a reported increase Derna resulted in civilian deaths. of 2017). UK ministers and officials in visa delays and denials for activists. A lack of basic institutions resulted in made repeated representations to the The Israeli parliament passed the limited or no access to basic services. Israeli government about detention Nation State Basic Law in July, which Instances of arbitrary detention, practices. We continued to fund downgraded the status of Arabic including of migrants, remained a projects providing legal aid to minors language from an official language. We concern. However, in September, the and capacity building to local lawyers. expressed concern that the law might undermine the equality of members authorities released dozens of prisoners In October, Human Rights Watch of minorities, in particular of Israel’s whose incarceration had exceeded published a report documenting Arab Christian and Muslim community. the legal period of detention without arbitrary arrest and torture in both PA At the end of 2018, several petitions charge. The death penalty remains and Hamas custody. We raised our challenging the legality of the law part of the Libyan legal framework, concerns with the Palestinian Prime were pending in the High Court. although executions have not been Minister, who committed to a package carried out for several years. In August, CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 50

the Criminal Circuit of the Tripoli and had some success in increasing creation, animation development, Court of Appeal announced 45 death the space for women to engage at the and training provision, underpinned sentences for militia members. The national, local, and community level. by freedom of speech. The UK UK voiced its concern both through We continued to push the Presidency also funded the appointment of a an EU statement and directly with the Council to enact the provision in Strategic Communications Adviser to Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. the Libya Political Agreement for a the Government of National Accord women’s empowerment unit, which to champion media freedom. The fatality rate for migrants crossing was established in November. UK to Europe increased[52], although The challenges identified in 2018 are programming included support their overall numbers decreased. The likely to continue in 2019. The UK will for the Institute for War and Peace situation for migrants remained dire, continue to advocate improved human Reporting, which worked with local with thousands at serious risk of harm rights and deliver programming to partners across Libya to address and exploitation. The UK continued address the most acute challenges. discrimination against women and girls. to press the Libyan authorities to The UK will continue to support improve conditions in overcrowded Education was another priority. An UN-led efforts towards a sustainable detention centres, and to offer estimated 546,000 children were out political settlement. Achieving stability alternatives to detention. We were of school, and 300,000 were in need throughout the country, underpinned pleased that the UNHCR Gathering of emergency education support in by a unified and inclusive government and Departure facility finally opened Libya. We worked with the Ministry of and transformed security conditions, in December, and will monitor how Education and like-minded international would constitute the single most effectively it operates. UK funding partners to develop a programme powerful contribution to improving supported a number of EU projects, that will improve the delivery of the human rights situation in Libya. including offering basic humanitarian quality education to girls and boys, assistance in official detention centres, through providing a cohort of newly facilitating voluntary returns, and promoted female teachers in school Republic of Maldives addressing upstream issues such as leadership roles with leadership skills. The human rights situation in Maldives human trafficking. Meanwhile, the UK deteriorated significantly in the There were continued and supported the coastguard and navy in first nine months of 2018, with the widespread restrictions on freedom securing Libya’s maritime borders in a erosion of political and civic freedoms, of expression, association, religion manner compliant with its human rights and attempts to undermine the or belief, and assembly. obligations, focusing on rescue activities independence of the judiciary and and disrupting human trafficking. Press freedom remained under parliament. However, the election attack. In the 2018 World Freedom in September of a new president Women continued to face Press Index, Libya ranked 162nd of representing a broad coalition of discrimination, and gender-based 180 countries.[53] In July, Reporters parties which campaigned in support violence was widely underreported. Without Borders warned that the of human rights and democratic We continued to raise gender-related foreign media’s ability to operate values, and substantive changes issues at the highest levels, but also had “declined dramatically”.[54] The thereafter in tone and action, generated tried to reach the wider population: Foreign Media Department of the expectations of future improvements. the #GenderNovember campaign Ministry of Foreign Affairs increased promoting gender equality reached The Government of Maldives declared pressure on international media outlets political leaders, activists, international a State of Emergency on 5 February, and journalists, including through actors, and nearly 300,000 Libyan suspending fundamental freedoms attempts to introduce punitive new citizens through UK in Libya social enshrined in the Constitution, including media regulation, using safety as a media, and over 800,000 through the rights to peaceful assembly, and justification. For local media, the power our CSSF-funded media project El Kul. privacy, and freedom from unlawful and prevalence of militias created a Libya remained a focus country of our arrest and detention. This followed culture of fear and intimidation, with National Action Plan on Women, Peace an order by the Supreme Court on journalists at risk of arrest or attack. and Security. A CSSF-funded social 1 February that nine political leaders For instance, a journalist was found media project produced and promoted should be immediately released and dead in August near Sebha, with content relating to peacebuilding and their cases retried. The Supreme signs of his having been tortured. women’s empowerment, reaching Court also ordered that suspended over one million Libyans. Through The UK worked with international MPs should be permitted to sit in the other CSSF-funded work, we sought news organisations to lobby at the People’s Majlis (parliament), so that they to strengthen female political and highest levels to encourage support could exercise their duties in accordance economic empowerment and for a diverse, free and fair media. This with the Constitution and the law. leadership, including through training, included a CSSF programme on content

[52] https://www.unhcr.org/desperatejourneys [53] https://rsf.org/en/ranking [54] https://rsf.org/en/news/libya-tripolis-new-rules-put-journalists-lives-danger 51 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

In a statement on 5 February, the then Women continued to be on freedom of expression and on Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, called underrepresented in public life. civil society, intolerance towards and on the Government of Maldives to Social attitudes, poor facilities, and discrimination against members of end the State of Emergency peacefully, geographic isolation contributed to religious and other minorities, failure restore all articles of the Constitution, limited education opportunities for to uphold women and children’s take immediate steps to implement girls, particularly in more remote rights, the prevalence of bonded the full order of the Supreme Court, islands. While primary education labour, and the continued imposition and permit and support the full, free, levels were generally balanced, and use of the death penalty. and proper functioning of the People’s there were 112 boys in secondary There were positive developments, Majlis. The UK played a leading role in education for every 100 girls. including strengthened laws aimed securing the EU Council Conclusions at protecting transgender persons, During 2018, Maldivian ministers in February, expressing concern and at tackling human trafficking. repeated their intention to resume at the deteriorating situation, and More remained to be done to ensure implementing the death penalty. signaling the possibility of targeted full and effective implementation In December, the new government measures against the government of human rights legislation. voted against a UN General should the situation not improve. Assembly resolution in support of a Elections in July marked an The State of Emergency was lifted on moratorium on the death penalty. unprecedented second successive 22 March, but the Government of transfer of power from one full- The UK funded a number of small Maldives continued to tighten its grip term civilian government to another. capacity-building projects focusing on power. Trials of high-profile figures New legislation made improvements on human rights, gender equality, arrested during the State of Emergency to the process, incorporating and building election-monitoring (including the Chief Justice) progressed recommendations from the observers capability in civil society. We worked rapidly through the courts. At the UN of the 2013 elections. However, a with the United Nations Population Human Rights Council in March, in number of terrorist attacks sought Fund to encourage public debate a joint statement supported by over to disrupt voting, including one of about gender issues, and to increase 40 countries, the UK expressed grave the deadliest attacks in Pakistan’s the visibility of and recognition for concern that the human rights situation history in Mastung, Balochistan on young Maldivian women leaders willing had deteriorated significantly. The UN 13 July, which killed 150 people. to make Sustainable Development High Commissioner for Human Rights Goals a reality. We supported a Freedom of expression and the had earlier described the outlook as workshop which brought together ability of civil society to operate “an all-out assault on democracy”. Maldivian journalists and civil society came under increased pressure. Press At the UN Human Rights Council to network and share experiences freedom was repeatedly challenged, in June, the UK expressed concern with their regional counterparts, including through reports of the about the detention of members who had faced similar challenges intimidation of journalists. Reports of of the judiciary and opposition on media freedom in the past. enforced disappearances of human leaders, the sustained misuse of rights defenders, journalists, and parliamentary process, and continued The new president was sworn in to others continued. In October, 18 restrictions on basic freedoms. office on 17 November, and published international NGOs were instructed an ambitious ‘100 day agenda’ which The Council of the EU adopted a by the Government of Pakistan included some important human sanctions framework in July, which to leave the country, having not rights commitments, such as freeing all provided for targeted restrictive been granted registration under political prisoners, submitting a Child measures against persons and a process introduced in 2015. Rights Protection Act to parliament, entities responsible for serious and rejoining the Commonwealth, Allegations of discrimination and human rights violations or abuses. which Maldives left in 2016. violence against members of religious Restrictions on the media continued. minorities continued, especially against In 2019, the UK will work with In March, at the UN Human Rights Ahmadiyya Muslims and Christians, international partners to strengthen Council, the UK expressed concern but also against Hindus, Sikhs and Shia democratic institutions, weakened that the Maldives’ Defamation and Muslims. Misuse of the blasphemy laws under the previous government, with Freedom of Speech Acts were used was frequent. In October, the Supreme a particular focus on parliament, the to penalise broadcasters for airing Court acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian judiciary, and media. We will also speeches from opposition rallies, woman who had been convicted of open an Embassy in Malé, which and that journalists were targeted, blasphemy and sentenced to death in will significantly improve our ability attacked and pepper sprayed by 2010. There were recurrent reports of to support human rights work. the police. An opposition-aligned forced conversions to Islam and forced channel suspended broadcasting marriages to Muslim men of Hindu and temporarily in February, when the Pakistan Christian women. In May, an Ahmadi police refused to offer protection to mosque in Sialkot was damaged The main human rights concerns in journalists who were threatened. by anti-Ahmadiyya protestors. The Pakistan in 2018 were restrictions CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 52

election law, which places members persons continued to face discrimination help strengthen democracy and of minorities on a segregated voter and the threat of violence. human rights institutions, and to list, continued to act as a barrier to support the justice system become In 2018, the UK continued to urge Ahmadi Muslim voters participating more accountable to citizens. We will Pakistan to improve the human rights freely in elections. In a positive step, the continue to encourage Pakistan to take situation for all its citizens. We engaged Pakistan and India governments opened the necessary steps towards meeting with the government, parliamentarians, the Kartarpur Corridor in November, its international obligations on human and civil society across the full range of allowing pilgrims to access Sikh holy and labour rights in full, in line with its human rights issues, including freedom sites in both India and Pakistan. commitments under the EU Generalised of religion or belief, modern slavery, Scheme of Preferences Plus framework. In Pakistan, discrimination and violence freedom of expression, and abolishing against women and girls remained the death penalty. British ministers common. Pakistan ranked 148th out raised concerns about the rights of Russia of 149 countries cited in the World people belonging to minorities and The human rights situation in Russia Economic Forum 2018 Gender Gap modern slavery with the government continued to deteriorate in 2018, with Index, with a female literacy rate at a senior level. UK support facilitated abuses of human rights recorded across at just 44%. Despite stronger laws the registration of 405,000 women the country. Freedom of assembly, to protect women from violence, voters. Projects supported by the religion or belief, and expression including from ‘honour killings’, Global Britain Fund sought to came under particular attack. enforcement remained weak. improve citizens’ awareness of their constitutional rights and tolerance of Protest activity continued, linked to Modern slavery, including bonded and diversity. Online animations reached domestic economic issues and non- child labour, continued to be a major an audience of 45 million, alongside democratic elections. The authorities problem. The Global Slavery Index classroom-based workshops in Sindh responded by further reducing space for 2018 estimated that over three million and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. protest, including widespread violations people were living in modern slavery in of the right to freedom of assembly. Pakistan. In May, the National Assembly UK aid continued to support the The presidential elections in March saw passed anti-trafficking legislation. Pakistan government in making a coordinated campaign of harassment UK expert advice helped strengthen education more inclusive, including targeting opposition activists. During the legislation to protect vulnerable supporting the enrolment of children September’s regional elections, members of society from exploitation. with disabilities, encouraging the 1,018 people were arrested while promotion of tolerance, inclusion, and Pakistan retained the death penalty protesting against pension reforms. respect for minorities, and improving for 27 separate offences. Particular education outcomes for girls. New The use of vague ‘extremism’ laws to concerns remained over prisoners with interventions were launched with crack down on independent media mental and physical illnesses on death government and local communities and voices critical of the Russian row. In February, the National Assembly to promote the rights of children, government affected many ordinary passed the Juvenile Justice System young people, women, and members Russians. There were regular reports Act, strengthening the safeguards of religious minorities and excluded of citizens being arrested or detained against minors being tried as adults. groups. These helped members of for ‘extremism’ simply for exercising The use of military courts to try these groups strengthen their control their right to freedom of speech. terrorism suspects continued. These over their own development. Space for freedom of religion or belief courts lack transparency and are was constricted further. Jehovah’s Following the elections, the new not subject to independent scrutiny, Witnesses in particular faced further Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government making it difficult to assess their persecution following their designation committed to establishing institutions compliance with international in 2017 as an ‘extremist organisation’. for the protection of minorities, tackling standards. There were ongoing inequality, and guaranteeing press The Russian LGBT community continued reports of the detention of prisoners freedoms. The Ministry of Human to face a hostile environment. Russia without trial, and of extrajudicial Rights, headed by Dr Shireen Mazari, failed to conduct a credible investigation killings by the security forces. began work on a range of legislation, into the detention, torture, and reported In May, the National Assembly passed relating related to the rights of killings of homosexual men in Chechnya the Transgender Persons (Protection members of minorities and of people in 2017. The UK was one of 16 states of Rights) Act, banning discrimination with disabilities, the protection of to invoke the Organisation for Security based solely on sexual identity and children from abuse, improved access to and Cooperation in Europe Moscow expression. The government also justice, and protection against torture. Mechanism in November, setting up an committed to providing medical independent investigation, but Russia In 2019, we will support projects to facilities, psychological care, and refused to cooperate. The UK publicly improve awareness of modern slavery, adult education to the transgender called for international human rights and to promote religious tolerance population. However, homosexuality standards to be upheld, and for an end and diversity. Our Conflict, Stability remained a crime, and lesbian and gay to discrimination against LGBT people. and Security Fund will continue to 53 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

in violation of an order by the International Court of Justice in 2017. Arbitrary arrests, detentions, and enforced disappearances contributed to a climate of fear in Crimea. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported torture and sexual violence in detention centres. In December, the UK supported a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling again for Russia to uphold its obligations under international law in Crimea, and to allow access for international human rights monitors. Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker from Crimea, has been detained since 2014 on terrorism charges which are widely recognised as fabricated. In 2017, Mr Sentsov went on a 145- day hunger strike, demanding the release of over 65 Ukrainian political prisoners. The UK called repeatedly for his release, including in a statement by Sir Alan Duncan on 21 August. In eastern Ukraine, the UN estimated that the Russian-backed conflict had resulted in over 10,300 dead and 1.5 million internally displaced. Russia HMA Moscow Laurie Bristow and DHM Moscow Lindsay Skoll with Three Lions Pride, an England LGBT+ fans group in Moscow, July 2018 continued to violate the 2015 Minsk Agreements by supplying weapons and personnel to separatists, and by The operating environment for NGOs the rights of LGBT people, anti-racism supporting illegitimate elections in in Russia continued to be extremely activity, and access to sport for all. eastern Ukraine in November. The challenging. Oyub Titiev, head of Russia continued to commit human OHCHR reported that detention, the Chechnya division of the human rights violations beyond its borders, mistreatment, and violence had been rights NGO Memorial, faced long-term including in illegally annexed Crimea carried out with impunity by Russian- detention on drug charges which were and via support to separatists in eastern backed separatists. 2018 marked the widely acknowledged as politically Ukraine. On 4 March, a Novichok nerve tenth anniversary of the Georgia-Russia motivated. The Minister for Europe and agent was deployed in Salisbury, UK, conflict. Russian influence in Abkhazia the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, issued by the Russian military intelligence and South Ossetia, the breakaway a statement on 18 January pressing service the GRU. This first offensive use regions of Georgia, continued to the Chechen authorities to ensure Mr of a nerve agent in Europe since the contribute to infringements of human Titiev’s safety and his right to a fair trial. end of the Second World Wat left four rights. This included intimidating There were numerous reports of torture people in a critical condition, was linked members of civil society organisations. in prisons and detention centres, to the death of Dawn Sturgess and With the majority of crossing points attracting an unusual degree of criticism endangered the lives of many more. closed and increased fencing along domestically. A Russian investigation the Administrative Boundary Line, Human rights in Crimea remained under was set up to assess treatment restrictions on freedom of movement severe pressure, particularly freedoms of prisoners across the country. continued. This affected access to of assembly, expression, association, Nonetheless, a Russian journalist who education, healthcare, and property. belief, and movement. Ethnic minority released a video of one of the worst There were also credible reports of groups were targeted by Russian examples of torture was forced to discrimination against ethnic Georgians’ authorities. Crimean Tatars were flee Russia following harassment. ability to access identity documents. The disproportionately affected through UK supported Georgian resolutions at The UK used the 2018 World Cup as an regular raids on homes and mosques. UNGA (on internally displaced persons) opportunity to promote human rights Russia continued to prevent the and the UN Human Rights Council in Russia. We ran or supported human operation of representative institutions (requesting access for the OHCHR). rights-related events, and used our of the Crimean Tatar community, public diplomacy channels to support CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 54

The UK will continue to support human authorities on a number of occasions. UK, together with EU partners, also rights in Russia in 2019. We will also As of the end of 2018, we continued continued to press for a reduction act where Russia violates human rights to call for these women to have access in death sentences and executions, outside its borders. Together with to legal representation, and for their for the application of EU minimum our international partners, we will rights to due process to be upheld. standards, and for implementation attend trials, support human rights to be consistent with the provisions Arrests of political dissidents, defenders, and focus international of Article 6 of the International prominent clerics, journalists, and attention on Russia’s human rights Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. academics continued. In June, the UN violations. We will continue to work Special Rapporteur on the Promotion In November, there were reports with civil society as a whole, including and Protection of Human Rights that a group of twelve Shia men in promoting media freedom. and Fundamental Freedoms while were due to be executed imminently. countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní The UK government made formal Saudi Arabia Aoláin, raised concerns about the use representations to the Saudi of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) to government and continued to The positive trajectory of social reform prosecute human rights defenders, the monitor the situation closely. As of in Saudi Arabia continued in 2018, use of counter-terrorism legislation to the end of 2018, these executions particularly the increased participation suppress free speech, and the failure to had not been carried out. of women in society. However, the investigate allegations of torture. From observance of civil and political It remains illegal in Saudi Arabia to November, accredited diplomats were rights in Saudi Arabia continued to practise publicly a religion other no longer permitted to observe trials deteriorate. The reduced political than Islam, with penalties including at the SCC. The UK raised concerns and civil space resulted in the mass imprisonment. The Crown Prince met about the use of SCC to try cases arrests of journalists, activists, clerics, the Archbishop of Canterbury during beyond the scope of internationally and opposition figures, increased his visit to London in March, and accepted definitions of terrorism, use of terrorist courts to prosecute Saudi Arabia welcomed a high level and made formal representations activists, and the murder and delegation from the Vatican in April. to the Saudi government on the harassment of dissidents overseas. We prevention of diplomatic observation Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continued to have concerns about the of trials. We also raised our concerns remained vulnerable to abuse implementation of the death penalty regarding the human rights situation and exploitation as a result of and the treatment of migrant workers. during Saudi Arabia’s Universal the sponsorship system giving There were some improvements Periodic Review in November. disproportionate power to the in women’s enjoyment of human migrant’s sponsor. Employers still There was a deterioration in freedom of rights. From June onwards, women confiscated passports, despite expression and freedom of the press in were allowed to drive. Women’s legislation forbidding the practice. Saudi Arabia. In October, the dissident economic participation increased, Saudi journalists Jamal Khashoggi was In 2019, we will continue to identify and more professions became open murdered in the Saudi Consulate in opportunities to work with the to women, including roles in the Istanbul. The Prime Minister and the authorities in Saudi Arabia and with military. Although female labour Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, raised NGOs to encourage further steps force participation remained low at our serious concerns with King Salman towards women’s full participation in 23.4% (compared with 21% in 2017), and with the Crown Prince, and urged society. We will look for opportunities Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s economic that those responsible should be held to to work with Saudi Arabia to increase reform programme, aimed to increase account and that the Saudi authorities media freedom. We will continue this to 30%. However, guardianship should give credible assurances that to focus on the application of the laws still required women to obtain such a crime could never be repeated. death penalty when not consistent permission from a guardian to apply for We called for accountability and for with international minimum a passport, travel abroad, or marry. the launch of legal proceedings in standards. Officials will continue Between May and August, the Saudi accordance with international standards. to attend trials where possible. We authorities arrested prominent women’s will continue to raise specific cases According to statistics issued by the rights defenders. At least ten of the of concern with the Saudi Arabian Saudi Press Agency, and confirmed women arrested remained in detention authorities at a senior level. by NGOs, Saudi Arabia executed 149 at the end of 2018. In November, people in 2018 (compared with 146 Amnesty International and Human in 2017). In 2018, a law was passed Rights Watch alleged that some of these Somalia codifying the age of majority for women had been subject to torture The human rights situation in Somalia some crimes which attract the death and mistreatment. The Prime Minister, remained challenging in 2018 due penalty. We continued to express Theresa May, raised these cases with to ongoing insecurity and political to the Saudi authorities at all levels the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammad instability which have been further our strong opposition to the death bin Salman, and other British Ministers exacerbated by competing Middle penalty in all circumstances. The raised our concerns with the Saudi Eastern interests, most notably 55 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

the Gulf Dispute. There has been a the Convention on the Rights of the relatively high numbers, continued continuation of violations of the right Child, for processing former child to endure significant stigma. to life (including extrajudicial killing); combatants, including a process for Journalists continued to face gender-based violence; exclusion of effective screening and rehabilitation. considerable restrictions, arbitrary women and members of minorities; Accountability for the security forces detention, and intimidation from the recruitment of children into armed remained crucial, and we reiterated security forces, as they attempted groups; and restrictions on media calls made at the Human Rights Council to exercise their right to freedom freedom. Overall, human rights for Somalia to move forward with full of expression. The European protections and domestic mechanisms implementation of the independent Parliament passed a resolution on in the country remained extremely Human Rights Commission. Somalia which called on the Somali weak. Protracted humanitarian crises government to respect the right contributed to the displacement of Somalia retained the use of the to freedom of association, and over 2.6 million people, restricting death penalty. We continued to recognise the leadership of the many people’s access to adequate call on the Federal Government to National Union of Somali Journalists. food, housing, and security, and introduce a moratorium on its use. exacerbating gender-based violence. In Somaliland, a new law has been UK investment helped to counter drafted which will decriminalise most Key developments included Somalia’s the threat posed by radicalisation, media offences and end the practice election to the UN Human Rights terrorism, piracy, and unregulated of journalists being jailed. The UK Council and accession to the Convention migration, which was exacerbated supported Somaliland’s first ever on the Rights for Persons with by the large number of internally Women’s Journalism Prize to reward, Disabilities. The Federal Government at displaced people and large refugee acknowledge, and publicise journalism. the Somalia Partnership Forum in July populations in neighbouring states. also strengthened its commitment to In 2019, the UK will continue to work Child, early, and forced marriage support the protection of human rights. closely with the Federal Government to continued to occur, but some evidence support Somali-led efforts to strengthen The UK played a major part in suggested that it might be declining. protection of human rights for all international efforts to strengthen We continued to support the delivery of Somalis. We will support the political security, stability, and the rule of law, relevant legislative protection, such as settlement which is required to protect necessary to underpin stronger human the Sexual Offences Bill, pressing for it and promote human rights and the rule rights protections, including through to provide clarity on the age of consent. of law, and will contribute to building a fairer and more stable political The UK welcomed the Federal accountable and capable security settlement. There was agreement to Government’s commitment to bring forces which can offer civilians effective establish universal suffrage for Somali legislation on female genital mutilation protection. We will urge respect for rule citizens in national elections. However, (FGM) to parliament. It is important of law throughout electoral processes, poor relations between the Federal that any legislation or policy recognises and will raise concerns of violations Government and Federal Member states that all forms of FGM constitute against freedom of expression. as well as competing interests from violence against women and girls. the region continued to block progress on commitments to achieve a more Somalia continued to have one of the South Sudan inclusive and lasting political settlement. world’s highest proportions of primary- age children out of school. The UK Human rights in South Sudan were The presidential election in South supported education programmes negatively affected by continuing West State in late 2018 was marred across Somalia, including the Girls’ conflict and a worsening humanitarian by violence and unrest. The UN Education Challenge, helping almost situation. Key issues of concern related raised human rights-related concerns 100,000 marginalised girls through to the targeting of civilians by all sides, about the handling of the election. improved access to education, better widespread rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, The UK worked closely with the African quality teaching, and life skills training. the recruitment and use of child Union Mission in Somalia and with the At the Global Disability Summit[55] soldiers, the displacement of civilian Somali security forces to raise awareness which the UK co-hosted in July, populations, restrictions on freedom of human rights standards and ensure Somalia committed to establish a of expression, and the detention of that the security forces were in a National Disability Agency and to political prisoners. According to the position to protect civilians from abuse. introduce legislation to protect the UN Commission on Human Rights in The UK delivered gender training in the rights of persons with disabilities. This South Sudan (the Commission), as well security sector to improve protection constituted a major step forward in as other UN human rights bodies and for vulnerable women and girls. The UK a country where those with physical NGOs, many cases may constitute war is supporting the drafting of legislation and mental disabilities, in spite of their crimes and crimes against humanity.[56] and national policy, compliant with

[55] https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/global-disability-summit-2018/about [56] For example, Report of the Commission, February 2018; Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Southern Unity, April-May 2018, UNMISS And OHCHR CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 56

The humanitarian situation did the conflict had committed grave providing support to address sexual and not improve, as food insecurity abuses and violations against children. gender-based violence, food insecurity, intensified. By June, nearly 60% of the In September, Amnesty International and to promote girls’ education. population (over six million people) reported that soldiers had killed children were facing acute food shortages, as young as two by swinging them including 1.7 million on the edge against trees. The UN estimated that Democratic Socialist of famine, and 47,000 in famine- government forces were responsible Republic of Sri Lanka like conditions. The parties to the for nearly 60% of attacks on schools, The human rights situation in conflict, including the Government and that 2.4 million children had been Sri Lanka was mixed in 2018. of South Sudan, compounded the deprived of education since 2013. Key concerns included increased suffering by actively continuing to Rates of child marriage remained inter-communal tensions, the impede access to humanitarian aid. among the highest in the world and slow delivery of key reconciliation were a major cause of girls’ inability to Sexual and gender-based violence commitments, delays in introducing access education—UNICEF reported remained a pervasive hallmark of the new human-rights compliant counter- in March that 52% of South Sudanese conflict. In November, Médecins Sans terrorism legislation, and a stalled girls are married by the age of 18. Frontières reported that groups of transitional justice process. A 51-day men in military uniforms and civilian South Sudan was ranked 144th out constitutional crisis, which began in clothing had brutally raped, beaten, of 180 countries on the World Press October, further disrupted effective and robbed over 150 women and Freedom Index. The closure of media delivery on these points, although it girls in the town of Bentiu. Girls as organisations, the blocking of websites, ultimately confirmed the resilience young as ten and women over 65 and the arrest and intimidation of of parliament and the judiciary. were among the survivors. The attacks journalists all continued. The space In February and March, anti-Muslim occurred despite commitments made in which the media could operate riots took place in Ampara and Kandy, by the parties to the 12 September narrowed, with many forced to resulting in three associated deaths, peace agreement to cease all forms of self-censor after years of sustained the damage or destruction of over 400 sexual and gender-based violence. repression. The government continued Muslim-owned properties, and a 12-day to use detentions to silence criticism. These attacks were just one appalling State of Emergency, during which some While some detainees were released example of the continued use of social media platforms were blocked in October, many continued to be held sexual and gender-based violence. In by the government. Over 100 arrests without trial or access to a lawyer, often February, the Commission reported were made, although no trials have in violation of the government’s peace widespread evidence of rape, gang- taken place as yet. In May, a prominent agreement commitments. Conditions in rape, forced stripping, forced sexual extremist Buddhist monk was convicted detention, including the use of physical acts, castration, and genital mutilation: on multiple counts of harassment and mental abuse by government all committed with impunity by and intimidation of witnesses. We authorities was a major concern. government and opposition forces continued to support district inter- alike. In July, the UN reported on the In 2019, our priority will be to support religious dialogue, including through use of rape as a weapon of war in the implementation of the peace our Conflict, Stability and Security ruthless attacks perpetrated in the agreement. It is too early to determine Fund (CSSF) programme, to help most part by government forces, whether it will result in lasting peace, mediation in inter-communal tensions. seemingly to terrorise civilians. The without which the human rights In May, the Human Rights Commission victims included girls as young as situation cannot improve. The UK of Sri Lanka was upgraded to ‘A’ four, and pregnant and lactating will continue to urge all parties to status by the Global Alliance of mothers. The social stigma associated demonstrate genuine commitment National Human Rights Institutions, in with such violence contributes to the to full implementation of the peace recognition of its efforts to promote further victimisation of survivors. The agreement. To address widespread and protect human rights and its full government took no meaningful action impunity, we will push the government compliance with the Paris Principles to address the shortfall in provision of to take action on transitional justice relating to NHRIs. The constitutional healthcare or judicial services, despite mechanisms as called for in the 12 crisis which began in October further the overwhelming needs of survivors. September agreement, including highlighted the important role of The negative attitudes towards establishing the Hybrid Court (an independent institutions, with the women in South Sudanese society independent judicial body combining judiciary delivering a number of continued to fuel the prevalence of elements of domestic and international important determinations, upholding sexual and gender-based violence. law to prosecute those bearing criminal and safeguarding the Constitution. responsibility for atrocities). Where The devastating impact of the conflict Reports of intimidation of the media impunity persists, we will consider on South Sudan’s children did not and civil society increased during this alternative options for action against improve. In September, the UN Special period, while throughout the year those undermining peace and stability. Representative for Children and Armed human rights defenders in the north DFID will remain at the fore of the Conflict reported that all parties to and east raised increased concerns of response to the humanitarian crisis, surveillance and harassment. Minister 57 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, At the UN Human Rights Council in the worsening situation on the ground. made statements in October and September, the UK welcomed the The decision to hold over 200 political November, setting out our concerns progress of the Government of Sri Lanka activists without trial for peacefully over the constitutional crisis. The in implementing HRC resolution 34/1, protesting in February and March, and Minister in a further statement in while identifying a number of areas the use of violence against protestors in December welcomed the progress for improvement, including a need to December, were particular low points. which had been made subsequently show more progress on constitutional The daily lives of Sudanese people towards a peaceful resolution of reform, the establishment of transitional continued to be affected by laws the political situation, and reiterated justice mechanisms, and the repeal relating to public order and emergency, the UK’s commitment to supporting of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In with reports of women and young Sri Lanka’s work to improve governance January, the report of the Office of the men in particular being harassed, and and safeguard human rights across United Nations High Commissioner of human rights violations resulting the country. Respect for gender and for Human Rights acknowledged from military policing deployments child rights was mixed. The number some improvement in the overall in civilian areas. A lasting peace deal of elected female officials significantly situation in Sri Lanka, but noted a covering Darfur and the regions of increased under a new 25% quota lack of progress on accountability for South Kordofan and Blue Nile remained introduced for local elections in conflict-related violations. The long- elusive, and we continued to have grave February. However, conservative awaited Office of Missing Persons concerns about the threat to the human Muslim community leaders continued began operations in February, and rights of internally displaced people to reject calls to reform the Muslim submitted an interim report with and of those within conflict zones. Marriage and Divorce Act, which recommendations in September. In Sudan engaged constructively with permits the marriage of girls as October, parliament passed the Office the UK on these and wider human young as 12. In June, the British High of Reparations Bill, although it is yet to rights issues, although commitments Commission in Colombo supported be operationalised. There was some to sign up to major international the 14th Colombo Pride Week, for further return of military occupied land, treaties were not met, and routine a third consecutive year. Despite no but the size of the military presence human rights violations continued. recent prosecutions of homosexual in the north remained similar to 2017. The UK welcomed Sudan’s decision acts, LGBT people continued to face Throughout the year, including at to support the opening of an Office social stigma and discrimination. CHOGM in April, and during a visit for the High Commissioner for Human to Sri Lanka in October, Mark Field Notwithstanding political rhetoric Rights before September 2019. urged the government to make more threatening the re-introduction of the progress on its HRC commitments. The UK continued to press the case death penalty in the second half of for clear conditions to govern the 2018, Sri Lanka voted in favour of the In August, Mark Field announced an planned drawdown of the UN/African UN moratorium on the death penalty extra £1 million of funding to help with Union Hybrid Peacekeeping Mission in in December. The Human Rights the resettlement of displaced families Darfur (UNAMID). In December, the UK Commission of Sri Lanka and a number in the north and east of Sri Lanka, welcomed a statement by the President of international NGOs continued to followed by an additional £400,000 in of the UN Security Council which report allegations of torture and other October to add to existing UK support prioritised the protection of human ill-treatment by the security forces. for de-mining work in the north. The rights in Darfur, as UNAMID withdraws. Sri Lanka acceded to the Optional UK has provided Sri Lanka with a total Protocol to the Convention against of £8.3 million CSSF funding from 2016 Threats to the freedom of the Torture on 5 December 2017. It entered to 2019, including for police reform, media remained a very serious into force for Sri Lanka in January. de-mining, inter-faith dialogue, and concern, with the security services support to the UN’s Peacebuilding work. regularly harassing journalists, and A draft Counter Terrorism Act, intended seizing newspapers in retribution to replace the much criticised Prevention In 2019, the UK will continue to for critical articles. We continued of Terrorism Act, was tabled in press for further progress on human to engage with parliamentarians parliament in October. Following several rights, including efforts to improve and government on the draft media petitions related to human rights, the press freedoms, tackle gender law, making clear the importance of Supreme Court determined that specific inequality, and encourage the reform protecting freedom of the media. clauses in the act would need to be of discriminatory laws. We will amended, further delaying its adoption. continue to urge the government Over 200 individuals were arrested to deliver on its commitments by the National Intelligence and The Government of Sri Lanka remained reflected in HRC resolution 34/1. Security Service (NISS) during political committed to combating human demonstrations at the start of 2018, smuggling and trafficking. In August, with a number of further arrests the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Sudan during the protests which started in attended the 7th Bali Process Ministerial The human rights situation in Sudan December. We were very concerned Conference, reiterating commitments was mixed, with positive engagement by reports that demonstrators had to combat people smuggling. and policy changes contrasting with been mistreated in NISS detention. CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 58

The UK made clear that the Sudanese Mother and daughter committed to ending FGM, government needed to enact the El Gezira state, Sudan, November 2018, DFID promised reforms to the National Security Act, and to ensure that all detainees were treated according to international standards. In March, the British Embassy funded a workshop for senior Government of Sudan representatives, which focused on the steps needed for Sudan’s ratification of the Convention against Torture. While freedom to worship is generally accepted in Sudan, we expressed concern at ministerial level and via public messaging, over a range of infringements of religious freedoms. These include restrictions on Christian schools, the refusal of permits for places of worship, and cases of church seizures and demolition—although we are pleased to note that this situation after UK interventions and constructive engagement with faith successfully led negotiations for a technical assistance and capacity leaders has resulted in positive change. resolution on Sudan at the UN Human building. We will focus on freedom Rights Council. The resolution renewed of the media, particularly in view The situation faced by women and girls the mandate of the Independent of the 2020 presidential elections, in Sudan remained of deep concern. Expert on Sudan, and called for the and will work with OHCHR and the Sexual and gender-based violence establishment of a country office Government of Sudan to support the continued to be carried out with for the UN High Commissioner opening of a fully-mandated OHCHR impunity. The plight of 19-year-old for Human Rights (OHCHR). country office. We will also support Noura Hussain attracted international Sudan’s ratification of international We engaged constructively with the attention when she was sentenced to treaties including the Convention Government of Sudan on issues relating death for killing her husband after he against Torture and the Convention to forced labour and people trafficking, raped her. We called for the sentence on the Elimination of All Forms of including the need to improve to be overturned, and welcomed the Discrimination against Women. court’s subsequent decision to do so. processing and protections for those freed from traffickers. We expressed Through DFID’s Sudan Free of Female concern about reports of abuse by Syria Genital Cutting programme we officials in adult detention facilities There was no improvement in the continued to advocate for the passing of child victims of trafficking, of raids grave human rights situation during of the draft law making FGM illegal. on safe houses, and of intimidation the continuation of the Syria conflict We supported the passing of laws in by security forces of community safe in 2018. There were numerous, two states banning the practice, and house employees. UK project funding credible reports of the most serious worked with state bodies, organisations supported victims of trafficking, rule human rights violations and abuses. and communities to build support for of law work in conflict areas, the The Syrian regime was the main efforts to end FGM in a generation. We effective participation of women and perpetrator, although Daesh, other also committed to a further £15 million members of marginalised groups in proscribed terrorist organisations, programme to combat FGM in Sudan. the peace and other political process, and a number of other armed the strengthening of parliament, and We continued to lobby the Government groups also committed abuses. of Sudan to effect meaningful capacity building for political parties. The Syrian regime recaptured several change to the country’s human rights In 2019, we will continue to urge the former opposition-held areas in situation, including at the April and Government of Sudan to observe and Syria, at a huge human cost. The November rounds of the UK-Sudan protect the constitutional rights of all regime attacked heavily populated Strategic Dialogue. The Minister for Sudanese citizens, and to implement areas indiscriminately, particularly in Africa, Harriett Baldwin, and Minister the recommendations of the inclusive Eastern Ghouta. Following a request for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad of political discussions which took place to investigate by the UN Human Wimbledon, each visited Sudan, in Sudan’s National Dialogue, and Rights Council, the UN Commission meeting key activists, and encouraging Universal Periodic Review. We will of Inquiry (CoI) concluded that senior ministers to introduce human continue to promote reform and between February and April, through rights reforms. In September, the UK work with the government to provide 59 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Children in the Maa’rrat Misrin camp in Idlib, north-west Syria, 2018. Bashar al Shykh the widespread and systematic of individuals, particularly by the Syrian this, the UK participated in targeted bombardments of civilian inhabited authorities and affiliated militias. The air strikes with the US and France to areas and infrastructure, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner alleviate human suffering by degrading continued denial of food and medicine for Human Rights estimated that the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons to besieged civilians, pro-government 60,000 to 80,000 people have gone capability and deterring further attacks. forces had perpetrated crimes against missing since the start of the conflict. Women continued to be humanity and inhumane acts causing Over 16,000 are estimated to be held disproportionately affected by serious mental and physical suffering. by the Syrian regime. The true number the conflict, including through may be substantially higher. The Fighting in 2018 led to over one million displacement, and sexual violence. Assad regime issued notices of deaths people being newly displaced. The Many female-headed households faced which had occurred in detention, but CoI report in September focused on particular challenges since women failed to take steps to investigate or displacement and the failure of all are not permitted to own or inherit bring those accountable to justice. warring parties to take precautions property. As a consequence, they to protect civilians. It highlighted Following the capture of Afrin by faced difficulties in accessing services, violations committed by the regime, Turkish-supported armed groups in livelihoods, and the legal system. The Kurdish forces and opposition March, the CoI found reasonable UK continued to work for the protection groups on different fronts of the grounds to believe that armed group of women’s rights in Syria. During the conflict, and the displacement of members committed the war crimes June session of the HRC, the UK hosted thousands of fighters and civilians of hostage taking and pillage and an event on women’s participation in as part of ‘evacuation deals’. highlighted “the glaring absence of the political process, demonstrating the rule of law” in the district. the UK’s commitment to achieving the In areas where hostilities ceased and UN Special Envoy’s objective that 30% control returned to the regime, the The use of chemical weapons in of the participants in the Syria peace security apparatus resumed its violations Syria continued, with a number of talks should be women. We used the against civilians. Despite protection instances of alleged use reported to International Day for the Elimination ‘guarantees’ in so-called ‘reconciliation the CoI and to the Organisation for of Sexual Violence in Conflict to agreements’, there were credible the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons highlight brave Syrians providing reports of arrests of former opposition (OPCW). The most brutal incident, medical support and helping those leaders in areas retaken by the regime. given the number of casualties, was the affected by sexual and gender-based regime’s chlorine attack on Douma in In March, the CoI highlighted the violence to seek justice. In November, April, which killed as many as 75 and arbitrary detention of tens of thousands injured over 500 people. Following CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 60

the UK arranged a briefing of UN Turkmenistan and other heads of mission were given Security Council members by the CoI. permission to visit the men’s medium The UK’s main human rights concerns security prison at Tejen, but were denied International NGOs continued in Turkmenistan were the continuing a request to visit the high security to express concern about civilian allegations of torture and poor prison Ovadan Depe detention centre, where causalities during the campaign conditions, a lack of freedom of NGOs reported that political prisoners by the Global Coalition and Syrian opinion and expression (including had been tortured. There were reports Democratic Forces to liberate areas of access to information), limited freedom from outside Turkmenistan that the north-east Syria from Daesh control. of religion or belief, significant authorities had permitted some visits by All UK and other Global Coalition gender discrimination, and a failure relatives to prisoners in Ovadan Depe. Against Daesh missions comply fully to protect the rights of LGBT people. with international humanitarian law, Turkmenistan’s acceptance of a range In May, Turkmenistan’s Human Rights and the UK takes every precaution to of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Ombudswoman attended the UK- minimise the risk to human life from recommendations signalled progress, chaired Organisation for Security airstrikes. The coalition investigates but there was little evidence of and Cooperation in Europe Human all credible claims, and the results of implementation. Most human rights Dimension Committee meeting on any investigation are published. defenders still work outside the country. gender equality. Her first annual report, in June, flagged the need for citizens In areas where it retained control, there The UK submitted three to understand their basic rights, and were continued reports of terrorist acts recommendations to Turkmenistan for state actors to understand their committed by Daesh including hostage- during its UPR. It accepted two: obligations. But her report did not taking, torture, and summary executions signing the Optional Protocol to the address key specific human rights targeted against civilians of different Convention against Torture; and issues in Turkmenistan. The British religion or ethnicity. This included working with the International Labour Embassy promoted gender equality in the barbaric killing and kidnapping Organisation (ILO) to eliminate forced their outreach activities, benefitting of Syrians, including women and labour during the cotton harvest. But it from having a female Ambassador children, from the Druze community rejected our recommendation to take as a role model. The UK supported in the southern city of Sweida. measures to protect and respect the a United Nations Population Fund right to exercise freedom of religion or The UK continued to apply diplomatic project which empowered girls living belief and freedom of expression. In pressure to highlight violations and in rural communities. The project total, Turkmenistan accepted 172 UPR abuses and to push for a swift end provided leadership, innovation, recommendations and rejected 19. to the conflict, including through our and civic engagement workshops leadership on the Syria resolution At the 10th EU-Turkmenistan in Ashgabat and five regions. at the UN Human Rights Council human rights dialogue in June, the The media in Turkmenistan remained (HRC). We used programme funding EU raised concerns about torture, under state control and foreign to support accountability, including conditions in detention, freedoms of publications were prohibited. Most through a £250,000 contribution to movement, opinion and expression, social media and many internet sites the UN’s International Impartial and association and peaceful assembly, remained blocked. Turkmenistan Independent Mechanism. In June, and of religion or belief. accepted one UPR recommendation on States Parties to the Chemical Weapons In March, the UK, with like-minded freedom of opinion and expression. But Convention agreed a UK-led proposal Organisation for Security and it denied that there were restrictions to empower the OPCW to attribute Co-operation in Europe heads of on media outlets which were critical responsibility for chemical weapons delegation, wrote to the Turkmen of the government, and claimed attacks in Syria. In July, the UK led an Ambassador in Vienna to express that there was widespread access international effort to evacuate 422 concern over the continuing to social media and the internet. White Helmets volunteers and family incommunicado detention of over 100 members from Southern Syria as they NGOs outside the country and the victims of enforced disappearances, faced an urgent threat to their lives foreign media reported that state in particular those detained since from a regime advance. Of these, 99 employees were forced to pick the attempted coup against former were subsequently resettled in the UK. cotton to meet quotas set by the President Niyazov in 2002. The Turkmen state. Turkmenistan agreed to the In 2019, the UK will continue to press reply gave information about only UPR recommendation to work in for improvements in the appalling 18 individuals and no information on partnership with the ILO to eliminate human rights situation, and to demand the rest. During its UPR, the Turkmen the use of forced labour in the cotton accountability through the UN Security delegation continued to deny the use of harvest. In response to a further UPR Council and HRC, and to support torture. They said that the government recommendation to establish a time- organisations working on accountability had introduced measures to prevent bound national plan to address this and assisting victims. We will also torture or ill-treatment in detention, issue, Turkmenistan said the new continue to support UN efforts to reach although they also accepted some Constitution prohibited forced labour a political settlement to end the conflict. torture-related UPR recommendations. and the ‘worst forms’ of child labour. In November, the British Ambassador 61 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

There were credible reports, largely in Uzbekistan. The UK’s primary via social media, although websites from NGOs outside Turkmenistan, of concern in Uzbekistan centres on such as Facebook and YouTube were surveillance of and reprisals against the restrictions which continue on regularly inaccessible. An outcry against activists monitoring the harvest. freedom of association, of opinion photographs shared online which and expression, and of religion or publicly humiliated officials led to the There has been no improvement belief. Uzbekistan continued to dismissal of a deputy prime minister. in the human rights situation of make progress in strengthening LGBT people. Turkmenistan noted a In May, Uzbekistan relaxed restrictions transparency, improving government number of UPR recommendations on NGOs, but registration remains accountability and reforming the on the elimination of discrimination difficult including for those dealing security services. Uzbekistan accepted on the grounds of sexual orientation, with human rights. President Mirziyoev 201 recommendations during its but said that this contradicted “the called on parliament and MPs to Universal Periodic Review (UPR) existing views of civil society”. The hold the executive to account more at the UN Human Rights Council Turkmen government noted, but did effectively, and parliament’s role in May, while rejecting 11. not accept, recommendations to take was strengthened. But there was legislative measures to protect people At the UPR, the UK acknowledged no progress on the registration of against all forms of discrimination, progress on eliminating torture, on independent political parties. including discrimination based on protecting labour rights, and on the Following the visit by the UN Special sexual orientation and gender identity, release of political prisoners. Uzbekistan Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or and to repeal the criminalisation accepted UK recommendations to Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, to Uzbekistan in of consensual sexual relations eradicate the drivers of forced labour, 2017, the Uzbek government continued between adults of the same sex. to implement recommendations by addressing his recommendations, for the Committee on the Elimination of NGOs such as Forum 18 reported that example on the registration of religious Discrimination against Women, and Turkmenistan imprisoned a number groups, reducing the requirement for to guarantee freedom of expression, of conscientious objectors to military numbers of followers in a locality from assembly and association by ending the service, including Jehovah’s Witnesses. a few hundred to 50. Nonetheless, it harassment of journalists, human rights This appeared to have reversed a remained difficult for new religious defenders, and those exercising their previous decision in 2014 to punish groups to register, or for existing constitutional right to peaceful protest. conscientious objectors through groups to register to practise in new corrective labour, or through suspended Uzbekistan continued to engage with locations. Bureaucratic processes prison sentences. Turkmenistan noted international human rights bodies and remained opaque. Applications could a UPR recommendation to reform NGOs. Human Rights Watch now visit be rejected without explanation, government practices which restrict regularly. Foreign journalists routinely particularly at local level. By law, only freedom of religion or belief, and to visit and report, but the BBC has yet to the 16 registered religious groups ensure that individuals are not punished accredit a local correspondent. More were permitted to practise. Individuals for expressing their opinions or beliefs. political prisoners were released, but and other groups seeking to practise others remain in detention. In May, their beliefs remained vulnerable. The British Embassy used project a judge acquitted three journalists. In November, NGOs and media funding to support the United He found the fourth, Bobumurod representatives reported involvement Nations Development Programme, Abdullaev, accused of attempting the by the security services in a raid on raising awareness of the Universal overthrow of the constitutional order, an unregistered Baptist church. Declaration of Human Rights, and guilty on a lesser charge, and released promoting human rights education. In September, the US removed Uzbek him into community service. The judge Lord Ashton, Parliamentary Under- cotton from its list of goods produced called for an investigation into the Secretary at the Department for through child labour. The Uzbek security service’s handling of the case. Culture, Media and Sport, raised the government continued measures against However, international NGOs reported UK’s human rights concerns with forced labour by again raising the wages the harassment of some released the Turkmen Foreign Minister during of cotton pickers, increasing fines for political prisoners. Ex-prisoners cannot a visit to Ashgabat in October. forced labour, and dismissing or fining appeal their convictions, and with a senior officials. The government made In 2019, the Embassy will continue criminal record it is difficult to get a job, regular public statements about the to work for improvements in human integrate in society, or travel abroad. illegality of forced labour. Human rights rights in Turkmenistan, and specifically There was progress on press freedom, defenders worked with government will press the Turkmen authorities to despite significant self-censorship. officials to raise awareness about forced implement the UPR recommendations Uzbek media, particularly local media, labour and to train regional officials. For which they accepted and noted. gained confidence in criticising policy the first time, human rights defenders and politicians, although direct criticism monitored the harvest alongside the Uzbekistan of President Mirziyoyev remained rare. International Labour Organisation. But there was regular critical discussion Preliminary results indicated that 7% The UK welcomes the clear progress of government policy, online and there has been on human rights CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 62

of the workforce were subjected to rights including strengthening The panel identified a “widespread and forced labour, 46% down from 2017. media freedom, enhancing the systematic pattern of abuse targeting professionalism of journalists, an identified segment of the civilian Homosexuality remained illegal, strengthening the capacity of civil population”, and recommended that and LGBT people continued to society, and supporting the rule of law the Secretary-General submit the report face discrimination. There were including through further transparency and the evidence collected to the reports of police persecution of and anti-corruption measures. Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC. members of the LGBT community, and wider social stigmatisation In June, the UN OHCHR issued a report of LGBT people. Uzbekistan Venezuela documenting “human rights violations rejected UPR recommendations on committed by State authorities since Democracy and the rule of law in decriminalisation of same-sex relations August 2017, including the use of Venezuela weakened further in 2018. and elimination of discrimination excessive force in non-protest-related This affected civil and political rights, based on sexual orientation. security operations, new instances including freedom of expression, and of arbitrary detentions, torture, Reports of torture have decreased. reduced civil society space. In addition, and ill-treatment”, as well as cases President Mirziyoyev publicly spoke out the economic crisis is estimated to have of extrajudicial killings and lack of against torture, and legislation passed halved the size of Venezuela’s economy access to justice for victims and their in November 2017 made evidence between 2014 and 2018. Hyperinflation families. The OHCHR requested gained through torture inadmissible in and ongoing shortages of food, “full and unfettered access to the court. In January, the President removed medicines, and medical supplies Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the leadership of the National Security reduced the ability of Venezuelans conduct a comprehensive assessment Service, which had often been cited for to meet their most basic needs. of the human rights situation”. The violating detainee rights, and curbed According to the NGO Caritas UK supported the proposal of a visit the powers of the service. CCTV was Venezuela[57], 63% of children examined by the OHCHR, including during installed in detention facilities and police in 2018 suffered from malnutrition, Venezuela’s Universal Periodic Review stations. The newly established Human and the Global Acute Malnutrition at the Human Rights Council (HRC). Rights Ombudsman was given the right Index, which measures the percentage to visit prisons without advance notice. In September, the HRC adopted of children under the age of five Human Rights Watch accompanied a groundbreaking resolution on with acute to severe malnutrition, the Ombudsman on a prison visit in Venezuela, instigated by Latin American stood in September at 9.6%. There December. Uzbekistan continued work and Caribbean members. The resolution were also reports of malnourished towards ratifying the Optional Protocol noted that “hundreds of thousands” pregnant women. Medical and to the Convention against Torture. of Venezuelans had been “forced to pharmaceutical associations reported leave their country as a result of, inter The UK increased programme funding an increased number of cases of alia, a political, economic, social, and from £900,000 in 2017 to £2 million. malaria, diphtheria, and measles, humanitarian crisis that seriously affects We contributed to the process of and a lack of available treatment. their human rights”; and expressed “its drafting new laws on media freedom, Violence remained a serious deepest concern at the serious human brought law enforcement bodies and problem; the local NGO Observatorio rights violations” in the country. journalists to work together on a safer Venezolano de Violencia[58] estimated media working environment, and The dispute between the Venezuelan that there were over 23,000 violent engaged the BBC to train journalists. government and the opposition- deaths in Venezuela in 2018 (around The Westminster Foundation for led National Assembly deepened. 81.4 per 100,000 population). Democracy worked with the Uzbek The National Constituent Assembly parliament on scrutiny and research. In February, the Prosecutor of the continued to overrule the democratically We funded the work of the UK’s International Criminal Court (ICC) said elected National Assembly, and called a Government Partnerships International that she would launch a preliminary presidential election, which took place with the Ministry of Justice on the examination into the situation in in May. The UK stated that the election delivery of justice sector reforms and of Venezuela. Separately, in May, a panel had been “deeply flawed”, as did the public services. Through other projects, of independent international experts EU and other international partners. we worked to improve governance, appointed by the Secretary-General In November, a joint report[59] issued strengthen the rule of law and civil of the Organisation of American by the United Nations Refugee Agency society, advance gender equality, States found that “reasonable grounds and the International Organisation for and prevent domestic violence. exist to believe that crimes against Migration, said that the number of humanity have been committed in In 2019, we plan to continue to focus refugees and migrants from Venezuela Venezuela dating back to … 2014”. on further promotion of human worldwide had reached three million.

[57] http://caritasvenezuela.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/8-vo-Boletin-Saman-Julio-Septiembre-2018.pdf [58] https://observatoriodeviolencia.org.ve/ovv-lacso-informe-anual-de-violencia-2018/ [59] https://www.iom.int/news/emergency-plan-refugees-and-migrants-venezuela-launched 63 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Of these, almost two and a half million Yemen resident representative said that the were in Latin American and Caribbean organisation had verified 2,369 cases of The human rights situation worsened in countries, posing serious challenges child recruitment between March 2015 Yemen in 2018. Since 2015, the conflict to their governments. The Venezuelan and January 2018. The UK continues in the country has had a devastating migrant crisis is said to be one of the to monitor the situation with concern. effect on the lives of Yemenis. In largest in the hemisphere’s history. March, the Office of the United Nations Yemen ranks last out of 144 countries A new law against hatred, approved High Commissioner for Human Rights on the World Economic Forum’s Global by the National Constituent Assembly (OHCHR) stated that there had been Gender Gap Index.[60] The incidence in 2017, imposed further restrictions 6,100 verified civilian deaths since of gender-based violence has risen on media outlets, political parties, March 2015, with the actual numbers of by 70% since the start of the conflict and ordinary citizens. For example, casualties likely to be far higher. In June, in 2015. Women and girls bear a two firemen were imprisoned and the UN reported that there are over two disproportionate share of the misery then released on parole for mocking million internally displaced persons. caused by protracted displacement. The President Maduro on Twitter. The UK provides emergency cash assistance 2018 saw attacks on freedom of NGO Reporters Without Borders for vulnerable displaced women and religion or belief, attacks on freedom ranked Venezuela 143rd out of 180 female-headed-households, to enable of speech, the violations of women’s countries in its 2018 World Press them to access Sexual and Gender- human rights, the recruitment of child Freedom Index. The NGO Freedom Based Violence services, medical soldiers, and arbitrary detentions. House continued to rate the internet assistance, and psychosocial support. Multiple parties across the country in Venezuela as ‘not free’. There were UK programme funding supported a committed a wide range of human credible local NGO and media reports UN project to increase Yemeni women’s rights abuses and violations. of the national telecommunications inclusion in the peace process. authorities actively blocking specific The right to freedom of religion or Arbitrary disappearances and the media sites, and forbidding internet belief was widely denied in Yemen. use of torture were widely reported service providers from hosting these Members of the Baha’i faith were across Yemen. Human Rights Watch sites. The Venezuelan Press Workers’ persecuted and imprisoned. There reported that the Houthis subjected Union reported that 115 media were cases of arbitrary detentions and prisoners to torture, including cases outlets had closed between 2013 the abuse of detainees, including of in which prisoners were hung from and 2018 (41 print media, 65 radio Hamed bin Haydara, who was given walls with their arms shackled behind stations, and 9 television channels). a death sentence in January. The UK them. Credible reporting by Amnesty condemned this mistreatment, and The UK supported projects to deliver International alleged the use of secret urged the release of the detainees. We improvements on its human rights prisons in areas under the Saudi-led raised the importance of freedom of priorities in Venezuela. These included coalition’s control, as well as enforced religion or belief with the parties to the projects to strengthen democracy, to disappearance and torture. There conflict, including the Houthis. The UK protect civil society space by fostering was no reliable process for inquiry supported a resolution at the September freedom of expression and building into detainees held at these facilities. session of the UN Human Rights Council capacity for local human rights The UK raised human rights abuses (HRC) which called for the immediate defenders, and to promote gender with the legitimate Government of release of all Baha’i detainees. equality by tackling violence against Yemen, but progress proved limited. women and promoting female business As part of our continued commitment Freedom of speech was constrained leadership, as well as a groundbreaking to improving the overall human rights across the country. According to the regional modern slavery project situation, the UK supported both report by the UN Group of Eminent which benefited eight countries in resolutions on Yemen passed at the Experts published in August 2018, Latin America and the Caribbean. September session of the UN Human journalists and human rights defenders Rights Council. The resolution led by the In 2019, the UK will continue to faced threats and abuse, as well as Netherlands renewed the mandate of focus on advancing democracy, detention. In June, journalist Anwar the UN Group of Eminent, International protecting human rights defenders, al Rakan died following his release and Regional Experts and invited the and combatting modern slavery, from Houthi detention as a result of group to monitor the human rights and will increase our work on his ill-treatment. The UK spoke out situation in Yemen and report back protecting freedom of expression, publicly about the need to respect to the HRC in September 2019. given the complex Venezuelan journalists’ independence and the backdrop of political, social, UN and NGO reports highlighted the right of freedom of expression. economic, humanitarian, and continued recruitment of child soldiers The death penalty is used in Yemen. security-related challenges. by a number of armed groups in Yemen. In August, there was reporting of The OHCHR regularly reported that three public executions in Sana’a for children as young as ten were manning an alleged violent crime. Consensual Houthi checkpoints. The UNICEF

[60] https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-gender-gap-report-2018 CHAPTER 5: Human Rights Priority Countries 64

sexual relations between people of PF was frequently involved in the to be stifled during the election the same sex remain illegal in Yemen partisan distribution of food aid. period, with a biased state broadcaster and are subject under the law to and limited space for private and Before the election on 30 July, there the death penalty in some cases. community-based media. The Media was relative freedom of assembly, Institute of Southern Africa recorded 34 In 2019, the UK will continue to lead and freedom to demonstrate. In the incidents of harassment, assault, and international efforts to work towards an pre-election period, MDC presidential temporary detention of journalists by end to the conflict. While the conflict candidate Nelson Chamisa held 88 police and political actors, from both persists, we will continue to urge all rallies without incident. However, the MDC and ZANU-PF. The UK supported parties to protect civilians and respect situation sharply deteriorated after civil society organisations working on international law. We will work with the elections, with the security forces’ media reform, and directly engaged the UN OHCHR to increase the capacity heavy-handed response to protests with the Zimbabwean government of Yemeni institutions to investigate on 1 August, and the systematic to press for greater media freedom. human rights violations and abuses, targeting of opposition supporters. and to prevent them from occurring. In response, the government set up a The UK funded a nationwide survey Commission of Inquiry. The UK followed into attitudes to the death penalty. The UK government provided the proceedings of the commission While a majority of Zimbabweans £170 million in aid for Yemen in 2018, closely. Its report was made public by continue to support the death penalty, meeting the immediate food need of President Mnangagwa on 18 December. the survey found that 80% of those four million Yemenis and bringing the In meetings with the Zimbabwean in favour were willing to accept total UK bilateral support to Yemen government, the UK made clear the abolition. Zimbabweans continue to to £570 million since 2015. In 2019, importance of the government’s be sentenced to death, although the we will use UK programme funding response to the commission’s findings last execution was in 2005. President to support additional activity to and recommendations, particularly Mnangagwa has publicly stated his increase the role of women in local the conclusion that the use of force opposition to the death penalty. governance and peacebuilding. by the security services had been The deteriorating economic situation unjustified and disproportionate. continued to impact on the ability of Zimbabwe After the election, the police used the Zimbabweans to access healthcare. The human rights situation in Zimbabwe Public Order and Security Act (POSA) Many pharmacies began charging worsened in 2018 compared with 2017, to ban protests by unions. In October, for medicines in US dollars, which but was not as bad as during the last the Constitutional Court found Section are inaccessible for most people. two election years (2013 and 2008). 27 of POSA, which grants the police Many local authorities failed to The human rights monitoring group wide powers to ban demonstrations, to provide basic services, including safe Zimbabwe Peace Project recorded 2,354 be unconstitutional. The government drinking water and sanitation, which human rights violations from January to was given six months to amend the lead to outbreaks of cholera and December[61], 20% more than recorded legislation, or appeal against the ruling. typhoid in several urban centres. in total in 2017. A large number of the Zimbabwe experienced high rates LGBT people continued to face human rights violations were politically of gender-based violence. Almost discrimination, family disownment, motivated, and occurred around the 70% of Zimbabwean women have displacement from lodgings, unfair July elections. These included at least experienced gender-based violence labour practices, blackmail, and six deaths during post-election protests in their lifetime, compared with bullying. However, there was a decrease on 1 August. Further human rights 40% globally. There were reports in the use of anti-LGBT hate speech by violations included politically motivated of politically-motivated physical and political actors. Following the first ever intimidation, discrimination, harassment sexual violence against women before conversation between members of the and assault, violent policing, arbitrary and after the elections, involving LGBT community and representatives arrests, and torture. Despite this, there both ZANU-PF and MDC supporters. from ZANU-PF, both sides made a were notable improvements in freedom Prominent women registered examples commitment to continued dialogue. of speech and assembly compared of hate speech against them in the to previous election years, although The British Embassy met activists, run-up to the elections, but this was repressive legislation remained in place. pro-democracy campaigners, largely ignored by political leaders. parliamentarians, and political leaders Political violence occurred in relation Child marriage was banned in 2015 from across the political spectrum to both to the ruling party, ZANU-PF, but UNICEF reports that approximately encourage engagement, dialogue, and to the opposition Movement one in three Zimbabwean girls are and a more open society with respect for Democratic Change (MDC). This married before their 18th birthday. for the rights of all Zimbabweans. The included intra-party violence and While there were improvements UK deployed an election observation incidents of political victimisation, in access to general freedom of mission and contributed to the EU intimidation, and harassment. ZANU- expression, media freedom continued

[61] https://www.zimpeaceproject.com 65 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2018 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

election observation mission, the first in Zimbabwe since 2002. The UK continues to support a multi- donor programme to improve access to justice, promote media freedom, support girls’ education, and improve access to civil and political rights, including through public education. In 2019, the UK will continue to press the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and human rights, and to allow and encourage all Zimbabweans to exercise their democratic rights, under the protection of the 2013 Constitution and international human rights law.

Communications Team, Room WH1.165, Foreign and Commonwealth CCS0519142502 Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH 978-1-5286-1205-0