Human Rights & Democracy The 2017 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty

July 2018

Cm 9644 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2017 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

© Crown copyright 2018

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Cover image: Fatema Khatun, a 35-year-old Rohingya mum of four, who was forced to flee to Kutapalong in Bangladesh to escape the violence in Burma. She spent 10 days with her 4-month-old baby, hiding in the forest and walking to reach and cross the border into Bangladesh. “For now we need food”, says Fatema. “As for the future, I just want my children to be safe.” © Russell Watkins/Department for International Development Contents

Foreword by Minister for Human Rights Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon...... iv

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

Democracy and Democratic Freedoms ...... 1 The Community of Democracies...... 1 Westminster Foundation for Democracy...... 1 Civil Society...... 2 Freedom of Expression...... 2 Human Rights Defenders...... 3 Restrictions on Civil Society Space...... 3 Girls’ Education...... 3 Gender Equality...... 4 Women, Peace and Security...... 4 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative...... 5 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ...... 6 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights...... 6 Modern Slavery...... 7 Human Rights and the Private Sector...... 8 Business and Human Rights...... 8 Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights...... 9 Private Security Companies...... 9 Responsible Sourcing...... 9 The Open Government Partnership...... 9 Freedom of Religion or Belief...... 10 Post-Holocaust Issues...... 11 Death Penalty and Torture Prevention ...... 12 Overseas Security Justice Assistance...... 12 Export Controls...... 13 Migration...... 13 Department for International Development: Work on Economic and Social Rights ...... 14 Women and Girls’ Rights...... 14 Women’s Economic Empowerment...... 14 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights...... 15 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2017 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Rights of People with Disabilities ...... 15 Rights of Older Persons...... 15 Right to Health...... 15 Right to Education...... 15 Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Land...... 16 Social Protection...... 16 The Overseas Territories ...... 16

CHAPTER II: The Rules-Based International System...... 17

Human Rights at the UN...... 17 Human Rights Council...... 17 Country issues...... 17 Thematic issues...... 18 Universal Periodic Review...... 19 Treaty Monitoring Bodies and Special Procedures...... 19 UN Security Council...... 19 Responsibility to Protect, and Mass Atrocity Prevention...... 19 Peacebuilding...... 19 Peacekeeping...... 19 Commonwealth...... 19 Democracy...... 20 Inclusion...... 20 Europe...... 20 The European Union ...... 20 Council of Europe...... 21 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe...... 21 International Criminal Justice...... 21 Sanctions...... 22

CHAPTER III: FCO Human Rights Programme Funds...... 23 Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy...... 23 The Rules Based International System Fund...... 24

CHAPTER IV: Consular – Human Rights and Assistance ...... 25

Introduction...... 25 Death Penalty ...... 25 Torture and Mistreatment ...... 25 Overseas prisoners ...... 26 Forced Marriage ...... 26 CHAPTER V: Human Rights Priority Countries...... 27

Afghanistan...... 27 Bahrain...... 28 People’s Republic of Bangladesh ...... 29 Burma...... 30 Burundi ...... 32 Central African Republic ...... 33 China ...... 33 Colombia...... 35 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) ...... 36 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)...... 37 Egypt ...... 37 Eritrea ...... 38 Iran ...... 39 Iraq ...... 40 The State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories ...... 41 Libya ...... 42 Republic of Maldives...... 43 Pakistan ...... 45 Russia ...... 46 Saudi Arabia...... 48 Somalia...... 49 South Sudan...... 50 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka...... 51 Sudan...... 52 Syria...... 53 Turkmenistan...... 54 Uzbekistan...... 55 Venezuela ...... 56 Yemen ...... 57 Zimbabwe...... 58 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2017 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Foreword by FCO Minister of State for Human Rights Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Promoting and defending human rights is a fundamental part of the UK’s foreign policy. Every day, all over the world, British ministers, diplomats and officials champion human rights to protect the ‘inherent dignity’ of ‘all members of the human family’ as proclaimed almost seven decades ago by the United Nations General Assembly.

We champion gender equality, LGBT We witnessed one of the worst sustained and consistent effort, often rights, freedom of religion or belief and humanitarian crises in decades as over many decades, to make progress, freedom of expression. We campaign hundreds of thousands of Rohingya and that it is the work of many players: for the abolition of the death penalty, Muslims fled their homes in the face governments, civil society, human rights an end to torture, and the eradication of of violence by the Burmese military. In defenders, and faith leaders. modern slavery and human trafficking. Syria, the seven-year conflict continued We must each play our part, we must Traditional diplomacy, both directly to expose the Syrian civilians to the remain committed for the long term and with individual countries and through immoral actions of a dictator whose we must strengthen our collaboration. multilateral institutions like the UN is disregard for their human rights That is how progress is achieved. This instrumental to persuade, cajole and extended to the use of chemical report is a record of some of the ways apply pressure; and we use our Magna weapons. we contributed in 2017 to this noble Carta Fund to fund support for local Our report documents these and many aim. champions of human rights and to other human rights violations and draw attention to the importance of At the multilateral level, the UK remained abuses. affording everyone the same rights and a strong advocate of human rights. We protections. It sometimes seems that the efforts co-sponsored a number of resolutions of governments and human rights at the UN Human Rights Council and This Annual Report is an essential guide defenders to combat assaults on human the General Assembly Third Committee, to the British Government’s work and to rights have little impact, especially in the including resolutions on youth, the the global human rights landscape over immediate or short-term. However, it is safety of journalists, freedom of religion the year 2017. important to remember that it requires or belief and human rights defenders. We renewed our efforts to support trafficking by 2030, the objective such as the fight against modern slavery, human rights defenders by revising our unanimously adopted in the UN LGBT rights, the right to education, internal guidance and reissuing it to all Sustainable Development Goals in and making democracy more inclusive. our Embassies and High Commissions. I 2015. The Prime Minister launched a The UK announced financial support was pleased to underline UK support for Call to Action on the issue at the UN for a range of projects designed to the vital role of human rights defenders General Assembly in September, and underpin and promote human rights by taking part in Amnesty International’s we are working hard to encourage as and democracy. These included up to £3 Human Rights Day event in December many countries as possible to give it million to build human rights capacity 2017, which was dedicated to human their endorsement. By the end of 2017, with a focus on small states, £7.5 million rights defenders. over 40 countries had done so, and I to tackle child labour and online sexual am pleased to say that number has now exploitation, £5.6 million on the rights Our own Human Rights Day risen to over 60. of women and LGBT people, and a commemoration in 2017 was dedicated £4 million programme to drive more to the protection and promotion of 2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the inclusive and accountable democracy. freedom of religion or belief. As a Universal Declaration of Human Rights Finally, the Government committed £212 person of faith, this important issue (UDHR), adopted by the UN General million through DFID’s Girls’ Education resonates particularly powerfully with Assembly on 10 December 1948 in Challenge to help around 1 million me. I know how fortunate I am to response to the appalling atrocities girls in developing countries across the practise my faith free from fear or inflicted on countless millions during Commonwealth to receive a quality discrimination, in a society that enshrines the preceding decade. The Declaration education. that right in law for people of all faiths represents a universal commitment to and none. It is a right which everyone, protect the rights of every individual. The struggle to protect, promote and everywhere, should enjoy. I was Some may question its efficacy in the strengthen human rights is real and therefore delighted to host our Human face of overwhelming evidence of constant. It is often daunting, but we Rights Day event in partnership with continued human rights violations, but take heart from past achievements Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and I this is to misunderstand the Declaration’s and from the fact that so many of us stepped up my engagement with faith purpose. No-one in 1948 expected are committed to championing human leaders through a series of roundtable all human rights violations to end rights, for the long term. We in the meetings on a range of foreign policy there and then, just as no-one expects Foreign and Commonwealth Office, issues. crime to disappear just because it is and in Government more widely, will outlawed. The point of the UDHR, and continue to work with civil society, The Government is also demonstrating the international covenants and treaties private sector, faith leaders, and global leadership in the fight against which have subsequently given legal individual citizens to make a difference. modern slavery. The FCO made effect to its vision, is to ensure that we We will remain vigilant and steadfast in a significant contribution in 2017, constantly strive to protect and promote calling out injustice, and in defending alongside colleagues from the Home rights, at all times and for all people. and advancing the rights to which all Office and the Department for human beings, without distinction, are International Development. Collectively, Discussion of human rights was very entitled. the world needs to raise its game if we much part of the Commonwealth Heads are to eradicate all forms of modern of Government meeting in London in slavery, forced labour and human April. Participants discussed themes

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office 1 HumanHuman Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: :The The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & & Commonwealth Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes

Democracy and Constitutional Court, and to hold local parties – CoD partner countries, NGOs, elections. In 2017, the government and others – of the impending threat. Democratic Freedoms committed to holding the first ever In 2017, the UK supported the Working Respect for universal human rights local elections in May 2018 – a symbolic Group’s Call for Action on Cambodia, and democratic freedoms underpins stepping-stone in the country’s when the government had threatened the UK’s foreign policy. We work democratic transition – and to the to shut down the Cambodian Center towards the goal of a world in which establishment of a Constitutional for Human Rights. Cambodian media all people are free to live in open, Court. There is much still to be done subsequently reported that the Call safe and fair societies, where state to complete the democratic transition, for Action had drawn attention to the authorities respect and defend human and we are supporting this in a number proposed restrictive legislation (the rights. We believe that democracy and of ways, including through programme Law on Associations and NGOs). The the freedoms upon which it is founded funding to promote the implementation Call for Action, added to other external provide the fairest form of government of the Constitution’s democratic and pressure, helped save the Center from and are the best way to ensure universal human rights guarantees. In October, closure. enjoyment of human rights. the UK Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in In 2017, democratic governance and Europe (OSCE) chaired a meeting of Westminster Foundation freedoms grew in several countries but the OSCE Human Dimension Committee for Democracy declined in many others. The respected on ‘Challenges to Democracy’, with The Westminster Foundation for NGO Freedom House recorded[1] speakers from the OSCE Parliamentary Democracy (WFD) is an executive a decline in global freedom for the Assembly, Golos Movement (a Russian Non-Departmental Public Body twelfth consecutive year and a net NGO), the OSCE Office for Democratic established in 1992 and funded mainly decline in civil liberties and political Institutions and Human Rights, and by the FCO (which is the sponsoring rights in 71 countries. representatives of the Azerbaijan Department) and the Department for Free and fair elections are the government. International Development (DFID). It cornerstone of democracy. The right is a key delivery partner for the UK of individuals and groups to organise Government, through which the UK and contest elections, peacefully The Community of shares its democratic experience and competing with other parties for Democracies expertise. WFD’s work is an important the right to govern, is under threat The UK’s commitment to working with and distinctive part of our diplomatic in many countries. In Venezuela our international partners to promote and development effort to strengthen and Turkmenistan for example, and secure democracy informed our respect for human rights. independent observers regarded the decisions to join the Governing Council WFD supports the UK’s security and elections which took place as irregular of the Community of Democracies (CoD) prosperity objectives by strengthening or unfair, with meaningful opposition in 2016, and its Executive Committee democratic systems in developing silenced. In Cambodia, the arrest of in September 2017. The CoD is a and transition countries around the opposition leader Kem Sokha and the group of like-minded countries whose world. It works in partnership with UK dissolution of the main opposition party common goal is to “bring together political parties and the Parliaments and left little hope for credible democratic governments, civil society and private Assemblies in Westminster, Scotland, elections in 2018. sector actors that share common values Wales and Northern Ireland, to increase The FCO is committed to working to to push forward the democratic agenda the effectiveness and accountability reverse the global trend of declining globally”. As part of our engagement of their counterparts overseas. It also democracy. The FCO’s overseas with the CoD, the UK joined its Working provides electoral assistance to help network of Embassies and High Group for Protecting and Enabling Civil ensure credible and inclusive elections. Commissions plays an important role Society. One of the Working Group’s In 2017, WFD’s overseas operation in that work, by engagement with tools is the so-called ‘Call for Action’, consisted of offices in 27 countries host governments and the promotion which it employs in instances where and programmes in over 40. Some of democracy through multilateral there is evidence of a government examples are set out below. institutions. In Tunisia, we have seeking to take steps which would In Indonesia, work continued to consistently lobbied the government constrain the freedom of civil society. mainstream human rights in the to establish independent judicial and A Call for Action is effectively an alarm legislative process of the House of democratic institutions, including a which is sounded to alert interested

[1] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2018 2

Representatives. WFD helped the reconciliation initiatives and the voices opposed to the government, Indonesian parliament research, protection of human rights. including opposition figures, human examine and debate the Counter rights activists, journalists and social Throughout 2017, WFD continued to Terrorism and Narcotics bills to ensure media users. In Turkey, many support cross-national networks alignment to international human journalists remained in jail, civil society of activists and political parties rights principles. In Sri Lanka, WFD representatives faced prosecution, and to increase the representation and continued to support post civil-war the State of Emergency was repeatedly influence of women in politics. These reconciliation and constitutional reform extended. The UK reaffirmed its included the Central and Eastern Europe initiatives. commitment to addressing the Gender Network for Eastern Europe and challenges to media freedom; in In Nigeria, WFD launched a new the Western Balkans (supported by the November, the then Foreign Secretary, programme in partnership with civil Labour Party International Democracy Boris Johnson, stressed the importance society organisations to increase Programme) and ‘Rae’dat’ (supported of a free media for creating vibrant, political participation and representation by the Scottish National Party WFD informed societies and for supporting a of young people, women, and people programme). “safer, more prosperous and progressive with disabilities. world”, and announced funding for In March, the WFD Research Civil Society projects in countries where media Programme convened a conference freedom is under significant pressure. in Kenya for civil society, parliamentary Freedom of Expression The right to freedom of expression as and governmental organisations. The Freedom of Expression is a fundamental exercised through traditional methods objective of the conference was to human right which underpins and must also be protected online. respond to growing threats to the enables many of the rights and Freedom House reported[3] 2017 as role of civil society in East Africa. freedoms which we would expect seeing a seventh consecutive annual Participating organisations agreed to to see in any functioning democratic decline in internet freedom. Through coordinate national responses and take society. However, 2017 saw stark the Magna Carta Fund for Human action in the East African Legislative reminders that this important human Rights and Democracy, we supported Assembly (EALA) to protect civil right was under attack in many parts Access Now's #KeepItOn project, which society at the regional level. of the world, and that globally the highlights the use of unwarranted degree of freedom of expression was In the Middle East and North internet shutdowns and aims to prevent deteriorating. In the Philippines – Africa, WFD’s support to the Coalition censorship, human rights abuses, ranked among the deadliest countries of Arab Women MPs to Combat state violence, and the undermining in the world for journalists and land Violence Against Women helped of democratic governance. In 2017, rights defenders, we continued to secure reforms at both national and the #KeepItOn project monitored and call on the government to promote a regional level. These included the responded to internet shutdowns in safe and enabling environment for the repeal of legislation in Jordan and Kenya[4], the Democratic Republic of work of all human rights defenders. In Lebanon which protected rapists by Congo[5] and Cameroon[6]. In the Turkmenistan, independent human allowing them to marry their victims case of Kenya, the project's strong and rights NGOs were unable to operate. and escape prison, and the formal proactive efforts to keep the internet submission to the Arab League of a The threats to press freedom continued available throughout the period of draft ‘Convention to Combat Violence in 2017 as journalists continued to suffer Kenya's presidential election led to a Against Women’. When adopted, the intimidation and attacks. Reporters clear pledge[7] by a major regulator Convention will be another mechanism Without Borders reported[2] that 65 not to shut down the internet. This to protect women in the region from journalists and media assistants were enabled Kenyan citizens to benefit violence. killed in the course of their work during from the continued free flow of 2017. In Vietnam, the authorities information, freedom of expression, In Colombia, WFD organised continued to imprison many bloggers and of journalistic reporting online[8] a series of workshops bringing and human rights defenders, often throughout the election. The UK is together Colombian legislators with imposing long sentences. In Thailand, a member of the Freedom Online representatives from Northern Irish legislation was used to restrict the Coalition, a group of 30 countries which political parties, faith groups and media and free speech. In Malaysia, promotes internet freedom. civil society organisations to discuss authorities continued to restrict

[2] https://rsf.org/en/worldwide-round-journalists-killed-detained-held-hostage-or-missing-2017 [3] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/freedom-net-2017 [4] https://www.accessnow.org/election-watch-kenya-orders-internet-shutdown-will-telcos-help-keepiton/ [5] https://www.accessnow.org/democratic-republic-congo-orders-orange-cameroon-slow-internet-capacity/ [6] https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton-coalition-letter-government-cameroon/ [7] https://www.accessnow.org/update-major-regulator-kenya-pledges-not-shut-internet/ [8] https://www.accessnow.org/polls-close-kenya-upholds-freedom-expression-keeping-internet/ 3 HumanHuman Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: :The The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & & Commonwealth Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Human Rights Defenders from pre-trial detention of local political freedoms in Russia became In line with its commitment to the Amnesty International and other human increasingly constrained. In Turkey, values of democracy and respect for rights defenders on terror-related the continuing State of Emergency with human rights, the UK supports the right charges. its many restrictions, in place since the failed coup in 2016, makes it difficult for of human rights defenders to carry out Complementing our bilateral work civil society to operate effectively. We their activities and voice their opinions, through activity at the multilateral level, have called on Turkey to suspend it. in order to defend human rights the UK in November co-sponsored peacefully. They hold governments United Nations General Assembly Faced with this reality, we took action to account and highlight instances of resolution 72/247 on human rights in many countries. The then Foreign human rights abuses or discrimination, defenders. We will continue to work Secretary, Boris Johnson, issued a with the aim of securing human rights with co-sponsoring partners to promote statement of concern about moves to for affected populations. At the Human the resolution’s aims and principles in restrict political and civil society life Rights Day reception which Amnesty 2018, which marks the 20th anniversary in Egypt. The FCO used the Magna International hosted in December, the of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Carta Fund to build the capacity of civil Minister for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad Defenders. society groups in Malaysia, including of Wimbledon said “…by supporting youth and women’s groups. In the In 2017, the FCO continued its human rights defenders especially Philippines we continued to call on collaboration with the Centre for many tragically facing prejudice and the government to promote a safe Applied Human Rights (CAHR) at oppression in their front line work it is and enabling environment for the the University of York. CAHR runs important our government, wherever work of human rights defenders. In a Protective Fellowship Scheme for we have representation in the world, Thailand, the Embassy hosted events human rights defenders at risk, hosting becomes the voice for those human for civil society groups, funded projects up to ten defenders per year. In 2017, rights defenders”. protecting civic space, and attended the FCO Human Rights Policy Unit trials and hearings of human rights The respected NGO Frontline Defenders hosted the defenders during their defenders giving publicity and national calculated[9] that 312 human rights advocacy trip to London and introduced attention to their cases. In Russia, we defenders were killed in 2017, 67% them to the relevant country desk significantly increased funding available of whom were defenders of land or officers. This had a double benefit: to support civil society, at a time when environmental rights. Many others desk officers learned more about NGOs and charities faced growing were harassed, intimidated, subjected the current risks facing human rights pressure. We funded a broad portfolio to violence or detained. These shocking defenders, and the defenders were able of projects to support human rights, figures only served to strengthen our to build closer relationships with the civil society and democracy. resolve to find ways to support human FCO, in the UK as well as in their home rights defenders and show solidarity country. Such relationships help make with them. In December, the then human rights defenders more secure in Girls’ Education Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, the difficult environments where they ver 130 million girls out of equipped the FCO’s diplomatic network work. With o with newly updated Guidelines on school globally, the then Foreign Working with Human Rights Defenders. Secretary, Boris Johnson, has described The updated Guidelines, developed in Restrictions on Civil enhancing girls’ education as a moral consultation with civil society, provide Society Space imperative; he has put gender equality at the heart of UK foreign policy practical advice for Embassies and High 2017 saw a number of countries in 2017, with a particular focus on Commissions to help them assist and introducing legislation which restricted providing girls with 12 years of quality support human rights defenders. the activity of civil society, stifling education which not only respects their challenge and free speech. For FCO staff undertake a number of human rights, but also helps make their example, state authorities in Vietnam activities to support human rights societies more peaceful, stable and continued to use long and bureaucratic defenders. This could be through trial prosperous. observation, quiet diplomacy with host approval processes to delay and in some governments, or public diplomacy. cases reject NGO projects considered The Gender Equality Unit began work For example, in Azerbaijan, sensitive. In Egypt, President Sisi with DFID, Department for Education, Embassy officials monitored the court ratified the NGO law, which, if Government Equalities Office and other proceedings of those facing politically enforced, will significantly restrict government departments to develop motivated charges. In Afghanistan, NGOs’ ability to register, access funding a global girls’ education campaign we continued to fund protection and or operate freely. The authorities in focused on securing 12 years of security training for human rights Russia continued to place civil society quality education for girls, including defenders operating in high risk and organisations under restrictive measures opportunities to advance this at the remote areas. In Turkey, we lobbied such as the ‘Foreign Agents’ and Commonwealth Heads of Government at the highest level to seek the release ‘Undesirable Organisations’ laws, and Meeting in London in April 2018.

[9] https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/annual-report-human-rights-defenders-risk-2017 4

The Girls Education Challenge Fund works with government, local communities and teachers to ensure that Somali girls have access to quality education.

We want to break down the barriers and the Australian Ambassador on aware that it is vital to protect schools preventing girls from gaining 12 years of Women, Peace and Security, and visited from attack during times of armed quality education, improving the quality a number of countries including the conflict and we continued to look at of teaching, supporting the reform of Occupied Palestinian Territories/ new ways in which we could further education systems and helping the most Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Finland, enhance our commitment to ensure marginalised girls to learn. Sweden, the Netherlands, US and schools were maintained as places for Canada. The Special Envoy supported education. This review resulted in the the role of women and youth at the UK Government endorsing the Safe Gender Equality third London Conference on Somalia, Schools Declaration in April 2018. The FCO’s first Special Envoy for Gender attended the Commission on the Status Equality, Joanna Roper, was appointed of Women, the UN General Assembly, in February and a dedicated Gender the G7 Gender ministerial meeting and Women, Peace and Security Equality Unit (GEU) created in October. the Human Rights Council in Geneva. As the global leader on Women, Peace During her visit to Canada in September, and Security (WPS), we hold the pen The UK continued to play a key role on the Prime Minister, Theresa May, agreed on WPS at the UN Security Council, the UN Working Group on Children and with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin and are the second largest donor to the Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the Trudeau, that they would champion UN Women, Peace and Humanitarian international response on the issues of gender equality globally. This would Fund through which we have supported child soldiers and child protection. This include joining forces to work on over 30 women’s organisations in included pressing those countries listed gender and trade, addressing the Jordan, Burundi, Colombia and in the UN Secretary-General’s annual gender pay gap, and ending violence the Pacific. In Burundi, this funding report on CAAC to agree concrete against women and girls. The UK and enabled female mediators to instigate action plans with the UN. Canada would also work together to community dialogues in 13,000 local promote the global implementation of The UK Government remained strongly disputes in 2016 and 2017. We were UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on committed to supporting the rights a leading supporter of the UNFPA in Women, Peace and Security, including of children caught up in conflict, Syria, providing £29 million since 2013 in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. believing that children are entitled to to address sexual and gender-based education and safety. Education is violence. Last year, through the Conflict, The Special Envoy discussed gender more important than ever during such Stability and Security Fund alone we equality challenges and solutions with crises as it helps provide children with a spent over £200 million on promoting senior international counterparts, degree of normality and stability. The gender equality worldwide. such as the EU Special Representative UK Government was therefore fully 5 HumanHuman Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: :The The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & & Commonwealth Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

In 2017, the UK Government developed the fourth UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security for 2018- 2022 (NAP) which was launched in January 2018. This sets out how we will meet UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 commitments and deliver better protection and empowerment of women in conflict contexts overseas. Consultation with experts from academia and civil society informed the Government’s work on the NAP, as did consultations with civil society in Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia With UK support, over 100 female cadets have graduated from and Syria. The UK also funded an Afghanistan’s National Army Officer Academy. In 2017, a female independent evaluation of the 2014- won the Sword of Honour award for the best cadet. 2017 NAP. The revised NAP takes Vancouver, in November. Chaired by The second edition of the International account of feedback from the previous the UK in its inaugural year, the network Protocol on the Investigation and Action Plans, building it around seven aims to improve integration of gender Documentation of Sexual Violence strategic outcomes and nine focus perspectives and the participation in Conflict was published in March. countries. of women in armed forces and It includes additional chapters on The UK continued to work to amplify peacekeeping. documenting conflict-related sexual violence against children and against women’s voices, to increase their The Minister for Human Rights, Lord male victims, further guidance on participation in conflict resolution, and Ahmad of Wimbledon, led efforts to trauma, and a focus on analysing to support their educational, economic do more on gender and preventing/ evidence and establishing patterns of and political empowerment. A Wilton countering violent extremism, including violation. Park event in December on women in hosting roundtables to discuss the issue mediation brought together mediation with gender experts and with faith Lord Ahmad launched the ‘Principles experts, many of them women, to build leaders. for Global Action: preventing and and share knowledge. We promoted addressing stigma associated with the participation of women in political conflict-related sexual violence’ at the processes and mediation roles in Syria, Preventing Sexual Violence UN General Assembly in September. Somalia, Colombia and Yemen. in Conflict Initiative A series of workshops on ending UK support also provided services 2017 was the fifth anniversary of the stigma were held in Bosnia and for women who suffered sexual and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Herzegovina, Burundi, the Central gender-based violence in Syria, and Initiative (PSVI)[10], which we marked African Republic, Colombia, strengthened the role of women in the in March with an event at the FCO Kosovo, Mali, Nepal, South Sudan, security forces in Somalia. attended by its co-founders, Lord Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda. The Through DFID, we provided access Hague and Angelina Jolie. Through workshops produced action plans on to education for over 175,000 girls the PSVI, we continued to work to how to address the issue. in Syria, and doubled the number of end survivor stigma, to secure justice Members of the PSVI Team of women members of the volunteer and accountability and prevent sexual Experts[11] conducted a number of humanitarian organisation, the White violence happening in the first place. In tasks, including providing training Helmets, officially known as the Syria June, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to the EU Training Mission in Mali Civil Defence, to 147. The Ministry of appointed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and to peacekeepers in Malaysia, Defence supported the National Army as her new Special Representative on conducting a review of the International Officer Academy in Afghanistan Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Protocol on the Investigation and in training officer cadets, including succeeding Baroness Anelay. In his Documentation of Sexual Violence in 100 women. In the Democratic first six months, the Minister engaged Conflict, and assessing capacity needs Republic of the Congo, we ensured with key partners, in particular, on investigation and documentation that development and humanitarian the UN Secretary General’s Special of sexual violence in Bangladesh. programmes addressed the needs Representative for Sexual Violence The latter was in response to the crisis of women. The UK, with Canada in Conflict, Pramila Patten, on issues caused by the large-scale migration of and Bangladesh, launched the WPS ranging from stigma in Bosnia Rohingya people escaping persecution Chiefs of Defence Network at the UN to evidence-gathering on crimes and violence in Burma and crossing Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in committed in Burma. into Bangladesh. Following its work

[10] https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/preventing-sexual-violence-initiative [11] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/psvi-partners 6

in Bangladesh, the FCO and DFID took forward the recommendations of the Team of Experts. The UK has been one of the largest bilateral donors to the Rohingya crisis, contributing £59 million in support. Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, called for an independent international investigation into reports of human rights violations when he met Burma’s Defence Minister in November 2017. The then Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has also raised the issue of sexual and gender-based violence with the authorities in the Rakhine. At the UN Security Council session in December, Lord Ahmad, conveyed the seriousness of the crisis and made clear that the situation continues to merit close attention. UK PSVI funding supported over 25 On 10 June 2017, HMA Andrew Dalgleish, BE Zagreb together with projects in 14 countries in 2017. his Slovenian, Swedish and US colleagues joined the Zagreb Pride March demonstrating support for LGBT rights and freedoms. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Lesbian, Gay, operation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, The UK supported the UN Secretary- Bisexual, Transgender to promote tolerance and non- General’s (UNSG) new victim-centred (LGBT) Rights discrimination against LGBT people and strategy and zero tolerance approach to address discriminatory laws. Lord to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). The protection and promotion of the rights of LGBT people is a priority for Ahmad set out the UK’s commitment to The Prime Minister, Theresa May, LGBT rights at a UN LGBT Core Group joined the UNSG’s Circle of Leadership, the UK Government. We are opposed to all forms of discrimination. The event during the UN General Assembly which brings together Heads of State in September 2017. He also announced and Government who have agreed chance to live with dignity, free from violence or discrimination, should additional UK funding to the UN’s to lend their personal engagement ‘Free and Equal’ campaign aimed at and demonstrate solidarity with the not depend on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The raising awareness and respect for LGBT Secretary-General in support of victims; equality. and, where possible, implement steps Minister for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad to end impunity and hold perpetrators of Wimbledon, delivered a speech on The UK, a founding member of the to account. The UK signed the UNSG’s the right for all people to live without Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), joined the Voluntary Compact on SEA, which set prejudice, violence and discrimination at ERC’s Executive Committee in 2017 to out the mutual responsibilities of the UN the launch of the new UK Alliance for shape and support the ERC’s efforts to and its member states. We provided Global Equality in London in July. help secure global LGBT equality. On 6 £1 million to help build the capacity of One of the core objectives of the FCO’s June, during the 35th session of the UN the UN to vet and train peacekeepers, Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights Human Rights Council in Geneva, the and to improve investigations and co- and Democracy is increased respect ERC delivered a statement welcoming ordination across the UN. for equality and non-discrimination for the first report of the newly appointed UN Independent Expert on protection We expanded our focus to include all members of society. In 2017, over £900,000 was allocated to projects against violence and discrimination SEA committed by and within the based on sexual orientation and development and humanitarian sectors, focused on LGBT rights, aimed at: improving institutional protection gender identity (IE SOGI), Professor Vitit including the UN’s multilateral agencies. Muntarbhorn. The ERC’s statement The International Development against discrimination including through removing or amending discriminatory highlighted this important event and set Secretary and Lord Ahmad hosted a out the work of the Coalition. roundtable at UNGA in September 2017 laws, policies and practices; reducing with senior UN officials and heads of hate speech, violence or harassment 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the key agencies to explore approaches to based on discrimination; and increasing partial decriminalisation of consensual strengthening safeguarding measures. the participation of minority groups same-sex relations in England and We included measures to address in political and public life, including in Wales. We continue to urge those SEA in MOUs and results framework positions of leadership and influence. 75 jurisdictions which still criminalise agreements with the agencies which The UK works through international same-sex relations to take steps towards we fund and in strategic dialogues with organisations, including the UN, EU, decriminalisation, and encourage all them. Organization for Security and Co- countries to ensure that they have 7 HumanHuman Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: :The The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & & Commonwealth Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

legislation which protects LGBT people. over 150 same-sex marriages. In 2017, that there is no modern slavery in The FCO network raises concerns the UK welcomed the introduction of their supply chains. The UK shared regarding the protections of LGBT legislation in Australia and Germany its experience of the Act in 2017, rights with host countries. The UK was allowing same-sex marriage. encouraging countries to develop their one of the first countries to express own legislation to tackle modern slavery concern at reports of the detention and improve victim support. and torture of up to 100 homosexual Modern Slavery A crime which has no respect men in Chechnya, Russia, where at The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has for borders clearly needs a truly least three were killed in April. The identified modern slavery as one of international response. The UK has a then Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, the greatest human rights challenges multifaceted strategy to help generate pressed Russian Foreign Minister of our time. There were an estimated such a response. The strategy focuses Sergey Lavrov on this in Moscow on 22 40.3 million victims of modern slavery on countries from which we receive December. In May, the UK, alongside worldwide in 2016, according to the high numbers of victims and on EU partners, the US and Canada, made Global Estimates on Modern Slavery[12] individual countries which are among representations to the Government of released in September 2017 by the those with the highest prevalence Indonesia in protest at the caning of ILO and Walk Free Foundation in of modern slavery and where we two homosexual individuals in Aceh partnership with the International believe the UK is well placed to make province. In October, Uruguay elected Organization for Migration. Modern a difference. The UK is also pressing its first transgender senator. slavery exists in every society. It for global prioritisation of this issue. respects neither borders nor As well as diplomatic lobbying, we To this end, we mobilised our entire jurisdictions. Its victims are subject to support the efforts of civil society FCO network of posts in 2017. We the most appalling mistreatment and organisations to change laws and also continued to drive for progress at exploitation. At international level, social attitudes by supporting human multilateral fora, ensuring that modern the crimes we understand as modern rights defenders during gay Pride and slavery remained on the agenda of the slavery are set out in the universally anti-discrimination events, often in G7, G20, Organization for Security and agreed Sustainable Development Goal countries where such events provoke Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the (SDG) 8.7, which calls for “immediate hostility and violence. In June, we Commonwealth, UN General Assembly and effective measures to eradicate were instrumental in forming the and UN Human Rights Council. forced labour, end modern slavery group ‘Diplomats for Equality’ at the and human trafficking and secure the In July 2017, the Minister for Human Vienna Pride, which brought together prohibition and elimination of the worst Rights, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, over 80 representatives from over forms of child labour, including the instructed all UK sovereign posts to 30 missions. At the OSCE’s Human recruitment and use of child soldiers.” contribute to the agenda in a manner Dimension Committee in June, the UK The term ‘modern slavery’ provides a in keeping with the local context and introduced the issue of Pride marches useful and powerful advocacy tool, proportionate to available resources. for discussion in the context of Freedom which in the UK refers to several Posts built modern slavery into their of Peaceful Assembly. In July, the then offences in the Modern Slavery Act Business Plans, identifying where Foreign Secretary delivered a speech 2015: “slavery, servitude and forced they could make an impact. To give at the launch of Stonewall’s Top Global or compulsory labour” and “human some examples: the UK funded Employers Programme in London, trafficking”. research into the effective handling of setting out the importance of LGBT human trafficking data in Indonesia, inclusion and reinforcing the role of The UK is committed to the eradication Philippines, Cambodia and Thailand business in promoting LGBT equality. of all forms of modern slavery to promote data-driven policy-making. The then Foreign Secretary was clear and human trafficking by 2030, in The UK worked closely with partners to that tackling discrimination is not only accordance with the UN Sustainable protect those at risk from online child the right thing to do, but also the smart Development Goal 8.7. Strengthening sexual exploitation in the Philippines, thing to do for societies and economies. the response to modern slavery is a including building capabilities for In Thailand, the Embassy’s work in domestic and foreign policy priority detecting, disrupting and prosecuting supporting the LGBT community and for the UK Government. The Prime offenders. The UK and China local human rights defenders was cited Minister chairs a Modern Slavery Task strengthened engagement on modern by the respected NGO Stonewall as an Force – the first of its kind, established slavery, including work to encourage example of best practice in 2017. in 2016 – to drive forward domestic due diligence in supply chains. The UK and international action in this The UK Government continues to offer welcomed and supported increased important area. The Modern Slavery consular marriage services to same- attention by domestic and international Act is internationally recognised as a sex couples (one of whom must be media on modern slavery, which served ground-breaking piece of legislation – a UK national). In 2017, our consular to galvanise international support to particularly in its requirement for large network offered a consular same-sex address the scandal of public slave private sector companies to report service in 28 countries, and performed markets in Libya, for example. In Peru, on steps they are taking to ensure

[12] http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_575479/lang--en/index.htm 8

Prime Minister Theresa May and UN Secretary General António Guterres at the launch of the Call to Action to End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking during the 72nd Meeting of the UN General Assembly. the UK provided specialised training to together a growing group of countries, Human Rights and prosecutors and police officers dealing committed to combating these barbaric with human trafficking victims. In crimes. Our aim is increased political the Private Sector Venezuela, the UK funded a modern commitment and a more determined, slavery diagnostic study, and promoted impactful global response to the issue. Business and Human Rights the creation of a multidisciplinary The UK is committed to the UN Modern slavery will continue to be working group on modern slavery. Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business a major focus for the UK in 2018. During Lord Ahmad’s visit to Ghana, he and human rights, which we see as Through the Magna Carta Fund, the explored a new commitment to making the authoritative global standard for FCO will fund projects where our progress on an Action Plan to eliminate preventing and addressing the risk of Embassies and High Commissions have human trafficking with the Minister for adverse human rights impacts linked identified opportunities to make a real Gender. The 2017 UK Annual Report with business. The UK encourages impact on the lives of those affected. on Modern Slavery[13] provides further all countries to develop measures, The FCO will continue to work closely detail on how the UK has responded to including National Action Plans, to with our partners across government this issue. implement the UNGPs. In line with and internationally to ensure that the the Transparency in Supply Chains In September, the Prime Minister UK targets its interventions as effectively provision in the Modern Slavery launched the Call to Action to End as possible. The UK will double its aid Act, the UK continued to work with Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and spending on fighting modern slavery businesses to encourage better due Human Trafficking at a high-level UK- to £150 million, enabling more work diligence to eradicate unacceptable hosted event during the UN General in collaboration with source, transit practices. In October, the then Home Assembly. The UN Secretary-General and destination countries. The UK is Secretary, Amber Rudd, convened a also attended. From strengthening aiming to generate greater international forum at Lancaster House with leaders legislation and criminal justice efforts consciousness, political will and in businesses with global supply chains to victim support, and from community capacity-building activity through its which focused on sharing best practice engagement to addressing transparency bilateral and multilateral engagements. and on helping to boost the quality of in supply chains, this statement of Our aim is for the UK’s global transparency reporting. The FCO has political intent brings together actions intervention to be seen as a pivotal also led the UK Government’s response for governments to take on both a moment, triggering a step-change in to the Joint Committee on Human national and international level. Its momentum towards achieving SDG 8.7 Rights’ report on the implementation of message is clear: we will not tolerate by 2030. the UK Government’s National Action these crimes in our societies. By the Plan on Business and Human Rights. end of 2017, over 40 countries had endorsed the Prime Minister’s Call In the financial year 2017-18, through to Action. The Call to Action brings the Magna Carta Fund, we funded two

[13] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-uk-annual-report-on-modern-slavery 9 HumanHuman Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: :The The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & & Commonwealth Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Business and Human Rights Projects. missions operating in complex Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Firstly, we supported the Institute for environments. However, the nature Scheme for trade in rough diamonds, Human Rights and Business, in its of PSCs’ work makes it essential that and by encouraging better corporate capacity as the secretariat for the Mega- they have processes in place to manage due diligence on supply chains for 3TG Sporting Events Platform for Human the risk of their operations leading to minerals. Rights working to ensure that the world human rights abuses. The Government Diamond Office (GDO) of sport is in full alignment with the The UK is a signatory to the Montreux based in the FCO, and the UK Border UNGPs. Secondly, we funded Huridocs Document on private military and Force, are responsible for implementing and the Migrant Forum in Asia which security companies, which describes the the KP and preventing illicit rough support grassroots labour activists with application of international law to the diamonds entering or leaving the UK. In training and technology to document activities of private military and security 2017, the GDO provided expert advice rights violations. companies when they are operating to the UK rough diamond industry, Through DFID’s £30 million flagship in an armed conflict zone and sets audited all UK companies who traded in Responsible Business programme, out best practice. The UK supports rough diamonds, and issued certificates support has also been given to a the implementation of the Montreux for rough diamond exports worth number of organisations promoting Document via the International Code of US$88.3 million. human rights in global business Conduct for Private Security providers, The UK encourages relevant UK operations, including Shift, the Ethical which sets out a commonly agreed set importers of 3TG minerals to carry Trading Initiative, Humanity United and of principles for PSCs, and establishes a out full and transparent due diligence the UN Global Compact. foundation to translate those principles based on the OECD Due Diligence into related standards, governance Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains and oversight mechanisms. The UK of Minerals from Conflict-Affected Voluntary Principles on is also represented on the Board of and High-Risk Areas. The UK was Security and Human Rights the International Code of Conduct fully engaged in the passing of the The Voluntary Principles on Security Association (ICoCA). We advocate the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation in and Human Rights (VPs) provide benefits of PSCs pursuing certification 2017, which aims to stop the import guidance on responsible business to recognised international standards, of conflict minerals into the EU. We practice to extractive companies including via ICoCA membership. By are represented on the Governing operating in high-risk and conflict- working in partnership with companies Board of the European Partnership for affected areas. The UK will be taking and civil society via ICoCA, we are the Responsible Sourcing of Minerals the chair for twelve months from March supporting the development of (EPRM), a supporting measure to the 2018, demonstrating our continuing monitoring and grievance processes EU Regulation and OECD Due Diligence commitment to the development and which both help to mitigate the risk of Guidance. In 2017, through the EPRM, implementation of the VPs. human rights abuses and provide access we supported projects in Democratic to remedy if required. We have supported our policy Republic of the Congo, Colombia objectives with £200,000 of FCO We work closely with the UK PSC and Indonesia. Further details are programme funds, managed via the sector via the Security in Complex available on the EPRM website[15]. We Geneva Centre for the Democratic Environments Group (SCEG) to ensure also contributed £100,000 to support Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) that stakeholders are engaged with the implementation of the OECD Due Security and Human Rights the Government’s policy on PSCs. Diligence Guidance in Colombia. Implementation Mechanism. Projects SCEG provides a valuable forum to supported include training public discuss issues in the private security security forces in Kenya, and widening industry and to strengthen further the The Open Government the implementation of the VPs in Peru. application of standards. Partnership Further detail on the UK’s VPs work in The Open Government Partnership the past twelve months and objectives Responsible Sourcing (OGP) was established in 2011 to provide an international platform for our chairmanship can be found in Mining of high-value-added minerals our 2017 VPs Annual report[14]. for domestic reformers committed including tin, tantalum, tungsten and to making their governments open, gold (3TG minerals) and diamonds can accountable, and responsive to Private Security Companies provide a valuable source of income for citizens. In 2017, the UK (a founding local communities. However, proceeds Legitimate Private Security Companies member) concluded its turn on the can be diverted by armed groups and (PSCs) working to high standards Steering Committee, having successfully used to fund conflict and human rights play a critical role in the protection supported the transition to a new abuses. In 2017, the UK continued of businesses, NGOs and diplomatic Steering Committee comprised of to address both issues through The

[14] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-principles-on-security-and-human-rights-for-businesses-operating-in-fragile-environments-2017- uk-annual-report [15] https://europeanpartnership-responsibleminerals.eu/project 10

Chile, Croatia, France, Georgia, Freedom of Religion the importance of defending the right Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Romania, to FoRB when he addressed the Human South Africa and South Korea. The or Belief Rights Council in September. At the UN partnership continued to grow. In 2017 In 2017, promoting and defending General Assembly in December, the UK it accepted membership from 15 sub- freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) worked successfully to help maintain national governments, which are bound remained a high priority for the UK. In consensus on the adoption of the EU- by the same processes as national February, the Prime Minister, Theresa sponsored resolution on ‘Freedom of governments. They are required to May, reiterated the government’s Religion or Belief’, and the Organisation work with civil society to develop and commitment to “stand up for the for Islamic Cooperation-sponsored implement open government reforms freedom of people of all religions to resolution on 'Combating Religious through National Action Plans (NAPs). practice their beliefs in peace and Intolerance'. Realising the commitments in these safety”. The Minister for Human Rights, During 2017, we continued to raise plans requires cooperation between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, made cases of persecution in individual government and the citizen. On joining FoRB a personal priority and began to countries, in particular: the OGP, governments at every level develop a strategy to galvanise the work commit to protecting the right of not- of our diplomatic network. >> in China, there were further reports of the demolition of churches and for-profit and civil society organisations The right to FoRB came under the removal of crosses. 2017 saw to enjoy freedom of expression, increasing pressure. Discrimination the introduction of new restrictions association, and opinion. and persecution of minorities was seen targeting Muslim Uyghurs in The OGP has sought greater protection in many forms and diverse parts of Xinjiang. We continued to raise for civil society organisations working the world. For example, in Burma, our concerns through the UK-China in difficult circumstances. In 2017, the the religious identity of the Rohingya Human Rights Dialogue, whose latest OGP’s Steering Committee formally people has long been a factor behind session was held in Beijing in June; ended Turkey’s membership after the discrimination they suffer at the a year of inactive status as Turkey hands of the state, and was arguably a >> in Nepal, the Embassy hosted a had failed to take action towards motivating factor behind the violence breakfast meeting with faith leaders commitments made in 2015 to work they suffered at the hands of the to mark ‘International Religious with civil society. Another reason was Burmese military in 2017. Minorities Freedom Day’, and to explore Turkey’s failure to deliver on its National in Pakistan continued to suffer different faith groups’ perspectives Action Plan. In addition, Tanzania persecution and discrimination, and on how the international voluntarily withdrew from the OGP in blasphemy legislation continued to community might help promote favour of focussing on membership of be abused by the justice system. FoRB. The event reminded the the African Peer Review Mechanism. Persecution of the Baha’i in Iran Nepalese government to uphold its and Yemen was particularly acute, international obligations in this area; As well as providing core funding to and followers of that faith also faced >> in July, the Supreme Court in the OGP, the UK directly supported discrimination elsewhere. Russia upheld a ruling to label projects in twelve countries during the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an 2017. This included providing advice In many countries, through patient, ‘extremist organisation’, effectively to Macedonia on implementing quiet diplomacy or through public criminalising peaceful worship by commitments in its NAP (we statements, the UK worked to reinforce 175,000 Russian citizens. Lord provided advice and deployed an the importance of the universal right Ahmad issued a statement on 18 expert to support the development to FoRB. For example, in Iraq, we July condemning this decision, and of Macedonia’s Open Data Portal). worked to build consensus around called on the Russian government to In support of our OGP work and the importance of freedom of religion uphold its international commitments specifically for International Open Data or belief, and of its promotion to religious freedom. Embassy Day, we funded projects in Ukraine, and protection, in the process of officials and those from the FCO in Ghana, Romania, Latvia, South reconstruction of the country following London continue to hold regular Africa, Guatemala, and Albania. We the conflict with Daesh. meetings with representatives have targeted work with civil society Throughout 2017, engagement with of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and and governments in member states, faith leaders and NGOs increased. Lord Embassy officials coordinated including Slovakia and Croatia, either Ahmad launched a series of roundtables attendance at each hearing with to develop their action plans or to to enhance dialogue with faith leaders our international partners; achieve specific objectives. and civil society experts, in order to >> the High Commission in Nigeria In December, the UK restated its draw on their experience. Meetings in organised a live panel discussion commitment to working with civil 2017 discussed Burma and the role of on religious tolerance on one of society and government to provide the women in tackling violent extremism. Nigeria’s biggest TV networks, for leadership to protect and enhance the Promoting FoRB in multilateral fora an audience of over 15 million; necessary civic space for transformative remained an important element of the >> the ongoing conflict in Syria reforms. UK’s work. Lord Ahmad highlighted increased tensions between the 11 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Israel to meet with survivors at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum, May 2017. different religious groups in the their students about tolerance and education and remembrance. In country leading to heightened FoRB. An indication of the impact of January, the FCO co-hosted a Holocaust intolerance, particularly in Daesh- this project came when the Kurdish Memorial Day commemoration event controlled areas, and increased Regional Government asked for it with the embassy of Israel. Among the sectarian violence. We continued to to be shared with every child in the high profile speakers were Professor support non-governmental efforts to region. The FCO works closely with Yehuda Bauer, Academic Adviser to Yad promote dialogue between different DFID to raise concerns on FoRB with Vashem, and Holocaust survivor, Dorit ethnic and sectarian groups in Syria, partner governments. During 2017, Oliver-Wolff. The event provided an in the search for progress towards DFID also sharpened its focus on FoRB, opportunity for the London diplomatic a political settlement. We have by announcing a UK Aid Connect community to reflect on the Holocaust been clear that any such settlement programme to address key development Memorial Day theme ‘How can life must include protection for religious challenges in building FoRB. go on?’, and the on-going issue of rights and freedoms, including antisemitism. Looking forward to 2018, a key for religious minorities; and focus of our work will be to use our Sir Eric Pickles, UK Envoy for Post- >> in Bangladesh, the traditional newly developed strategy to mobilise Holocaust Issues, continued to lead culture of tolerance has faced the diplomatic network. This will the Government’s international work challenges from local-level include building on our existing on post-Holocaust Issues, supported discrimination and violence against network of parliamentarians, faith by the FCO. As part of his work with minority communities. Against leaders and academia through international partners, Sir Eric visited this backdrop, during his visit to ongoing collaboration. Our bilateral a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Lord Ahmad visited interventions will also remain an Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Dhaka important part of our work as we seek Switzerland and the US. and made a call for religious to prioritise a number of countries for As a founding and active member tolerance. The High Commission our FoRB work. Finally, we will build on of the International Holocaust maintains contact with religious strengthening and amplifying the work Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the UK groups and leaders, and is preparing of our diplomatic network to further supported efforts to make progress on a strategy to address intolerance their efforts to promote FoRB across the several practical post-Holocaust issues, against religious minorities. globe. such as property restitution and the Throughout 2017, we continued to identification and protection of sites support a number of FoRB projects of particular significance during the through the FCO’s Magna Carta Fund. Post-Holocaust Issues Holocaust. Also in 2017, we welcomed These included a project to support The FCO, along with other government the decision by Australia to move from secondary school teachers in Iraq, departments, continued to play a observer to liaison status at IHRA. Lebanon and Morocco to educate leading role in promoting Holocaust 12

Another important area of our >> reduce the use of the death Protocol to the Convention against post-Holocaust activity was to penalty against juvenile and Torture (OPCAT). The UK calls on all continue support for the work of the vulnerable offenders; states to ratify and implement the International Tracing Service (ITS), >> encourage greater transparency OPCAT. FCO programme spending as a member of its International about use of the death penalty in on torture prevention focuses on Commission. ITS continued to make line with international standards, for this goal. In 2017, Indonesia took progress in making more records example the relevant UN safeguards. steps to prepare for ratification of accessible digitally, allowing victims OPCAT, including the introduction According to the 2017 report from of the Holocaust and their family and implementation of detention Amnesty International, more than half members to undertake research more safeguards. In Rwanda, an NGO (51%) of all recorded executions were easily. In addition, as part of our own assisted the government with carried out in Iran, which together with commitment to remembrance and establishing a legislative basis for Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Pakistan transparency, the UK Government the establishment of a NPM. On 21 carried out 84% of the global total. released over 4,000 files on Nazi September, Madagascar ratified China also continued to execute in the persecution to the National Archives. OPCAT. We will continue to work with thousands. international experts to support states Our work to combat antisemitism In 2017, the FCO continued to press to prevent torture and to improve also remained a high priority during for death penalty reforms through standards of detention. 2017. Sir Eric Pickles led the way in its network of diplomatic missions, encouraging other states to consider its partnerships with experts in adopting the working definition of international NGOs, and collaboration Overseas Security antisemitism, agreed by IHRA in 2016, with those seeking reform in countries for their domestic use. We welcomed Justice Assistance which retain the death penalty. There the decisions by Austria, Bulgaria, The FCO has worked with organisations was some progress in 2017. The Germany, Israel and Romania to across the UK Government to Supreme Court in Kenya and the adopt the working definition, as well implement the latest Guidance Constitutional Court in Guatemala as by the Scottish Government and on Overseas Security and Justice both declared the death penalty to be the City of London. In 2018, we shall Assistance (OSJA). This guidance is unconstitutional. Pakistan also made continue to reach out and build on the Government’s tool for assessing a positive step towards reviewing its others’ growing interest in this issue. the human rights risks of our overseas death penalty in relation to 31 crimes, security and justice assistance work and with a view to limiting the scope of for identifying measures to mitigate its use. In Malaysia, we welcomed Death Penalty and those risks. the passing of an amendment to the Torture Prevention Dangerous Drugs Act, which removes In countries where the UK Government It is the long-standing policy of the UK the mandatory death penalty. This is regularly engaged in security to oppose the death penalty in all allows greater judicial discretion in and justice assistance, the relevant circumstances as a matter of principle, sentencing. The FCO continues to raise diplomatic mission now maintains a because we consider that its use concerns over the use of the death ‘Stage 1’ in-country assessment and undermines human dignity, that there is penalty in the US. provides it to all interested departments no conclusive evidence of its deterrent or agencies to help them in their Using the Magna Carta Fund, the FCO value, and that any miscarriage of analysis and to provide consistency in continued in 2017 to support projects justice leading to its imposition is the OSJA process. Diplomatic missions dedicated to abolishing the death which produce ‘Stage 1’ assessments irreversible and irreparable. penalty. For example, in Malawi we draw together expertise from colleagues The UK plays a leading role in supported NGOs on a re-sentencing from all relevant parent government pressing for reduced use of the death project which saw 154 individuals departments, and use a wide range of penalty overseas, through multilateral originally sentenced to the mandatory available evidence, to ensure that these institutions including the UN, and death penalty resentenced, of whom assessments are as comprehensive, through targeted bilateral interventions 112 were immediately released and expert, and up-to-date as possible. in priority countries. none of whom were executed. In 2017, the FCO continued to work We aim to increase the number of The FCO continued to fund projects with other government departments abolitionist countries, including through in 2017 aimed at establishing a global and agencies to encourage full use ratifications of the Second Optional culture of torture prevention. The of the OSJA Guidance and to appoint Protocol of the International Covenant UK’s own experience is that two steps focal points in relevant departments on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). are necessary to prevent torture from and agencies for its implementation. occurring: a clear political will to end This network shares best practice and We encourage retentionist countries to: the practice, and the establishment facilitates consistent implementation of a National Preventative Mechanism >> reduce the range of crimes of the guidance. A senior officials’ (NPM). The pathway to establishing carrying the death penalty; group was convened to share feedback an NPM is laid out in the UN’s Optional >> move towards a moratorium; and lessons learned and to clarify 13 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

roles and responsibilities for effective – a ‘whole of route’ approach. We over 6,000 people were provided implementation. The FCO supported therefore prioritise interventions with protection and support under organisations across government with in countries of origin, transit and our resettlement schemes. We have relevant training. destination, in order to reduce the committed to resettling 20,000 drivers of irregular migration which can refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict An estimate of the number of OSJA put lives at risk. under the Vulnerable Persons cases from across government during Resettlement Scheme by 2020. This financial year 2017-2018 is as follows: The UK has allocated over £175 is in addition to our commitment to million in humanitarian response to resettle up to 3,000 children at risk, Number of OSJA cases the Mediterranean migration crisis and their families, from the Middle East for FY 2017-2018 since October 2015. This includes and North Africa under our Vulnerable a new £75 million programme, Europe 80 Children’s Resettlement Scheme, also by which will aim to reduce deaths and Central Asia 28 2020. suffering along the migration route Americas 45 from West Africa through the Sahel The UK believes that improving the Middle East and North Africa 179 to Libya. The programme will provide management of migration requires a Sub Saharan Africa 114 critical humanitarian assistance and concerted and coordinated international South Asia 50 protection, assist those along the way response. Our objective is an effective Asia Pacific 84 who may wish to return home, provide international framework to ensure that information of the dangers ahead, and migration is safe, orderly, and balances offer vulnerable people meaningful the rights and responsibilities of states Export Controls alternatives to the perilous journeys and migrants. To this end, the UK has UK export licensing processes are key towards Libya and Europe. participated in UN-led consultations towards a Global Compact on Migration to ensuring responsible UK defence The UK is focusing on pursuing and a Global Compact on Refugees. and security exports. In 2017, the the criminal gangs which facilitate Department for International Trade movement of large numbers of migrants Negotiations will conclude in 2018. issued over 13,000 licenses. All export into Europe and which expose them licences are assessed on a case-by- to abuse and exploitation. The multi- case basis against the Consolidated EU agency Organised Immigration Crime and National Arms Export Licensing Taskforce operates in 17 source, transit Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). and destination countries across Europe The FCO will not recommend that the and Africa, building capacity and Department for International Trade helping disrupt criminal networks. issues a licence if to do so would be inconsistent with our international In 2017, the UK continued to deploy obligations, including those related to a Royal Navy vessel in support of sanctions or to the Arms Trade Treaty, Operation SOPHIA, the EU’s counter- or where there is a clear risk that the migrant smuggling operation in the items exported might be used for Mediterranean, and contributed to internal repression, for the commission training and strengthening the capacity of a serious violation of International of the Libyan naval coastguard. Since Humanitarian Law, or for aggression May 2015, UK naval vessels have saved against another country, or for asserting over 12,500 lives and destroyed over a territorial claim by force. 170 smuggling boats. In the same period, Border Force assets supporting EU search and rescue missions in the Migration Central Mediterranean and Aegean We estimate that more than 171,000 (FRONTEX Operations Triton and attempted to migrate informally across Poseidon) have saved over 16,000 lives. the Mediterranean in 2017, a reduction The UK continued to provide support of over 50% from 2016. Just over to Turkey and Greece to implement the 3,000 died or went missing. 90% EU-Turkey Statement of March 2016, embarked from Libya. Just under including through provision of specialist 120,000 arrived in Italy. The number staff to the EU Commission and the of migrants crossing into Greece from European Asylum Support Office in Turkey fell by over 80% compared with Greece, which has helped significantly 2016, to just under 30,000. reduce illegal migration through Turkey. Achieving well managed migration The UK has a long history of providing requires coordinated interventions protection to those who need it. In at all stages of the migrants’ journey the twelve months to September, 14

Department for International Development: Work on Economic and Social Rights

The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to enabling people overseas to enjoy the rights and freedoms defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and core treaties of international human rights law. As set out in the UK Aid Strategy, our aid is focused on the most fragile and conflict- affected countries, where human rights abuses are often most acute. It is in these places particularly that girls and women, LGBT people, people with disabilities and older persons, and members of other disadvantaged groups experience multiple barriers, including social discrimination, unfair laws and violence. UK programmes funded by DFID support the protection and promotion Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordant of human rights across a range of meeting Rohingya children at a learning centre in Cox’s Bazar areas such as women and girls, Photo: UNICEF 2017, Patrick Brown women’s economic empowerment, which would have been performed political empowerment. For example, LGBT people, rights of people with in dangerous circumstances or DFID’s work with the Westminster disabilities, rights of older persons, conditions. Foundation for Democracy provided health, education, nutrition, water and technical assistance to parliaments and sanitation, land, and social protection To support quality education for political parties around the world, to in the fight against poverty. marginalised girls, DFID’s flagship include more women, youth, people Girls’ Education Challenge focuses on The following section summarises with disabilities and members of other getting girls into school and learning. some of the main achievements marginalised groups in parliamentary The first phase, which ended in 2017, in 2017 in those fields and current and political processes. In Somalia, directly supported over a million priorities for DFID. the UK’s Accountability Programme disadvantaged girls, through 37 was successful in increasing the projects in 18 countries. representation of women in parliament Women and Girls’ Rights The UK is committed to tackling all to 24% in 2017, a 10% rise from the The FCO is working closely with DFID forms of violence against women 2012 electoral cycle. on this priority issue. Reproductive and girls (VAWG), both at home rights are central to women and and overseas. Two UK funded girls’ empowerment. In 2017, the UK programmes have contributed to 23 Women’s Economic hosted the Family Planning Summit, countries now having National Action Empowerment which reaffirmed a global commitment Plans which address child, early and In 2017, the UN Secretary-General’s to voluntary, rights-based family forced marriage and/or female genital High-Level Panel on Women’s planning. At the Summit, 36 countries mutilation. The UK’s flagship ‘What Economic Empowerment concluded made new commitments or expanded Works to Prevent Violence’ programme its work, bringing together global existing ones. The UK committed to has been undertaking innovative leaders from business, civil society and spend £1.1 billion in this area over five interventions and is now producing government. The UK was a strong years. This will support contraceptive ground breaking evidence that will be supporter of the initiative. The use by nearly 20 million people, and used to tackle VAWG. High Level Panel’s second report, will prevent more than an estimated In 2017, the UK also supported launched at the Commission on the three million abortions – many of programmes to increase women’s Status of Women in March, set out a 15 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

stakeholder action plan for women’s that DFID would put the inclusion of to health shocks, including outbreaks economic empowerment. The UK people with disabilities at the heart of of disease. We directly support is now implementing the Panel’s its work. developing countries to achieve recommendations, both internationally universal health coverage, including In 2017, the UK continued to and domestically. Domestically, in by strengthening health systems to support programmes for people April, the UK introduced mandatory enable better access to high-quality with disabilities in developing reporting of gender pay gaps and essential services without risk of countries. Examples include DFID’s bonuses for voluntary and private financial hardship. Globally, DFID is Girls’ Education Programme, which sector employers in the UK with more investing in strengthening the World ended in 2017, having helped over than 250 workers, covering almost half Health Organisation’s role in universal 46,000 girls with disabilities to access the total workforce. health coverage, health systems education in countries including Kenya and emergency preparedness and Internationally in 2018, through its new and Uganda; the Disability Catalyst response. The UK continues to invest Work and Opportunities for Women Programme, which promoted grass- in research, including new treatment programme, DFID will cooperate with roots advocacy in countries including options for drug resistant tuberculosis. businesses to help up to 300,000 Bangladesh, Rwanda and Malawi; and women in developing countries get the Amplify Challenge programme The UK supports Gavi, the Vaccine jobs with higher incomes and better which sought innovative solutions to Alliance, to reach 60% of the world’s working conditions. tackle the barriers faced by people children with life-saving vaccinations. with disabilities in countries such as UK funding will directly immunise 76 Nepal and Zambia. million children between 2016 and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and 2020, saving 1.4 million lives. The In July 2018, the UK will co-host a Transgender (LGBT) Rights UK continues to be a world leader in Global Disability Summit, in partnership Protecting and promoting LGBT tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases, with the International Disability rights is essential to meet DFID’s and in April we announced the Alliance and the Kenyan government. vision of a world where no one is left investment of £360 million for this The objective of the Summit is to behind. This is central to achieving the area. In 2017, the UK funded over strengthen global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and a 144 million treatments and 60,000 greater social inclusion of people with secure and prosperous world by 2030. surgeries, to reduce or avoid disability, disabilities particularly in the poorest ‘DFID’s Approach to LGBT rights’, a including blindness. countries in the world. The UK policy document launched in 2017, Government wants the Summit to be set out the elements for achieving the starting point for major change on this goal: building a solid evidence Right to Education this neglected issue. base to underpin DFID’s work; Access to education is a human right. strengthening voices from the Global Education unlocks individual potential South; developing new partnerships; Rights of Older Persons and benefits society as a whole, powering sustainable development. and ensuring that LGBT issues are Many older people have no reliable However, 387 million of the world’s addressed in all DFID programmes. source of income and are much more children (56%) are not on course The inclusion of LGBT people was one likely to have disabilities. Our work to learn to read by the end of their of the eight priority thematic areas on ageing forms an important part of attendance at primary school. highlighted for support through DFID’s the UK’s work on disability inclusion UK Aid Connect programme launched and is integral to our approach to Between 2015 and 2017, the in 2017. the UN’s programme on inclusion, UK helped 7.1 million children in ‘Leave No One Behind’. In this developing countries enjoy a decent Rights of People context, the DFID supported Social education. In 2018, we will set out with Disabilities Cash Transfer programme will help the UK’s approach to helping children 700,000 households in Zambia to learn in some of the world’s poorest One billion of the world’s population access cash grants by the end of 2018. and fragile, conflict-affected countries are estimated to have a disability, The majority of these households are including through a new DFID of whom 80% live in developing headed by older people or people with education policy setting out how the countries. People with disabilities are disabilities who are also looking after UK will prioritise good teaching and often among the most discriminated children. system reform, to improve the quality against in society, suffering appalling of education, along with additional levels of violence and indignity. support to poor and marginalised In 2017, the Secretary of State for Right to Health children, including those affected by International Development, Penny Worldwide, millions die from conflict and those with disabilities. Mordaunt, reaffirmed the UK’s preventable causes, especially the commitment to achieving progress most disadvantaged. Countries with for people with disabilities, stating weak health systems are vulnerable 16

Nutrition, Water, the UK helped 15.9 million people Social Protection Sanitation and Land gain sustainable access to water and In 2017, progress continued on sanitation, and on current plans we will Malnutrition is a major challenge to reducing poverty globally, but have helped nearly 130 million people human development and to economic extreme poverty remained high. gain access between 2011 and 2020. growth in developing countries. It Extreme poverty continued to be affects one in three people. Women, The UK continues to promote the increasingly concentrated, particularly adolescent girls, and young children implementation of the Voluntary in sub-Saharan Africa and in fragile are disproportionally affected. Guidelines on the Responsible and conflict-affected states. Social Governance of Tenure of Land, protection is critical to helping the The UK Government plans to reach Fisheries and Forests in the Context poorest and most vulnerable to meet 50 million people in developing of National Food Security. In 2017, their basic needs, achieve important countries with nutrition interventions a £68 million land registration human development goals, and have by 2020. Between 2015 and 2017 we programme supported by the UK in more control over their lives. reached 26.3 million children under Ethiopia ensured women’s individual five, adolescent girls and women of Despite rapid expansion in the past or joint land rights and vulnerable childbearing age. These efforts were 15 years, social protection coverage groups’ land rights were officially focused on the first 1,000 days of the remained very low. The UK continued recognised in new land certificates. life of a child from conception to its to work with partner governments DFID’s flagship programme on land second birthday, because interventions to increase the reach, quality and governance, LEGEND[16], has been over this period have been shown to sustainability of social protection extended by a further £18 million to have the greatest impact on reducing systems. In 2017, the UK invested protect people’s property rights and stunting and improving cognitive in social protection in 21 countries, facilitate investment. For example, development. both by supporting cash transfers and our partner Namati is empowering by helping build functional systems. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 communities in Sierra Leone and In this area in 2018, the UK will calls for universal access to safe water Myanmar to negotiate with companies focus in particular on gender issues, and sanitation. The associated SDG which want to access their land so humanitarian contexts, and building baseline report showed that in 2015, they create long-term benefits for the sustainable social protection systems. 39% of the world’s population lacked community and a sustained return for access to a safe water supply. In the the company. financial year ending March 2017,

[16] https://landportal.org/partners/legend

The Overseas Territories 2017 the Bermuda Supreme Court recognised, we will continue in 2018 declared that same sex couples should to engage with both governments and Each Overseas Territory has its own be entitled to marry. The Domestic civil society to drive their own legislative Constitution, government and local Partnerships Act, which will come change forward. laws. The UK Government continued into effect on 1 June 2018 removes to expect the Territories to abide by the The UK Government continued to the entitlement for same sex couples same basic standards of human rights work with the Governments of the to marry, and will replace it with a as the UK, and continued to encourage Overseas Territories to help them provision for domestic partnerships them to agree to the extension of UN fulfil their commitment to ensure the for both same sex and opposite sex human rights Conventions which the highest standards for the protection of couples. Same sex marriages which UK has ratified, but to do so only when children and the promotion of children’s have taken place in Bermuda before they are ready to apply them. welfare. The Overseas Territories have 31 May 2018 will remain valid. The UK developed, or are developing, National The UK Government believes that regrets that Bermuda has chosen to Response Plans on child safeguarding, those living in the Overseas Territories remove the entitlement for same sex and the UK Government continues to have a right to expect the same high couples to marry, but respects that the providing technical support, including standards on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Act has been democratically passed child safeguarding training for police, and Transgender (LGBT) rights as in by the Parliament of Bermuda, paying teachers and social workers, and the UK, and we are committed to careful attention to its constitutional assistance to enhance safeguarding working closely with the Territories and international obligations systems and legal frameworks. on these issues. The Falkland Islands Our relationship with the Overseas Government legalised same-sex Territories is based on partnership and marriage in April, and same-sex respect for their right to democratic marriage has been legal on St Helena self-government, and where same- and Tristan da Cunha since December sex relationships are not currently and August respectively. In May 17 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

CHAPTER II: The Rules-Based International System

Human Rights at the UN The UK co-sponsored a number of human rights violations and abuses in resolutions in UN fora including on girls’ Burma, in particular in Rakhine State; The UN is the leading forum for the education, violence against women, and decided to extend its mandate to development of collective standards and discrimination against women, all September 2018. We also supported on human rights, scrutiny of human of which reinforced women’s rights in an HRC Special Session on 5 December rights violations and abuses, and these key areas. on the situation of the Rohingya, at dialogue between states. The main which the Council adopted a resolution intergovernmental forum on human Human Rights Council which ensured continued HRC attention rights is the Geneva-based UN Human on Burma, and which at UK request Rights Council (HRC), of which the UK The UK’s current term on the UN included strong language on sexual was re-elected as a member in 2016. Human Rights Council (HRC) ends in violence. The UK strongly supports the work of December 2019. We will continue to the HRC and of the UN Office of the use our voice to help strengthen the The UK continued to lead action in High Commissioner for Human Rights Council, to support countries which are the HRC on Syria and to form part of (OHCHR) in promoting and protecting working to improve their human rights the core group for the UN General human rights worldwide. We support, record, and to hold to account states Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee too, the UN’s Human Rights Up Front which commit serious and systematic resolution. The March session of the initiative to improve its ability to prevent violations. All HRC members must live HRC resolution renewed the mandate of and respond to violations and abuses. up to their membership responsibilities, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria. The Other important UN fora include the upholding the highest standards of September HRC resolution established a UN General Assembly Third Committee, human rights; the UK will continue high-level panel, to take place in March the UN Security Council and the UN to encourage countries running for 2018. In the UNSC, we repeatedly Commission on the Status of Women. membership of the HRC to set out raised concerns about violations of campaign pledges, and participate in human rights and of international The UK also supports the work election hustings. The UK supports humanitarian law. of the UN’s expert human rights efforts to strengthen the HRC. To mechanisms, including the treaty In March, the HRC renewed the this end, the then Foreign Secretary, bodies (bodies of experts set up to mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur Boris Johnson, co-hosted an event at monitor state compliance with their on Iran. The UK is part of the core UNGA with US Ambassador to the UN human rights treaty obligations) and group on the UNGA Third Committee Nikki Haley and Dutch Foreign Minister special procedures (expert individuals or resolution which in 2017 for the first Bert Koenders. The UK is part of a working groups mandated to monitor time included a reference to the human cross-regional group formed in Geneva and review specific country or thematic rights of dual nationals. We remain following the UNGA event, which is issues). concerned about limitations on freedom working to identify measures to make of religion or belief, and restrictions In 2017, the UK maintained financial the Council more effective, including on freedom of expression, on the support for UN human rights work, ways to streamline the programme of operation of the rule of law, and on providing approximately £5.5 million work. The UK also co-hosted a large- women’s rights. in voluntary funding on top of our scale retreat for former and current HRC UN Regular Budget contribution. This members in Geneva in December. In March, the Human Rights Council included un-earmarked funding (£2.5 also passed five resolutions under Agenda Item 7 ‘Human rights situation million), and money for specific projects, Country issues including on conflict prevention, and on in Palestine and other occupied combating sexual- and gender-based The UK raised Burma five times at Arab territories’. The UK shares the violence. the UN Security Council (UNSC) in international community’s conviction 2017. The UK/France-led presidential that a two-state solution is the only During 2017, the UK continued to statement on 6 November was the sustainable path for delivering justice raise the priority issues of modern first UNSC product on Burma for ten and human rights for both Israelis slavery, gender equality including years. The UK also raised human rights and Palestinians, and voted in favour girls’ education, LGBT rights, media concerns about Burma in every Human of resolutions on self-determination freedom, and freedom of religion or Rights Council (HRC) session in 2017. and human rights in the OPTs. The belief, at all relevant UN fora, making We supported the HRC resolution in UK supports an effective Human recommendations concerning modern March which initiated the despatch of Rights Council as a central element slavery at all Universal Periodic Review a UN Fact-Finding Mission to establish of the rules-based international sessions. the facts and circumstances of alleged system. However, the existence of a 18

dedicated agenda item (‘Item 7’) which singles out Israel and stimulates a disproportionate number of resolutions against it does little to advance the achievement of a negotiated two- state solution. The UK therefore voted against the Syrian Golan resolution, and abstained on the accountability and settlements resolutions. The EU and Japan jointly led a resolution on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the HRC and UNGA Third Committee. The HRC resolution renewed the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the DPRK, and called for the strengthening of the field office of the UN OHCHR in Seoul in order that it might contribute to a comprehensive approach towards accountability. In December, the UK Lord Ahmad, Minister of State for the supported calls for the fourth UNSC Commonwealth and the UN, speaking at the launch of the ‘Why Slavery?’ campaign during the meeting on human rights in the DPRK. 72nd Meeting of the UN General Assembly. At the June session of the HRC, the UK The HRC passed two resolutions on we helped secure (for the first time) supported a Ukrainian-led resolution the Democratic Republic of Congo a strong reference to comprehensive on human rights violations in Crimea (DRC). The first, in June, requested the sexuality education in the resolution and eastern Ukraine. The resolution High Commissioner for Human Rights on youth. We were disappointed that mandated quarterly briefings of the to despatch a team of international similar language in resolutions on the HRC until June 2019. At the Third experts to investigate alleged human girl child, the rights of the child, and Committee, the UK was in the core rights violations and abuses in the the rights of women and girls with group supporting a resolution tabled by Kasai provinces. In September, the disabilities was diluted by amendments, Ukraine on human rights in Crimea. The HRC requested the High Commissioner but overall the global debate on resolutions continued to hold Russia to to continue to provide updates on the adolescent health moved forward. account for its illegal annexation. country as a whole to each HRC session The UK also supported efforts to At the March session of the HRC, the in 2018. Despite this, DRC was elected increase transparency at the NGO UK again worked closely with the to serve on the HRC from 2018 until Committee in New York, where some authorities of Libya and the African 2020. The UK will continue to urge NGOs with a human rights focus have Group to agree a resolution which all HRC members to live up to their had to wait years for a decision. In sought to improve accountability for obligations to promote and protect April, the United Nations Economic human rights violations and abuses in human rights worldwide and cooperate and Social Council (ECOSOC) approved Libya. The resolution also called on fully with OHCHR. OHCHR to conduct investigations and a UK-sponsored decision to grant for relevant mandate holders to visit Supporting reconciliation and reform Christian Solidarity Worldwide UN Libya. in Sri Lanka remained a priority in accreditation after years of deferrals by 2017. In March, the UK co-sponsored the NGO Committee. At the HRC, the On Yemen, the September session of a resolution with the Government of UK was active in defeating amendments the HRC passed a consensus resolution Sri Lanka, extending its commitment to against resolutions on human rights which went considerably further than engage with OHCHR and the holders defenders, and the Third Committee the 2016 resolution, establishing a of special procedures mandates in the adopted a resolution calling on member Group of Eminent, International and promotion and protection of human states to mark the 20th anniversary of Regional experts to monitor and report rights in Sri Lanka for a further two the UN Declaration on Human Rights on the human rights situation. years. Defenders. The UK was instrumental in ensuring The UK again worked successfully to that the HRC renewed the mandate help secure consensus on the two of the Commission of Inquiry on Thematic issues religion-related resolutions at the HRC Burundi. The resolution passed with The June session of the HRC adopted and Third Committee: on Freedom of overwhelming support, including from resolutions on ending female genital Botswana and Rwanda, coming on mutilation; child, early and forced Religion or Belief (led by the EU), and top of an African Group-led resolution marriage; discrimination against on Combating Intolerance (led by the where Burundi publicly pledged to women; and violence against women Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). cooperate with OHCHR. and girls. At the Third Committee, 19 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

The UK continued to engage rights remained prominent in UN approach to the SPMs – evaluating constructively in international Security Council resolutions and other and improving their mandates, staffing discussions on ageing, including at products. and resources – we have helped to the annual session of the Open Ended improve their delivery in countries such Set within the context of the UN Working Group on Ageing. The UK as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Secretary-General’s framework of actively maintains that the whole Somalia. Sustaining Peace and supporting spectrum of internationally recognised the ‘Peace Continuum’, in 2017 the human rights standards and principles UK supported UN institutions in apply to older persons, as they do to all Peacekeeping their efforts to prevent conflict and individuals without distinction. UN peacekeeping missions play a to help countries emerging from vital role in supporting the transition violence progress towards sustainable Universal Periodic Review from conflict to peace in some of peace. The UK also supported the UN the most fragile regions in the world. The third cycle of the Universal Secretary-General’s initiatives to reform The destabilising effects of such Periodic Review (UPR), a UN process and refresh the UN. This will enable conflicts, particularly the violence and in which the human rights records the UN to deal with complex future displacement which they produce, often of UN member states are subject to challenges using its range of capabilities leave civilian populations vulnerable to peer review, began in 2017; the UK flexibly, creatively and efficiently. human rights violations and abuses. underwent its own examination in Peacekeeping missions contribute to May. As a strong supporter of the Responsibility to Protect, and reducing that threat. UPR process, the UK participated in Mass Atrocity Prevention all reviews in 2017. During Pakistan’s As a member of the UN Security Review in November, the UK focused In 2017, the UK continued its support Council, the UK seeks to ensure that on protecting and promoting freedom for mass atrocity prevention and for the all missions are mandated to protect of religion or belief, highlighting the principle of the Responsibility to Protect civilians where relevant to the situation. misuse of the blasphemy laws, and (R2P). Through engagement with other All new UN peacekeeping missions since advocating the establishment of an UN member states, the UK continued to 1999 have had protection of civilians independent National Commission drive international policy, and provided in their mandate, and for some it is the for Minorities. We will continue to funding for the UN’s Joint Office of the primary goal. promote best practice as the third cycle Special Adviser on the Prevention of In 2017, we continued to promote continues in 2018. Genocide and Responsibility to Protect, peacekeeping reform through our focus and for the Global Centre for the on the ‘3Ps’ (better mission Planning; Responsibility to Protect. This funding more and better Pledges of personnel Treaty Monitoring Bodies helped to strengthen international and Special Procedures and equipment; and stronger mission understanding of R2P, and to raise Performance). We pursued this through The UK was examined under the awareness of countries at risk and of UN Security Council negotiations to get Convention of the Rights of Persons support programmes in regions at risk mission mandates right, advocacy, and with Disabilities in August. The UK’s of, or suffering from, mass atrocities. funding from the Conflict, Stability and report and the Committee’s concluding Security Fund programme to improve observations are available on the UN Peacebuilding UN structures and policies. We also OHCHR website. In 2017, the UK continued to support provided direct support to missions and The UK extends a standing invitation peacebuilding through the UN, in line troop/police contributors. to any UN Special Rapporteur who with our National Security Strategy The UK fully supports the zero wants to undertake an official visit. In priorities. As well as encouraging tolerance policy championed by the 2017, the UK received the UN Special a more coordinated UN approach UN Secretary-General (UNSG) towards Rapporteur on human rights and to peacebuilding, by strengthening sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). hazardous waste substances, Baskut its peacebuilding architecture and The UK has made it a priority to tackle Tuncak. its political, humanitarian, security the abhorrent actions of individuals and development tools, we have who prey on the vulnerability of the continued to promote the rule of law, populations whom they ought to serve. UN Security Council good governance and human rights We commend the UNSG’s decision to As a permanent member of the UN as fundamental building blocks for repatriate military units when there is Security Council, the UK is committed sustaining peace. credible evidence of widespread and to supporting the three pillars of the The UN’s Special Political Missions systemic SEA by that unit. UN’s work. These are: maintaining (SPMs) are important instruments for international peace and security; delivering peacebuilding effect, as is fostering development; and protecting the Peacebuilding Fund. Many SPMs Commonwealth and promoting human rights. In 2017, are mandated to monitor and protect Preparation for the Commonwealth the UK worked to ensure that the human rights. By taking a strategic Heads of Government Meeting protection and promotion of human The UK’s membership of the 20

Commonwealth continued to be an During 2017, in line with membership UK’s period as Chair-in-Office of the important means of strengthening and criteria and process agreed in 2007, Commonwealth between 2018 and promoting democracy, human rights, the Commonwealth Secretariat worked 2020. good governance and the rule of law, with the Government of Gambia underscoring the values and principles ahead of Gambia’s readmission to the set out in the Commonwealth Charter. Commonwealth. The Secretariat noted Europe In 2017, the UK continued to work several human rights developments with Commonwealth member states, including the release of 171 political The European Union the Commonwealth Secretariat and prisoners, and consultations on an In 2017, the UK continued to work in the Commonwealth’s networks of envisaged Truth, Reconciliation and partnership with the EU institutions accredited organisations, to strengthen Reparation Commission to address the and member states to promote and cooperation on a range of human rights human rights violations of the past protect human rights and democracy issues, and to make preparations in and to foster national healing. The UK around the world. The EU played a advance of the Commonwealth Heads warmly welcomed this progress. leading role in UN human rights fora of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in and led on a number of resolutions, April 2018. Inclusion including on DPRK and Burma. The At the UN General Assembly in On 1 June, the Commonwealth UK contributed significantly to the EU’s September, the Prime Minister approved the accreditation of drafting and negotiation of these and announced the overarching themes The Commonwealth Equality other priority resolutions. The EU also for the summit, ‘Towards a Common Network (TCEN), the first LGBT- succeeded in highlighting the continuing Future’, and four sub-themes: a focused organisation to be officially human rights abuses and violations in Fairer Future, a more Secure Future, accredited by the Commonwealth. Burundi and in forging consensus on a more Sustainable Future and a This represented a further step to the rights of the child. The UK played more Prosperous Future. The agenda make concrete the Commonwealth a notable leadership role in securing EU for a Fairer Future recognised the Charter’s opposition to “all forms of action in response to the persecution of Commonwealth’s proud history discrimination, whether rooted in LGBT people in Chechnya, leading to of action to promote democratic gender, race, colour, creed, political coordinated calls on the Government of principles. belief or other grounds”. During 2017, Russia to investigate. The UK believes that by upholding the the FCO provided financial support to EU policy was guided by the EU values of the Charter, Commonwealth TCEN to support its ongoing advocacy Action Plan on Human Rights and member states can ensure a fairer future work. Democracy[17] adopted in 2015. In for all Commonwealth citizens, which In the margins of the 28th session of 2017, a mid-term review of the plan is the essential basis for justice and the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva found that it had served its purpose as sustainable development. in November, the Commonwealth a policy and planning instrument: it Secretariat, DFID and the Embassy co- had defined clear areas of focus, and Democracy hosted an event to share best practice provided flexibility to respond to new challenges, in particular the shrinking The Commonwealth Ministerial Action on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities space for civil society and increased Group (CMAG) continued to serve as threats to human rights defenders. the custodian of the Commonwealth’s and on challenging the stigma and fundamental political values. On 17 discrimination faced by people living In October, the EU published its latest March, CMAG met in London, and with disability. The event looked Annual Report on Human Rights members briefed His Royal Highness forward to advancing the rights of and Democracy in the World[18]. The Prince of Wales on the latest people with disabilities at CHOGM and Following calls from the UK and others, developments in the Commonwealth. the Global Disability Summit in 2018. the European External Action Service During the CMAG meeting in New In 2017, the UK continued to provide (EEAS) focused the Annual Report York in September, Commonwealth financial support to the Northern Ireland more on the impact of its human rights Secretary General, Patricia Scotland, Human Rights Commission in its role work rather than just setting out a updated the group on work to as Chair of the Commonwealth Forum description of actions undertaken. The support member states to strengthen of National Human Rights Institutions. report detailed the human rights work democracy, human rights, and the rule The Forum plays an important role in undertaken in 2016 by the EU’s High of law. The Secretary General reported enhancing respect for human rights Representative for Foreign Affairs and on Commonwealth Observer Group by member countries, allowing their Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, the deployments to national elections held Human Rights Institutions to share EU Special Representative for Human in the Bahamas, Lesotho, Papua expertise and best practice. The UK Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, and the New Guinea and Kenya. also planned for the continuation network of 139 EU Delegations around of support to the Forum during the the world.

[17] http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11138-2017-INIT/en/pdf [18] https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/annual_report_on_human_rights_and_democracy_in_the_world_2016_0.pdf 21 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Council of Europe satisfaction the UK’s proposals to Despite considerable effort, for a third The UK used its membership of the address the Hirst group of judgments year running, OSCE states were unable Council of Europe (CoE), and status against the UK (relating to prisoners), to reach consensus on new human as ‘Grand Payeur’ (the six major paving the way for eventual closure of dimension decisions. However, the contributors to the CoE), to advance the issue. UK was instrumental in securing the adoption of two ministerial decisions on its human rights objectives in Europe In December, the CoM agreed the combating trafficking in human beings; and played an active role in many of use of ECHR Article 46(4) against and a majority of participating states the key issues affecting the institution. Azerbaijan in the case of Ilgar issued a joint statement on human Following a decision by the CoE Mammadov. The provision entitles the rights. Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) to place CoM to refer to the Court the question Turkey on full monitoring procedures whether a Party has failed to fulfil The Minister for Human Rights, Lord in April 2017, FCO ministers emphasised its obligation by not implementing a Ahmad of Wimbledon, attended the importance of the Turkey-CoE judgment and could lead, if the Court the July Vienna informal ministerial relationship and leveraged the UK’s own agrees, to one of a range of measures meeting, where he spoke on the relationship with Turkey to encourage being taken by CoM against the State. importance of respecting human rights a stabilisation of its relationship with The UK supported use of the provision while countering extremism, and met the CoE. Although Turkey announced (the first time the referral process the acting heads of Representative in November 2017 a decision to rescind had been triggered) but stressed on Freedom of the Media, and the its ‘Grand Payeur’ status, Turkey that engagement remained the best Office for Democratic Institutions and remained engaged with the CoE. On solution. Human Rights (ODIHR). The Minister 30 June, Russia announced that it for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan While there was a fall in the overall was withholding the second tranche Duncan, attended the Vienna ministerial backlog of cases, the Court had 56,262 payment (€22 million) to the CoE meeting in December, where he used cases pending at the end of 2017. The budget for 2017 in response to the his plenary intervention to demonstrate Government made clear that the UK self-imposed exile of its parliamentary UK support for Ukraine’s sovereignty would support the Danish Chairmanship delegation: the Russian delegation and territorial integrity, and for the of the CoE (November 2017 to May had not presented its credentials since OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in 2018) in seeking further reform of PACE imposed sanctions on the Russian Ukraine. The minister also reiterated the the Court, building on the Brighton delegation in 2014 in the wake of UK’s commitment to human rights and declaration of 2012. The aim is to Russia’s actions in Crimea and eastern fundamental freedoms throughout the improve the Court’s efficiency in order Ukraine. The UK continued to urge OSCE region. to address the large backlog of pending Russia to fulfil its financial obligations in applications, and to ensure that the Beyond the HDC, the UK delivered the CoE. Court can focus on the most important four national statements and three Secretary General Jagland visited cases before it. statements on behalf of the EU Russia and Turkey to discuss human at Europe’s biggest human rights rights concerns in those countries. The conference, the OSCE’s Human Minister for Europe and the Americas, The Organization for Security Dimension Implementation Meeting Sir Alan Duncan, discussed these and Cooperation in Europe (HDIM) in Warsaw in September. The situations with the Secretary General in The Organization for Security and UK also organised two well-received November. Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provides events at HDIM, on equal political The Committee of Ministers (CoM), the a central forum for dialogue between participation and, with Poland, on CoE’s principal decision-making body, its 57 participating States. It oversees modern slavery. discusses issues of a political nature a body of commitments in the areas of Throughout 2017, the UK worked and holds member states to account human rights and democracy, as well as closely with like-minded states to on human rights, democracy and the security, economic and environmental ensure that human rights violations rule of law. In June, the CoM adopted issues. were addressed at the weekly OSCE a decision by PACE to investigate In 2017, the UK Ambassador was Permanent Council, and to secure allegations of corruption within the invited to chair the Human Dimension strong candidates to head up the Assembly. The UK led support for the Committee (HDC), the OSCE’s human OSCE’s institutions. investigation. rights forum. As chair, the UK ensured The UK was invited to chair the HDC for The CoM’s responsibilities also include discussion within the OSCE of a range a second year in 2018. the supervision of implementation of human rights issues, including of European Court of Human Rights media freedom, combating intolerance judgments. and discrimination, modern slavery, International freedom of religion or belief, gender 2017 saw a further reduction in the equality and challenges to democracy. Criminal Justice number of cases against the UK which As well as monthly thematic meetings The UK actively maintains that those went to a judgment by the Court, and on human rights, the UK chaired who commit atrocities should be held in the number of violations the Court negotiations on potential new OSCE to account for their crimes. As such, found that the UK had committed. human dimension commitments at the support for international criminal justice In December, the CoM noted with Vienna ministerial meeting in December. is a fundamental part of the UK’s 22

foreign policy. Our approach is not to the Mechanism for International In 2017, through the UN, we worked limited to punishing the perpetrators Criminal Tribunals (MICT), which had to maintain sanctions against the – it seeks to help victims and their also assumed the residual functions of Democratic Republic of Congo communities come to terms with the the International Criminal Tribunal for (DRC) in response to continuing human past, contribute to lasting peace and Rwanda in 2016. rights abuses and obstruction of the security, and deter those who might electoral process. We saw the positive In addition to the MICT and ICTY, the otherwise commit such violations in the impact of maintaining these sanctions in UK provided practical and financial future. the publication of the electoral calendar support to the Extraordinary Chambers for 2018. However, we continued to The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Courts of Cambodia, which signal our concern about the ongoing has jurisdiction over the most serious were established to prosecute crimes violence and political unrest throughout crimes of international concern: committed by the Khmer Rouge regime DRC during the year, and sanctions genocide, crimes against humanity, in the 1970s, to the Special Tribunal will remain until elections have taken and war crimes. The UK Government for Lebanon, and to the Residual place. In the UN regime for the Central believes that the ICC plays an important Special Court for Sierra Leone. Our African Republic, the UK led the role in pursuing accountability, when contributions to these tribunals totalled negotiations which ensured that the national authorities are either unable £5.8 million in 2017. mandate responded to incitement to or unwilling to do so. We provide both violence seen particularly along ethnic The UK has also been at the forefront political and financial support to the lines. We also used these negotiations of international efforts to gather Court, contributing £8.9 million in 2017. to address sexual and gender based and analyse evidence of atrocities By the end of 2017, the Court had violence. committed in the Middle East. In issued 31 arrest warrants, handed down 2017, we contributed £200,000 to In the EU, we helped ensure that verdicts in six cases, and convicted nine the UN International Impartial and sanctions against Burundi were individuals. It is currently considering maintained for another year. Although Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to cases from across Africa, the Middle the political crisis was not resolved, the support the preparation of legal cases East, Europe, South East Asia, and pressure from sanctions contributed for serious crimes committed in the South America. to increased engagement from the conflict in Syria. As part of the then government in the political process. In 2017, the Court made reparations Foreign Secretary’s ‘Bring Daesh to The UK also played a leading role in awards to the victims of Thomas Justice’ campaign, the UK led efforts to 2017 in the adoption of EU sanctions Lubanga Dyilo and Germain Katanga, adopt a UN Security Council resolution on Venezuela, in response to serious both convicted of war crimes in the establishing an Investigative Team to human rights violations and the Democratic Republic of Congo, collect, preserve and store evidence of country’s continued slide towards and Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, convicted Daesh crimes starting in Iraq, and have authoritarian rule. of destroying cultural heritage sites contributed an initial £1 million towards Currently the UK’s legal framework for in Timbuktu in Mali. The UK also its eventual operation. sanctions is derived from EU law. In contributed £400,000 to the Court’s order to prepare for leaving the EU, in Trust Fund for Victims to support October the Government introduced counselling for rape victims, the Sanctions the Sanctions and Anti-Money provision of prosthetics, and work to Sanctions, such as arms embargoes, Laundering Bill in Parliament. The de-stigmatise child soldiers in Uganda asset freezes and travel bans, are one Bill would create the legal framework and the Democratic Republic of of the tools which the UK uses, in for the UK to impose sanctions where Congo. coordination with multilateral bodies, to appropriate, including in the interests promote human rights and democracy. The International Criminal Tribunal for of international peace and security, Sanctions are used as part of a broader but does not specify how we would the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) closed political and diplomatic strategy, and at the end of 2017. In its 24 years of use these powers in relation to specific aim to engender a change in behaviour, countries or threats. That will be operation, the Tribunal indicted 161 constrain the target’s ability to determined later when we introduce individuals for serious violations of continue unwanted behaviour, or signal the secondary legislation needed to international humanitarian law, and disapproval of the target’s behaviour. establish individual sanctions regimes. provided a comprehensive historical The UK promotes a ‘Smarter Sanctions’ record of the atrocities committed policy to ensure that sanctions are both The Bill would also allow for the during the conflicts in the Western legally robust and effective in delivering Government to continue to create Balkans. One of its last acts was the our policies, including on human rights. anti-money laundering and counter- conviction and sentencing of former The UK is actively involved in regular terrorist financing regulations. The Bill Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko reviews of EU sanctions. This includes is expected to be granted Royal Assent Mladiċ to life imprisonment for the considering when sanctions should in 2018. Srebrenica genocide and other serious be increased or lifted, and guarding crimes during the 1992-5 conflict in against harmful consequences such Bosnia and Herzegovina. Any as humanitarian suffering, which outstanding work of the ICTY passed undermine the long-term viability of sanctions as a foreign policy tool. 23 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

CHAPTER III: FCO Human Rights Programme Funds

Frontline UK diplomatic work is Carta fund supports projects across a and enhance regional cooperation, to supported by FCO programme funds, range of human rights and democracy uphold the rights of women and girls. such as the Magna Carta Fund and the themes including strengthening civil In November, WFD supported a regional Rules Based International System Fund, society, abolition of the death penalty, conference in Tunis on violence against and by cross-government programme promoting democracy, freedom of women and girls. It brought together funds, such as the Conflict, Stability and religion or belief, freedom of expression, representatives from a number of Arab preventing torture, LGBT rights, and the Security Fund. countries including Morocco, Jordan, rule of law. Tunisia, Iraq and Lebanon. Experts Magna Carta Fund for Human The Magna Carta Fund operated presented best practice on issues Rights and Democracy in over 60 countries. In financial such as access to women’s shelters, year 2017-18, the Fund was mainly harassment in the workplace, and the The Magna Carta Fund for Human allocated to the second and final year specific forms of violence perpetrated Rights and Democracy continued to of multiyear projects. One example against women with disabilities. The strengthen the FCO’s commitment to of a project in its second year was conference facilitated continued our principles on human rights and a project, conducted in partnership consultation on the draft Arab democracy by supporting project work with the Westminster Foundation for Convention to Combat Violence against on the ground and within multilateral Democracy and local partners, seeking Women. The Convention is the first organisations. The Fund’s main focus to deliver change on the issue of of its kind to be ratified and reviewed is to support projects and activity in violence against women and girls in the by national parliaments during the the 30 Human Rights Priority Countries Middle East and North Africa. The drafting stage, and participants in the identified in this Report. project supported the Coalition of Arab conference shared their feedback. Women MPs and aimed to increase The Magna Carta Fund allocated Another example of a project entering public debate, promote potential new approximately £10.6 million in the its second year was in India, where our legislation, improve political leadership, financial year 2017-18 and supported aim was to increase access to justice, at least 110 projects. The Magna and protect the rights of female victims 24

of violence. Partnering with Sheffield >> working with business to deliver Hallam University, the project brought stability in conflict zones. senior police officers from India to the The RBIS Fund supported at least 55 UK for training on how the UK police projects in financial year 2017-18. Like respond to incidents of violence and the Magna Carta Fund, the RBIS Fund how they secure justice for victims. As is deployed across the world. One a result of this and other activities, the example of a project in its second police in Madhya Pradesh are opening year in 2017-18 was a project focusing 51 one-stop crisis centres to support on tackling sexual violence and female victims of violence. stigmatisation in Colombia. This offered Sometimes the project work is psychosocial support, empowering conducted through international women and young people to report and organisations. Through our Mission document cases using the International in Geneva, the Magna Carta Fund Protocol on the Investigation and supported a project helping civil society Documentation of Sexual Violence in organisations access and participate in Conflict, and to press for increased the Universal Periodic Review process access to justice for victims. The of the UN Human Rights Council. It project has enabled women to exert has helped civil society actors in key greater influence and leadership in countries publish reports on the local their communities as agents of change, human rights situation, which then fighting to eliminate this abhorrent serve as evidence to support calls crime and the social stigma which so for action. The project also brought often accompanies it. civil society actors from key countries The RBIS Fund is also used to support to the UN Human Rights Council in international justice, and the FCO’s Geneva, to speak about their respective Security and Justice Team, together with human rights objectives, and to inform our Embassy in Phnom Penh, provided state actors on how the international continued financial support to the community can give assistance. Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Established in 2003 The Rules Based following an agreement between the International System Fund Cambodian government and the UN, the ECCC has helped deliver justice to The rules-based international millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge system (RBIS) is founded on regime and hold the most responsible relationships between states and perpetrators to account, securing the through international institutions conviction of some of the regime’s most and frameworks which share rules senior figures. It also played a vital and agreements on behaviour and role in allowing space for reconciliation standards. The RBIS Fund is an in Cambodian society. The Tribunal’s important complement to the Magna impressive outreach programme has Carta Fund. In 2017-18, the RBIS involved over 400,000 Cambodians. allocated £8,629,246 to projects Although the crimes were committed and organisations which directly and a long time ago, ECCC investigations, indirectly supported human rights and trials and appeals still continue and democracy through: require support from both Cambodia >> gender equality; and the international community. >> promoting the active participation of women in peacebuilding discussions; >> expanding the reach and implementation of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative; >> strengthening the efficiency and capacity of the UN; >> strengthening the Commonwealth; >> supporting the International Criminal Court; and 25 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

CHAPTER IV: Consular – Human Rights and Assistance

Introduction Death Penalty Torture and Mistreatment Consular assistance is at the heart At the end of 2017, 15 British nationals The UK takes all allegations or concerns of what the FCO does – the advice faced the death penalty worldwide of torture and mistreatment extremely and practical support provided by UK and 47 were detained on charges seriously. Consular staff are required officials to support British nationals which could attract the death penalty to take urgent action if they receive overseas when something goes wrong. if the defendants were found guilty. an allegation or suspect that a British Our staff make an assessment of an The UK opposes the use of the death national (including dual nationals) individual’s vulnerability and needs, penalty in all circumstances. When a has been subjected to torture or based on who they are, where they are, British national is exposed to the death mistreatment. We will try to ensure and the situation they are facing. We penalty, we intervene at whatever stage that the British national involved then aim to offer assistance which helps and level is deemed most effective, is safe. With the British national’s meet these needs. from the moment a death sentence permission, we can raise the allegation becomes a possibility, in order to with the local authorities, requesting Human rights work is integrated with prevent the execution of any British a full, transparent and independent consular priorities. In 2018, the UK national. We work closely with legal investigation, in line with international will continue to provide professional, teams employed by British nationals standards. When responding to an non-judgmental assistance to British facing the death penalty, and are allegation, consular staff will avoid any nationals overseas, irrespective of supported in this endeavour by two action which might increase the risk to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, respected NGOs: Reprieve, and the the detainee concerned. marital status, disability, religion or Death Penalty Project (DPP). In 2018, In addition to action on individual belief. We will continue to lobby we will continue to intervene in death cases, we raise concerns about the against the death penalty, provide penalty cases as and where necessary. support to those in detention, support prevalence of mistreatment and torture victims and potential victims of forced allegations with state authorities. In marriage, and raise allegations of 2017, we strengthened awareness of torture and mistreatment where torture and mistreatment among our appropriate. staff by providing training and advice 26

on standards and on appropriate action Forced Marriage to take in high-risk countries. We hold The UK remains a world leader in periodic reviews of all such cases to tackling forced marriage. The UK identify regional trends, and develop recognises forced marriage as a serious strategies to engage and lobby the local abuse of human rights which can authorities. include some or all of the following: child abuse, domestic abuse, and a form Overseas prisoners of violence against both women and men. We offer consular assistance to all British nationals and dual nationals In 2017, the Forced Marriage Unit in a third country, whether they are (FMU), a joint FCO and Home Office in police custody, awaiting trial, or Unit, provided advice or support serving a prison sentence. In certain related to a possible forced marriage exceptional circumstances, we can in almost 1,200 cases, involving over help dual nationals in the country of 60 countries. We delivered outreach their second nationality and nationals events to a wide range of agencies, of other EU and Commonwealth schools and communities. These aimed countries. However, not all countries to raise awareness of forced marriage recognise dual nationality. For example, and to help professionals recognise the several UK/Iranian dual nationals are warning signs and take the right action currently detained in Iran. The Iranian to help protect children and adults from government does not recognise dual this abhorrent abuse. We also funded nationality, and on this basis, in 2017 it five NGOs, based both overseas and in denied access to UK consular officials. the UK, to provide refuge for those at We were therefore unable to assess the risk abroad, and to support repatriated wellbeing of the prisoners in question or victims of forced marriage. confirm that they are receiving adequate In 2018, the FMU will continue to legal advice and medical treatment. provide assistance to victims and UK ministers and officials raised their potential victims; build frontline concerns regarding these cases with the capability; and raise awareness of the Iranian authorities on multiple occasions issue across communities in the UK. and will continue to do so. We also aim to complement this work We aim to contact British detainees as through engagement with likeminded soon as possible after being informed countries. about their arrest or detention. Depending on the individual, country and local circumstances, we will also seek to visit them as soon as possible. Our primary role is to monitor their welfare and to provide basic information about the local legal and penal system, including the availability of legal aid, together with a list of English-speaking lawyers and interpreters. We work in close partnership with the respected charity, Prisoners Abroad, to support British detainees oversees. Prisoners Abroad offers grants and vitamin supplements to improve the health and well-being of prisoners overseas, and provides resettlement assistance on return to the UK. We work with Prisoners Abroad on over 1,000 cases annually, particularly those involving vulnerable prisoners and detainees. 27 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

CHAPTER V: Human Rights Priority Countries

Afghanistan 2001, women and girls remained Haqqani and Taliban prisoners. subject to violence and discrimination, Together with the EU, the UK The greatest challenge in Afghanistan and lacked access to basic services. government expressed strong in 2017 was the continuing conflict. Female illiteracy rates run high at opposition to the use of the death President Ghani and the Afghan 71%[21]. However, there was strong penalty, and the executions did not government stated their commitment to commitment to making progress from take place. However, on 29 November, improving the human rights situation, President Ghani, the First Lady, Rula the Afghan state executed five men but progress remained slow against Ghani, and Chief Executive Officer, within minutes of their conviction the difficult security backdrop. The Abdullah Abdullah. In 2017, the UK for involvement in kidnapping. The most serious problems were inadequate focused on enhancing girls’ education UK joined the EU in protesting about protection of women’s rights, the use through DFID’s Girls Education these executions to the Afghan Foreign of torture and ill-treatment in places of Challenge[22], which has helped over Ministry. detention, and weak rule of law. 300,000 girls attend primary school; The UK welcomed the announcement [19] on supporting victims of gender-based According to a report by the UN by the Afghan Independent Election violence; and on promoting women’s Assistance Mission to Afghanistan Commission that parliamentary and economic empowerment. (UNAMA), 10,453 civilians were killed or district elections would take place We encouraged the Afghan government injured as a result of the conflict in 2017. in 2018. We urged the Afghan to implement its National Action Plan Although 6% fewer than in the same government and election management on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) period in 2016, this remained a very bodies to expend all efforts to deliver and to improve women’s participation serious casualty rate. Anti-government credible, transparent and inclusive in efforts towards peace. Afghanistan groups, predominantly the Taliban and elections. Daesh, were responsible for the majority remains a focus country in the UK’s of the casualties. The UK continued to National Action Plan on WPS. The Global Slavery Index[24] estimated that 367,000 people were living in support the Afghan National Defence In a report from UNAMA in April [23], modern slavery in Afghanistan. The and Security Forces, including by entitled ‘Treatment of Conflict-Related most common forms included labour advising the Afghan Air Force and Detainees in Afghan custody’, 39% of exploitation, sexual exploitation and security ministries. We also supported detainees interviewed gave credible forced marriage, with young people efforts by the Afghan government accounts of having been tortured or and migrants at particular risk. The and High Peace Council towards a ill-treated. Most cases allegedly took Afghan government made some peace process, including encouraging place in the custody of the National efforts to tackle the problem. Through the development of a coherent and Directorate of Security or of the Afghan the National Crime Agency, the UK coordinated strategy. National Police. The UN Secretary supported Afghanistan’s capacity to [20] General’s Special Representative for In November, a UNAMA report identify and tackle trends in modern Afghanistan expressed serious concern, documented an increase in attacks slavery. UK funding also supported but acknowledged “the genuine against places of worship, religious internally displaced people and would- commitment and the efforts of the leaders and worshippers. In 2016-17, be migrants. there were twice as many casualties government to deal with this issue”. as a result of such attacks than during The Afghan government announced a Afghanistan was ranked 169th of the period 2009-15. The then Foreign series of welcome measures, including 176 countries cited in Transparency Secretary, Boris Johnson, issued a lifting Afghanistan’s reservation to the International’s Corruption Perceptions statement condemning a Daesh attack Convention Against Torture, signing its Index[25]. President Ghani remained on a Shia cultural centre in Kabul on 28 Optional Protocol, and establishing a committed to tackling corruption. December. National Preventative Mechanism. The UK played an important role in establishing Afghanistan’s Anti- Following a large terrorist attack in Despite overall progress on women’s Corruption Justice Centre (ACJC), which Kabul on 31 May, President Ghani rights since the fall of the Taliban in was launched in October 2016, to ordered the execution of eleven

[19] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/afghanistan_protection_of_civilians_annual_report_2017_final_6_march.pdf [20] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/unama_report_on_attacks_against_places_of_worship_7nov2017_0.pdf [21] https://www.education-inequalities.org/indicators/literacy_1524#?sort=sex%3AFemale&dimension=sex&group=all&age_ group=literacy_1524&countries=all [22] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/girls-education-challenge [23] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/24_april_2017_-_torture_of_detainees_in_afghanistan_persists_-_un_report_english.pdf [24] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/ [25] https://www.transparency.org/country/AFG 28

The UK’s Girls’ Education Challenge fund has helped some of the most marginalised and vulnerable girls attend school in Afghanistan, including in rural communities across 16 provinces. Photo: DFID/Mr. Hedayatullah Amid investigate, prosecute and adjudicate Bahrain In 2017, Bahraini courts ordered the serious corruption cases. Since then removal of Bahraini nationality from There continued to be a mixed picture the ACJC has heard around 85 cases a number of individuals, the majority on human rights in Bahrain in 2017. and recovered $9m. The Minister of whom were convicted of acts of The UK Government reiterated the need for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, terrorism. Bahrain is not a signatory to for the state to protect and defend discussed continued UK support for the 1954 and 1961 UN Conventions on universal human rights. Where we had anti-corruption efforts with the Afghan Statelessness, and is not bound by their concerns, we consistently raised them Attorney General, Farid Hamidi, in Kabul provisions. with the Government of Bahrain at in October. the highest levels, both in private and We also remain concerned about the In 2018, we will continue to support the public. continued handing down of death Afghan government’s efforts to improve sentences by Bahraini courts. In The UK Government raised some the human rights situation, including in January, three people, convicted of cases of concern directly with the our priority areas of women’s rights and killing two police officers in 2014, were Government of Bahrain, including girls’ education, detention conditions, executed – the first executions to be the two-year prison sentence handed access to justice and protecting carried out since 2010. The UK is firmly down to Nabeel Rajab for allegedly human rights defenders. We will do opposed to the death penalty and it disseminating false news, and the so bilaterally and with international is our long-standing policy to oppose ongoing legal action against him. partners. We look forward to working capital sentences in all circumstances. We also raised our concerns over the with Afghanistan as it takes its seat on We have reiterated this to the suspension of the newspaper Al Wasat. the UN Human Rights Council from 1 Government of Bahrain at the highest We continue to encourage Bahrain to January 2018. We will encourage the levels and they are fully aware of our ensure that freedom of expression and Afghan government to lead by example position. The then Foreign Secretary, freedom of speech are fully protected and fully implement its own human Boris Johnson, made representations for all its citizens. rights commitments. to the Bahraini authorities about these Deprivation of nationality, where this cases and released a public statement renders an individual stateless, remains on 15 January[26]. a matter of great concern to the UK.

[26] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/executions-in-bahrain 29 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

In 2017, the Government of Bahrain Bahrain. It also passed new legislation repeated government assurances that introduced constitutional and legislative on alternative sentencing, and has any returns of Rohingya refugees would amendments which allowed for the already started to implement provisions be voluntary, safe, well-informed and reintroduction of military courts to under this new legal framework. dignified. The UK took an international hold trials of civilians for specific Bahrain also took proactive action lead in supporting the refugees and security-related crimes. The Bahraini to tackle modern slavery, including in mobilising international attention National Institute of Human Rights by endorsing the ‘Call to Action to to the situation in Rakhine State. (NIHR) has monitored these trials, End Forced Labour, Modern Slavery Media and reports from civil society and the Government of Bahrain has and Human Trafficking’, issued by indicate an increase in the number of stated publicly[27] that due process was the Prime Minister, Theresa May. enforced disappearances, probably observed in these cases, as required by Furthermore, Bahrain took positive involving security forces. Human Rights the Bahraini Constitution. steps in introducing a new Flexi- Watch reported over 80 cases of secret Permit employment system and new The Minister for the Middle East, detentions and enforced disappearances employment contracts which bring Alistair Burt, co-chaired the UK-Bahrain in 2017 with at least 17 people still additional transparency to expatriate Joint Working Group in Manama in missing. Many incidents from previous employment. This forms part of October, which focused on a number years also remain unresolved. Bahrain’s commitment to ensure a safe of areas, including the provision of and equal workplace for all. Law enforcement agencies are alleged UK expertise in support of Bahraini- to have carried out extrajudicial killings, led reform initiatives. This included We also welcome Bahrain’s which they sought to explain away as UK capacity-building support to the commitment in 2017 to the We Protect “cross-fire” deaths. Odikhar, a local Bahraini Council of Representatives, to Global Alliance to end child sexual human rights organisation, reported strengthen its procedures and develop exploitation online. 154 such incidents in 2017. There has its role in ensuring accountability and The UK will continue to support been no significant reduction in the transparency. Bahraini-led reform in 2018 by providing incidence of torture and ill-treatment The UK also continued to support a range of technical expertise aimed at in custody. We repeatedly raised the development of human rights promoting the rule of law and further concerns about these issues with monitoring bodies in the country, developing human rights monitoring the Government of Bangladesh. which work to safeguard human rights, bodies. We believe that working with There has been no progress towards provide independent oversight of Bahrain offers the best opportunity the abolition of the death penalty. security personnel, monitor standards of to see the positive changes which the 253 death sentences were reportedly detention, and investigate allegations of Government of Bahrain has committed issued in 2017, and six were carried mistreatment. The NIHR, for instance, to implementing. out. We repeated our position that has taken steps to ensure that all we oppose the death penalty in all Bahrainis can report alleged human circumstances, and have called for a rights violations and abuses, including People’s Republic moratorium on its use in Bangladesh. through a new widely-advertised of Bangladesh hotline. We welcome this development Opposition political parties continued The human rights situation in and encourage continued work in this to raise allegations of politically Bangladesh saw no substantive area. motivated court cases against their improvement in 2017. Credible members, including senior leaders, Bahrain underwent its third Universal reports of enforced disappearances, and of the government restricting Periodic Review at the UN Human extrajudicial killings and torture by their ability to campaign publicly. The Rights Council in 2017. The UK made government agencies continued, as did resignation under pressure of the a number of recommendations, which government pressure on opposition Chief Justice, Surendra Kumar Sinha, in were accepted by the Government of parties, civil society and the media. November following a Supreme Court Bahrain, which included continuing to No progress was made towards the ruling against the government in a make progress on its reform agenda, abolition of the death penalty. More constitutional case, raised questions and implementing a national strategy positively, there was no recurrence about the independence of the judiciary. to tackle the trafficking of women and of large-scale terror attacks, while There was no significant progress in girls and to ratify the 2014 ILO Protocol a successful visit by Pope Francis eradicating corruption from the justice to the Forced Labour Convention. The highlighted the country’s religious system. We supported programmes to UK will continue to work with Bahrain diversity. improve access to justice, including for on these initiatives. The UK Government praised the women and girls. There was progress on certain human Bangladeshi government and people Bangladesh ranked 146th out of 180 rights issues in 2017. The Bahraini for having accepted and assisted over countries cited in the 2017 World Press parliament adopted new family law 688,000 Rohingya refugees who Freedom Index, a drop of two places legislation designed to benefit women fled from Burma from August 2017 compared with 2016. According to and children from all communities in onwards. The UK also welcomed

[27] http://www.nihr.org.bh/EN/Administrator/MediaHandler/GenericHandler/documents/Statements/27Dec2017.pdf 30

figures from Ain o Salish Kendra, a for educational access in both primary long-term importance to Bangladesh’s local human rights organisation, 54 and secondary education but factors development of free, fair, inclusive and journalists were charged in 2017 under like early marriage mean that girls have peaceful elections. Section 57 of the Information and a greater drop-out rate at secondary Communication Telecommunications education. Only 52% of girls complete Act 2006, which criminalises the their education and female illiteracy Burma posting online of inflammatory or rates remain high at 41%.[28] The human rights situation in Burma derogatory information against the Despite improvements, child marriage deteriorated sharply in 2017, with state or individuals. The government is remained widespread. The country the crisis in Rakhine State dominating proposing legislation to replace Section still has one of the highest rates of the second half of the year. The UK 57, but human rights organisations child marriage in the world with over continued to have serious concerns have expressed serious concerns about half of women currently between the about human rights, including ethnic the most recent draft. We are funding age of 20-24 having married before cleansing, restrictions on freedom of work to support journalists, including their 18th birthday; and almost one in religion or belief, freedom of expression, advising them on their rights and safety. five having married before their 15th and a lack of accountability for human Pope Francis’ visit in December birthday. The Child Marriage Restraint rights violations and abuses. Clashes highlighted Bangladesh’s religious Act 2017 included welcome provisions between the military and ethnic armed diversity. There was no repetition of on strengthening prevention and on organisations continued in Kachin and the terrorist attacks of 2015-16 against prosecution of offenders. However, Shan States. The authorities continued religious minorities, atheist bloggers or it also included a controversial clause to restrict humanitarian access, and LGBT rights activists. However, local allowing marriage under 18 under there were continued reports of level discrimination and occasional special circumstances – with parental human rights violations and abuses by violence against Hindu, Buddhist and consent and court permission. With state actors, including torture, sexual Ahmadiyya communities continued. other partners, we are helping the violence, and the use of civilians as Homosexuality remained illegal in government to develop a set of rules to human shields. There have been some Bangladesh, and there was little public help implement the law to minimise the positive steps: Burma ratified the discussion of LGBT people’s right not use of the special provision and prevent International Covenant on Economic, to suffer discrimination. LGBT people abuse. Social and Cultural Rights in October generally kept a low profile, for their and introduced minor reforms to laws Bangladesh also saw high levels of own safety. regulating speech and assembly. violence against women and girls. Over Bangladesh took steps to address 80% of married Bangladeshi women The situation in Rakhine State was the problems relating to modern slavery, report suffering abuse – physical, UK’s human rights priority in Burma in but progress was slow. Our work in this sexual, emotional or financial – from 2017. In the first two months of the area focuses primarily on combating an intimate partner at least once year, military operations continued in child labour, irregular migration and during their marriage. Conditions in northern Rakhine following violence in human trafficking and child marriage. the Rohingya refugee camps raised October 2016. At the peak of military We worked with international partners particular risks of violence against operations in January, the UN Office to help improve labour rights in the women, many of whom had already for the Coordination of Humanitarian ready-made garment sector, and suffered appalling violence in Rakhine Affairs reported that 22,000 Rohingya to ease freedom of association for State. Working with UN and other crossed the border into Bangladesh in workers in line with ILO conventions. agencies, the UK ensured that the one week. Bangladesh has endorsed the Prime humanitarian response included Partly in response to the situation in Minister’s Call to Action to End Forced help and support for survivors of Rakhine State, the UN Human Rights Labour, Modern Slavery and Human sexual and gender-based violence. Council (HRC) in March adopted Trafficking and we will continue to work In 2018, we will continue to engage a resolution, which the UK co- together to eradicate Modern Slavery in closely with Bangladesh on the sponsored, extending the mandate Bangladesh. Rohingya issue; support progress of the UN Special Rapporteur on Bangladesh has continued the progress towards gender equality, including Burma for a further year. In light of which saw it become the top-ranked on girls’ education where a focus serious concerns about human rights country for gender equality in South will be to promote equity in access, violations by military and security Asia in the 2017 Global Gender Gap retention and learning outcomes for forces, and abuses by non-state actors, Index. DFID-funded programmes the most marginalised girls; combat the HRC established an independent assisted this by supporting the health, modern slavery; press the authorities international Fact Finding Mission. education and economic empowerment on enforced disappearances and Burma disassociated itself from the of women and girls and their access extrajudicial executions; support resolution. In December, the Burmese to security and justice services. freedom of expression and other government denied UN Special Bangladesh has achieved gender parity democratic freedoms and stress the Rapporteur Yanghee Lee access to the

[28] http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=edulit_ds 31 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

country and withdrew all cooperation five mobile medical teams and five for a range of offences under section for the duration of her tenure. Burma health posts. 66. Those who oppose the law say that also denied access to the Fact Finding the amendments did little to reduce the In January 2017, U Ko Ni, a prominent Mission. restrictions on free expression. rights and democracy activist, In late August, an attack by members constitutional lawyer, and legal In December, two Reuters journalists, of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army advisor for the ruling National League Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, were (ARSA) on police posts triggered a for Democracy (NLD) party, was charged under the Official Secrets massively disproportionate response by assassinated. The trial of the three Acts after being accused of accepting the Burmese military. This was against suspects arrested for his murder has “important secret papers” from two a historical backdrop of persecution lasted over a year. The authorities’ police officers. This, along with other and restrictions on citizenship and failure to apprehend the main suspect, a arrests, created a climate of fear and movement for the Rohingya within former military officer, raises questions uncertainty among journalists within Burma. The ensuing violence against about the state’s determination to Burma. The UK raised concerns with the Rohingya, committed by the safeguard human rights defenders and the Burmese authorities about the military and by ethnic Rakhine, caused prevent impunity. The British Embassy arrests and their effect on freedom of more than 688,000 to flee from followed events closely and will the media. In 2017, the UK regularly Burma to Bangladesh. The UN High continue to do so in 2018. pressed the Burmese authorities Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid to grant unrestricted access to In February, the government signed the Ra’ad Al Hussein, called this “a textbook northern Rakhine State for media Paris Principles on Children Associated example of ethnic cleansing.” The UK and international observers. Within with Armed Forces or Armed Groups. was the first country to respond with Burma, widespread prejudicial attitudes This committed Burma to the protection humanitarian support in Bangladesh, towards the Rohingya restricted free of children from unlawful recruitment pledging £59 million to support the and independent coverage of the or use by armed forces and groups. latest influx of refugees. humanitarian crisis and of human rights In June, the military released 67 child violations. In December, the HRC held a Special soldiers. However, in August, the Session on the situation of the human military prosecuted a former child According to the Assistance Association rights of Rohingya Muslims and other solider who spoke publicly about for Political Prisoners in Burma, as of minorities in Myanmar. The UK co- his experiences. In March, the ILO December, 46 political prisoners are sponsored a resolution condemning the discussed the labour rights situation serving sentences in prison, with 190 “alleged systematic and gross violations in Burma. The Labour Ministry asked awaiting trial: 52 in prison and 138 of human rights and abuses” committed for cooperation in eliminating child on bail. Addressing this issue will in Burma, in particular in Rakhine State, labour, and met experts and employers require systemic reform of the police and called on the Government of Burma to discuss establishing a new minimum and judiciary, as well as of the legal to cooperate fully with the Fact Finding wage. framework underpinning such arrests Mission. and charges. Journalists and civil society continued Human rights violations by state actors to raise concerns about restrictions The peace process made little progress in Rakhine included murder, sexual to freedom of expression in Burma. in the second half of 2017. The third violence, and systematic burning of Activists and journalists, including national peace conference due to be Rohingya homes. A Médecins Sans those who have criticised the NLD held in December was postponed. Frontières report in mid-December government or the military, were Fighting between the Burmese military estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingya arrested, imprisoned and fined and ethnic armed groups intensified in were killed during the first month of under section 66(d) of the 2013 Kachin and Shan States, and, in early violence. There were consistent reports Telecommunications Act, which November, fighting also broke out in of widespread and systematic use provides for up to three years in prison southern Chin State. Tens of thousands of sexual violence against Rohingya for “extorting, coercing, restraining of civilians were internally displaced. women and girls, including mass wrongfully, defaming, disturbing, We welcome the progress in achieving rape. The UK worked in Bangladesh causing undue influence or threatening gender parity with regard to access to to improve outreach and identification any person using a telecommunications basic education. However, there are relating to gender-based violence, network.” Free Expression Myanmar significant underlying problems which case management and support, and released a report, which stated that limit the improvements in education for to ensure that reported incidents of there had been at least 95 criminal women and girls, particularly in rural gender-based violence were referred to complaints made under the Act, areas. DFID’s education programmes in appropriate medical care. For example, most of them related to defamation Burma work to ensure equal access to the UK funded the UNFPA to support online since the current government a quality education for both boys and counselling and psychological support, took office. In August, parliament girls. In Burma DFID has allocated £37.5 and supported the International amended the Act to permit judges to million through the UK Partnership for Organization for Migration to operate release people on bail, and reduce the Education. maximum prison sentence to two years 32

Looking ahead to 2018, the UK and media space. The government The UK’s human rights objectives in stands ready to help the Government approved laws which further restricted Burundi in 2017 focused on gender of Burma in implementing the the activities of international NGOs equality, civil society and freedom recommendations of the Advisory and charities. The ruling party’s youth of expression. The UK supported Commission on Rakhine State. The UK league, the Imbonerakure, became human rights monitoring activities also welcomes the establishment of further emboldened by the culture of and placed particular emphasis on the an international advisory board. Any impunity and increasingly acted as a prevention of sexual and gender-based returns of refugees to Burma must militia, enforcing the regime’s policies. violence. The latter included support be safe, voluntary and dignified and A viral video showed the Imbonerakure to women’s associations to reduce the have independent monitoring by the encouraging the rape of female stigmatisation of survivors of sexual UN High Commissioner for Refugees. relatives of members of the opposition. violence and to increase women’s Humanitarian support to refugees in Incidents of hate speech continued, engagement with decision makers, Bangladesh, through DFID, totalled increasing the risk of fostering a climate and the development of early warning £59 million in 2017. In 2018, we will of ethnic confrontation. and investigation processes. Girls’ continue funding important projects on education is also an area of concern On 29 September 2017, Burundi was freedom of expression and preventing given Burundi’s high female illiteracy one of 13 States to vote against the sexual violence, while expanding rate of 78% and the fact that 11% of UN Human Rights Council resolution our work to help tackle hate speech girls are out of school. The UK supports banning the execution of people on and other underlying drivers of inter- the Global Partnership for Education via the basis of their sexual orientation. communal tensions. funding from DFID of which Burundi is The government views same sex one of 60 recipient countries[29]. relationships as being against Burundi Burundi culture and banned homosexuality in The UK also worked through the EU and 2009. Under Burundi law, a person UN to intensify international monitoring There was no improvement in the engaged in sexual relations with the and reporting of human rights violations human rights situation in Burundi in same sex may be imprisoned for up to and abuses. We supported a UN 2017. A pattern of arrests, arbitrary two years as well as incurring a fine. Security Council resolution which detentions, torture, enforced LGBT persons in Burundi continue to reiterated support for the international disappearances and killings, mainly face threats of physical intimidation, efforts to find a peaceful political targeting opposition and civil society arrest and discrimination. solution to the conflict, in line with the and often carried out by state actors, Arusha Accords. The UK also backed a became the norm. Both men and The Burundian government’s combative rollover for the suspension of EU direct women have been subjected by the approach towards international human financial support to the Burundian security forces to sexual violence as rights bodies saw them suspend administration, confining EU financial a means of torture in order to obtain cooperation with the UN OHCHR. support to the population only. information or confessions. This Burundi continued its policy of non- has included rape and mutilation of cooperation in multilateral fora, refusing In 2018, the UK will continue to genital organs. The judiciary’s lack to engage with the UN Commission of focus on preventing human rights of independence allowed a culture of Inquiry and denying its members entry violations and abuses, especially in impunity to flourish, and enabled the to the country. After the Commission the build-up to the referendum on authorities to impose heavy sentences had found reasonable grounds to the proposed changes to Burundi’s on those arrested, without regard to believe that crimes against humanity Constitution planned for May. The their lack of representation or to claims had been committed, the UN Human UK will continue to support regional of torture. The brutal and sometimes Rights Council (HRC) in September and international efforts, led by the clandestine nature of violations by renewed its work for a further year. East African Community and former security forces or by those supporting The HRC also agreed an additional Tanzanian President Mkapa, to resolve the government has created a deep and resolution which mandated the OHCHR the root causes of the political crisis and widespread climate of fear in Burundi. to appoint three experts to investigate to find a peaceful political solution, in the human rights situation in 2018. particular to prevent any risk of further The hostile atmosphere forced destabilisation. The UK’s human rights many members of Burundi’s political On 25 October, the pre-Trial Chamber priorities will include working with the opposition and independent media of the International Criminal Court (ICC) international community, in particular into exile, while those who remained authorised the ICC Prosecutor to open continuing to support the work of the continued to face harassment from an investigation into alleged crimes HRC, the Commission of Inquiry and the authorities and from those against humanity committed in Burundi OHCHR, to bring an end to the violence, sympathetic to the ruling party. The or by nationals of Burundi between 26 hold the perpetrators to account, and state banned Burundi’s oldest human April 2015 and 26 October 2017. On promote freedom of expression, respect rights organisation, Ligue Iteka, 27 October, Burundi became the first for democratic freedoms and gender and closed down at least ten radio country to withdraw from the ICC. equality. stations, further restricting civil society

[29] http://www.ungei.org/infobycountry/burundi.html 33 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Central African Republic The UN Peacekeeping Mission in CAR their functions and of victim and (MINUSCA) documented 91 such witness protection. The human rights situation in the cases between January and May. Central African Republic (CAR) In 2017, MINUSCA continued to deal The majority of these cases were deteriorated further in 2017. Armed with allegations of sexual exploitation perpetrated by ex-Seleka or anti-balaka groups control large areas of the and abuse (SEA) made against armed groups. country, and the humanitarian situation peacekeepers. The UK has called on worsened dramatically with a 50% In June, the government signed a peace countries contributing troops to UN increase in forced displacement. State accord with 13 armed groups. The ‘San peacekeeping missions to investigate and non-state actors continued to inflict Egidio’ peace agreement called for an all allegations thoroughly and to ensure a range of human rights violations immediate end to hostilities and the that those found guilty are brought and abuses, including mass killings, recognition of legitimate authorities. to justice. The UN has taken steps to abductions, conflict-related sexual However, the day after the ceasefire address the problem: MINUSCA has violence, and cruel, inhuman and was agreed, renewed fighting occurred carried out training and awareness- degrading treatment. Around 63%[30] in the town of Bria, with reports raising activities on child protection of girls are not in primary school. suggesting that 100 civilians had been for peacekeepers, armed groups, civil Attacks on humanitarian workers, killed. The African Union subsequently society, the CAR gendarmerie and the including attacks on health facilities agreed a new roadmap for Peace and national police, in collaboration with and religious sites, made CAR “one National Reconciliation which aims to UNICEF. More than 600 troops were of the most dangerous and difficult promote dialogue between the CAR repatriated in 2017 in an effort to countries for humanitarian work”, government and the armed groups. implement the UN Secretary-General’s according to the UN Office for the zero tolerance policy. The UN Independent Expert on the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs situation of human rights in CAR In 2018, the UK will continue its support (OCHA), and hampered efforts to cited the fight against the impunity of for UN and EU efforts to improve the provide vital community services. The perpetrators of serious human rights political and security situation in CAR UN Independent Expert on the human violations and abuses as essential to and to provide humanitarian assistance. rights situation in CAR, Marie-Therese solving the country’s crisis. The UN The EU Training Mission, which is Keita Bocoum,warned that the country launched its Human Rights Mapping delivering security sector reform, has was experiencing an “unsustainable” Report in May. The Report identified completed training of two battalions of situation amid the “spread of armed and documented human rights CAR armed forces and will train another groups and increasing human rights violations and abuses from 2003 to by summer 2018. As part of its ongoing violations”. 2015, including extrajudicial executions, work, the Mission will help develop the Clashes continued between armed torture and inhuman treatment, rapes, CAR armed forces’ educational system, groups, including ex-Seleka (Muslim) burning of entire villages, recruitment of including training on International rebel factions, anti-balaka (Christian) thousands of children by armed groups, Humanitarian Law, gender, religious and and self-defence groups. There was and attacks on humanitarian actors and ethnic minorities' issues, and SEA. a significant increase in reports of peacekeepers. The Report concluded abuse, particularly of ethnic or religious that serious violations and abuses of minority communities. In his August human rights had been committed by China report to the UN Security Council, state and non-state actors, some of In 2017, there was increased evidence of former Under-Secretary-General for which could amount to crimes under civil and political rights being infringed Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, international law, including war crimes in China, and of space for civil society stated that “the early warning signs for and/or crimes against humanity. being tightened further. While China genocide” were present in CAR. He focused on its record of improving The lack of a functioning judicial gave an example of 2,000 Muslims economic and social rights and system meant that little action was trapped in a Catholic Church compound promoting the right to development, taken to address these human rights where they had fled after their homes new legislation was introduced which violations and abuses and to bring the had been burned down by mostly further reduced freedom of speech and perpetrators to justice. Progress was Christian militiamen. assembly. The continuing detention made towards establishing a Special and trials of human rights lawyers Criminal Court (SCC), with a mandate and activists, and apparent lack of to end impunity for crimes under The resurgence in violence since due process and judicial transparency, international law. A Special Criminal September 2016 triggered an increase remained key issues. Court Prosecutor is now in place, as are in conflict-related sexual violence. a number of international and national Two important court cases suggested According to a UN report, women, magistrates. However, insecurity in CAR a greater recognition of homosexuality girls and boys continued to suffer rape, has limited progress, in terms both of in Chinese law. In Henan, a medical sexual slavery and sexual assault[31]. SCC personnel being able to exercise institution was ordered to issue a public

[30] http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=edulit_ds [31] From the Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central Africa Republic, 28 July 2017 (see A/HRC/36/64, para 63) 34

apology and compensate a man who China. There were continued reports volunteers, and local communities to was forcibly ‘treated’ with conversion of the detention, harassment and help raise the aspirations of younger therapy; and the first official case of persecution of religious groups – generations, particularly girls. The UK’s male on male rape was heard. On including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists ‘Be Yourself campaign’ continues to the other hand, there were moves by and Falun Gong practitioners – and of raise awareness about gender equality; the authorities to extend the ban on the destruction of religious buildings. through credible voices, women’s depicting homosexuality on television to There were reports that Pastor Yang successes are celebrated, publicising the online media. Hua was refused medical treatment individual experiences to provide while in detention. inspiration for women all over China. In 2017, there were more cases of human rights defenders, activists The human rights situation in Tibet In 2018, we expect to see more and lawyers facing punishment or did not improve. Reports of severe pressure on Chinese citizens’ rights ill-treatment. Lawyer Gao Zhisheng restrictions and self-immolations with the introduction of a revised disappeared in August, and his continued. The pre-trial detention Constitution and new National whereabouts remained unknown. At of Tibetan language advocate Tashi Supervision Law. The authorities are least five of the over 200 individuals Wangchuk continued. 2017 marked likely to target activists and human detained in the summer of 2015 22 years since the disappearance of rights defenders under recently remained in custody. Wang Quanzhang Gedhun Choekyi Nyima – the Dalai introduced national security laws. We continued to be held in pre-trial Lama’s choice as Panchen Lama. expect new regulations on religious detention without access to his lawyer. affairs to limit further the right to In Xinjiang, the authorities introduced There were credible reports that freedom of religion or belief. The UK intrusive security and surveillance Li Chunfu and Xie Yanyi had been will continue to support projects in measures and cultural restrictions tortured. Li Heping received a three- China in priority areas, including the targeted at the Uyghur Muslim year suspended sentence in April and abolition of the death penalty, criminal population. Thousands of Uyghurs Jiang Tianyong was given a two-year justice reform, strengthening civil were held in re-education camps after sentence in November. Both were society and rights of people belonging returning from abroad. convicted of inciting state subversion to minorities. We will raise human and had their confessions broadcast. China continued to use the death rights concerns regularly in public and in penalty and the number of people private. Where possible, we will work The authorities tightened their control executed remained a ‘state secret’. with the grain to promote change. of expression, association and assembly. There were Chinese media reports of The Foreign NGO Law limited the This reporting period marked 20 years large show trials, followed by multiple scope of activities for international and since the handover of Hong Kong to executions. Amnesty International domestic NGOs, with only 305 NGOs China. We continue to defend the 1984 reported that China continued to managing to register by the end of the Sino-British Joint Declaration strongly in execute more people annually than the year. There were credible reports of the public statements and in meetings with rest of the world did put together. police disrupting a range of civil society the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. activities and events. The Cyber Security The UK continued to monitor human Over 2017, our assessment has been Law (which came into effect on 1 June) rights in China, maintaining contact that the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the National Intelligence Law (28 with human rights defenders and framework is generally functioning June) restricted freedom of expression their families in China and the UK. well, but that important areas of the by increasing the scope for censorship We regularly raised our human rights framework continue to come under and surveillance. State authorities concerns (including those mentioned increased pressure. This included: the deleted hundreds of social media in this report) with China through a denial of entry to Hong Kong of a UK accounts. The respected international wide variety of channels, including national and human rights activist, NGO, Freedom House, reported that at the 24th round of the UK-China Benedict Rogers; the number of high China had the worst record in the world Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in profile judicial cases related to the for internet freedom. June. Ministers raised specific human political system; reports of mainland rights concerns and cases in bilateral security officials operating within the Human rights activist and Nobel meetings and at public events, and Special Administrative Region; and Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo issued statements. The UK was vocal in continuing concerns about the exercise died in custody in July, having been the UN and other multilateral fora and of some of the rights and freedoms detained since 2008. His widow, Liu issued joint and unilateral statements. guaranteed by the Joint Declaration Xia, continued to face extrajudicial We attempted to observe trials and and Basic Law. It remains the UK restrictions. Blogger Wu Gan was sentencing hearings in China, though Government’s view that, for Hong convicted of state subversion and in we were consistently denied access. Kong’s future success, it is essential that December was sentenced to eight years’ Hong Kong enjoys, and is seen to enjoy, imprisonment, having been held in On girls’ education, the focus in the full measure of its high degree of detention for over two years. China has been on women and girls’ autonomy, rule of law, independence of empowerment through the British The right to freedom of religion or belief the judiciary, and rights and freedoms Council’s ‘Inspiring Women China’ continued to come under pressure in as set out in the Joint Declaration and programme working with schools, 35 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

enshrined in the Basic Law, in keeping perpetrator has been the biggest September one HRD was murdered with the commitment to ‘One Country, challenge for the justice system, every 60 hours. The impunity rate Two Systems.’ including for post-conflict Transitional for these crimes is 87%, and only 6% Justice Mechanisms, which aim to result in prison sentences (all of them A detailed analysis on Hong Kong encourage perpetrators to admit to against the immediate perpetrators, is published separately in the crimes and offer reparation for victims. not the intellectual authors of those Government’s Six Monthly Reports to Sexual violence against minors also crimes). While there is little evidence Parliament[32]. persisted. of systematic targeting of HRDs, those threatened or killed share common Under the Preventing Sexual Violence in characteristics: leaders who challenge Colombia Conflict Initiative (PSVI), we continued the presence of organised crime or A year after the Colombian support for the documentation of illegal mining; land restitution claimants; government’s peace agreement with cases of sexual violence, fostering leaders of victims’ groups; and those the Revolutionary Armed Forces of access to justice, contributing to the with a potential role in upcoming Colombia (FARC), Colombia registered participation of women and promoting elections. its lowest murder rate for 42 years. initiatives to end stigma, including However, key human rights concerns with the Colombian media. Our In 2017, the UK funded two projects remained, such as inadequate projects helped train 40 women to to promote the protection of HRDs protection of human rights defenders be spokespersons and another 200 and community leaders in 15 regions (HRDs), gender-based violence, the journalists in preventing stigmatisation of Colombia. This included providing human rights consequences of illegal when reporting sexual violence cases. HRDs with self-protection strategies, economies (drugs and illegal mining), We also trained 550 women and men, rights awareness, capacity building and modern slavery. Causes included including ex-combatants, indigenous and advocacy strategies. The UK a lack of state presence in some rural people and afro-Colombians, about undertook significant advocacy areas, delays to peace agreement stigma, how to gain access to justice, activity, both bilaterally and alongside implementation, and the destabilising awareness of gender-based violence international partners, including the influence of organised crime. and women’s rights. In addition, EU and UN. We also monitored the our partners used the International situation of vulnerable HRDs and In areas where the FARC were formerly Protocol to document hundreds of raised specific cases with the relevant present, especially near the Pacific sexual violence cases. We also worked Colombian authorities. We have coast, illegal armed groups have fought with Schools to reach out to girls worked very closely with the Office for control of coca cultivation, drug in vulnerable contexts and provide of the Attorney General to strengthen trafficking, illegal mining and other training in how to report cases of sexual existing coordination mechanisms illicit activities. As a result, there was violence. with the Colombian police, and have an increase in conflict between the provided technical assistance to improve National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla Although access to education has their follow-up mechanisms when group and other unidentified armed improved in recent years, girls face investigating emblematic cases. On groups, often with reported links to a high risk of sexual violence. In balance, we judge that the Colombian former paramilitaries. In 2017, the 2017 UNICEF reported that seven state is taking the problem of violence UN reported 61 major displacement in ten victims of sexual violence in against HRDs seriously, and is making incidents, affecting more than 12,000 Colombia were girls. In rural areas genuine attempts to tackle it. people, a 22% increase compared with sexual violence is attributed to higher 2016. levels of criminality, and lack of basic In some regions of the country, infrastructure such as safe public particularly on the Pacific Coast, illegal There were more than 15,000 cases of transport. Girls in these areas are mining has severely affected the water sexual violence reported to the National also more likely to drop out of school and food supply and has increased the Victims’ Unit during Colombia’s armed early because of the limited access to presence of illegal armed groups. We conflict with the FARC[33]. However, it is contraception and sex education. continue to support the Colombian reasonable to assume that many more government’s implementation of its cases went unrecorded, because of lack Killings and threats against HRDs National Action Plan on Business and of access to justice in remote or insecure increased significantly during the year. Human Rights. The UK encouraged parts of the country. According to the The UN OHCHR confirmed in their companies to improve communication commission[34] responsible for verifying annual report[35] issued on 3 March strategies with communities, reduce the compliance with the Constitutional 2018, the murder of 121 HRDs in 2017, negative impacts of their activities, and Court’s ruling on sexual violence, the compared with 61 in 2016. The rate of help mobilise local communities to stop impunity rate in sexual violence cases HRD murders increased in the second illegal mining. The British Embassy also is 92%. Identifying the individual half of the year and between July and

[32] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-report-on-hong-kong-july-to-december-2017 [33] According to the national centre for historical memory’s report La Guerra inscrita en el cuerpo [34] A civil society follow-up discussion ,‘Mesa de Seguimiento’, to ruling Auto 092 of the Constitutional Court. [35] http://www.hchr.org.co/media/com_acymailing/upload/a_hrc_37_3_add_3_en.pdf 36

launched a business and peace strategy The DPRK in May hosted the UN Special This is operationally and editorially which gives companies advice on how Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons independent of the UK Government. they can actively contribute to building with Disabilities, Catalina Devandas The Service transmits to both North peace and protecting human rights. Aguilar, the first visit by a UN human and South Korea. It is unclear how rights expert. The visit was tightly accessible the Service is to the people of In 2018, we will introduce modern controlled, but it was a small sign of North Korea, who are forbidden from slavery and girls’ education as additional progress. listening to non-state broadcasts. priorities for our human rights programme, which will include regional The DPRK’s record was examined During 2017, the UK continued to work collaboration with the British Embassies by the UN Committee on the Rights through multilateral fora to challenge in Venezuela and Brazil. of the Child (CRC) in September, the DPRK’s record on human rights. In and the DPRK’s report on women’s March, the UN Human Rights Council rights was examined by the UN adopted a resolution to pursue the Democratic People’s Committee on the Elimination of prosecution of North Korean leaders Republic of Korea (DPRK) All Forms of Discrimination Against and officials responsible for crimes Women (CEDAW) in November. The against humanity. In November, the UK 2017 saw no noticeable improvement in CRC raised concerns about child supported a UN General Assembly Third the dire human rights situation in DPRK, labour, malnutrition, violence, political Committee resolution, which called on and a continued refusal from the DPRK discrimination, and what it called the DPRK to respect the basic rights to allow the independent investigation “ideological indoctrination” in the DPRK of its people. In December, the UN of human rights violations. education system. CEDAW expressed Security Council held formal discussions The DPRK’s Constitution guarantees concerns about a broad range of on DPRK human rights violations freedom of expression, religion, speech, violations affecting women, with constituting a threat to international the press, assembly, demonstration and stereotyping and discrimination starting peace and security. association. In practice, none of these at school and continuing throughout The UK played a prominent role in the freedoms exists. The existence of LGBT adulthood. Literacy in DPRK is universal, UN Security Council decisions to impose people is simply denied. The Global and the state provides for 12 years of tough new sanctions on the DPRK in Slavery Index estimates that more than free, compulsory education at primary 2017. These included a focus on the a million North Koreans are victims and secondary levels. However, in state-controlled employment of North of modern slavery, including forced practice, there are significant class, Korean workers overseas who are sent labour. This amounts to over 4% of gender and urban-rural divides with abroad as commodities with the sole the population, the highest prevalence farming and other mandatory services aim of generating funds for the DPRK globally. Early 2017 saw the high- prioritised over school attendance, Regime. Their working conditions, speed completion of numerous flagship particularly for children over 14 years level of surveillance and restriction construction projects. These required of age. While women account for of movement are such that they are North Korean civilians and unpaid 43.8% of people aged 16 or above effectively victims of modern slavery. soldier-builders to labour manually for who received a higher education, rates Through UNSCR 2397, adopted on 22 long hours, with few health and safety decrease sharply at university level, with December 2017, all such workers will protections. Concerns were raised by vocational courses boosting female need to return to the DPRK within 24 the UN Committee on the Rights of the numbers recorded by official statistics. months. Child about the use of child labour in DPRK data from 2014 shows that only such projects. 1.9% of women aged 20-24 in rural Bilateral FCO human rights and areas are still in education. humanitarian aid projects in 2017 International incidents showed the targeted the most vulnerable in DPRK regime’s lack of respect for human DPRK authorities continued to deny society, and included support for rights and the rules-based international allegations of human rights violations the rights of the disabled, for girls’ system. US citizen Otto Warmbier died and refused to cooperate with the UN education, and for child nutrition. in June following his sudden repatriation OHCHR and the UN Special Rapporteur to the US in a coma, one year into a on the situation of Human Rights in The UK continued to use its bilateral 15-year hard labour sentence following North Korea, Tomás Ojea Quintana. relationship to press the DPRK a show trial. The DPRK maintained its rejection of government on its unacceptable human the 2014 Commission of Inquiry report, rights performance. Throughout 2017, There was continued evidence of which highlighted “wide ranging and the Ambassador and Embassy officials malnutrition countrywide. The poor ongoing crimes against humanity”. raised human rights in meetings with state of health of a soldier from the DPRK authorities continued to restrict DPRK officials in Pyongyang. FCO Korean People’s Army, who defected to countrywide access and availability of Ministers also used their meetings in South Korea over the Demilitarized Zone data to the international community, London with DPRK Embassy officials to in November, showed the inadequate including to NGO representatives. make clear our concerns. diet and healthcare received by civilians and military personnel alike. The BBC World Service launched its In 2018, the UK will continue to voice Korean language service in September. our concerns and call for the DPRK to cooperate fully with the relevant 37 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

international bodies, allowing them 2017 saw the emergence of a significant sexual violence and torture. The UK immediate and unhindered access in crisis in the three Kasai provinces with focused on long-term stability and order to assess directly the human rights reports of disappearances, mass killings peacebuilding in eastern DRC through situation in the country. and torture. The UN found nearly our contributions to MONUSCO (UN 90 mass graves in the Kasais. The Organisation Stabilisation Mission majority of the violations and abuses in the DRC), the work of DFID, and Democratic Republic were carried out by government forces programmes supported by the Conflict, of the Congo (DRC) (FARDC) and pro-government groups. Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). The UNJHRO reported that soldiers Through the CSSF, we supported The human rights situation in DRC of the FARDC killed over 750 people. respected Non-governmental continued to deteriorate in 2017. The Local militia, including followers of Organisations Avocats Sans Frontières UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) the Kamwina Nsapu movement, also and Search for Common Ground to recorded 6,495 abuses and violations committed a number of human rights educate human rights defenders and in 2017, a 25% increase from 2016, abuses. In February, footage emerged promote conflict resolution. In May, which had itself seen a substantial which seemed to show government the UK supported EU sanctions against increase from 2015. With President forces shooting unarmed civilians. nine individuals responsible for human Kabila delaying elections until December In March, two members of the UN rights violations and abuses and for 2018, there were a large number of Group of Experts investigating the obstructing the political process. reported human rights violations related situation in the Kasais were abducted to arbitrary arrests and imprisonments, The female illiteracy rate in DRC is and subsequently murdered: it is extrajudicial executions by state agents, 29%[36]. DFID funded programmes on unclear who was responsible. The and attacks on freedom of speech girls’ education to improve access and UK supported a resolution at the and expression. State officials were quality of education for more than one June session of the UN Human Rights identified as the main perpetrators, million children, including reducing Council (HRC) calling for the creation of committing nearly two thirds of all school-based violence. an international investigation into the human rights violations and abuses. allegations of human rights violations In 2018, the UK will continue to focus The deterioration of the human rights and abuses in the Kasai region. The on protecting the political space situation in DRC has resulted from the appointed investigative team will during the electoral period. We will increasingly unstable political crisis and provide an oral update at the HRC’s monitor events closely and will raise violence in the Kasai provinces and session in March 2018, followed by a any concerns over arrests, detentions eastern DRC. comprehensive report to the HRC’s June and disappearances of opposition The UK’s work in DRC focused 2018 session. and civil society figures with the DRC on protecting the political space, government. The UK will also continue UNJHRO documented an increase peacebuilding and preventing sexual its work on the Preventing Sexual of adult victims of conflict-related and gender-based violence. Instances Violence in Conflict Initiative and deliver sexual violence in 2017, with at least of human rights violations relating to a second phase of the girls’ education 533 victims. The vast majority were the restriction of democratic space, programme to support 75,000 girls. victims of sexual violence perpetrated including freedom of assembly and We will continue to encourage the DRC by combatants of armed groups and expression, significantly increased in government, as an elected member of by armed militiamen. In 2017, the UK 2017, with a reported 1,375 violations. the HRC, to take active steps to improve continued to support a more effective Nearly half of these occurred from respect for human rights. This includes legal response to sexual violence in October to December, correlating with encouraging active cooperation with conflict in DRC. One significant success an increase in political protests in the the HRC investigation into the human was the conviction in the Kavumu latter part of the year. There were a rights violations and abuses in the trial in December, when a group of number of restrictions on freedom Kasais. militiamen received life sentences for of expression, including the violent sexual abuses against over 40 children suppression of protests and political in South Kivu. The UK is also working rallies, and service providers being Egypt with international partners to complete ordered to shut down internet services. a joint evaluation of the impact of In 2017, the human rights situation There were also a significant number sexual violence programming in in Egypt continued to deteriorate. of arbitrary arrests and imprisonments. DRC. This is designed to inform more There were restrictions on civil The UK Government lobbied the DRC effective interventions by both the society and freedom of expression, government to open up the political DRC government and the international discrimination against LGBT people, and space, including by releasing political community in the future. widespread reports of torture, enforced prisoners and by respecting the right disappearances and extrajudicial to peaceful assembly, and publicly In 2017, armed groups in eastern executions. condemned government forces’ use of DRC were responsible for human excessive violence. rights abuses such as mass killings,

[36] https://www.education-inequalities.org/indicators/literacy_1524#?sort=sex%3AFemale&dimension=sex&group=all&age_ group=literacy_1524&countries=all 38

In 2017, the Egyptian authorities men’s families claimed that they had During 2017, the UK Government continued to clamp down on those who already been forcibly disappeared. consistently raised the deteriorating criticised them, further restricting the In September, Human Rights Watch human rights situation with the space for civil society. On 9 February, published a report on the widespread Egyptian authorities. The then Foreign security forces closed down the Al use of torture, which they described as Secretary, Boris Johnson, raised human Nadeem Centre for the Rehabilitation an “epidemic”. rights concerns with President Sisi of Torture Victims, shortly after the during his visit to Cairo in February. In State discrimination against LGBT release of their annual report detailing the same month, the then Minister people significantly increased in 2017. individual cases of torture and enforced for the Middle East and North Africa, Following the waving of a rainbow disappearances in Egypt. On 24 May, Tobias Ellwood, issued a statement flag at a concert in September, the President Sisi ratified an NGO law expressing concern about the closure state cracked down on LGBT people. which, if enforced, will significantly of the Al Nadeem Centre. In June, Credible NGOs reported that at least restrict NGOs’ ability to register, the then Foreign Secretary issued a 76 people were arrested within two access funding or operate freely. On statement of concern about the NGO months on ‘debauchery’ charges. 10 September, human rights lawyer law, arrests of political activists and Some have since been released. Ibrahim Metwally was detained at the blocking of news websites. The Reports emerged of the torture and Cairo airport while travelling to address Minister for the Middle East and North mistreatment of these detainees, the UN Working Group on enforced Africa, Alistair Burt, raised restrictions including forced anal examinations. disappearances. He remains in pre-trial on civil society with Foreign Minister There were also reports of police detention. The authorities prevented Sameh Shoukry and Interior Minister entrapment using online applications. several human rights defenders from Magdy Abdel Ghaffar during his visit travelling and froze their assets. The use of the death penalty increased to Cairo in August. In November, we in 2017, particularly at the end of issued a joint statement of concern The authorities further restricted the year. The death penalty was with Canada, Germany, Italy and the freedom of expression. Egypt widely applied following convictions Netherlands regarding the ongoing remained the world’s third-worst under counter-terrorism laws. Death detention of Ibrahim Metwally. We jailer of journalists, according to the sentences were routinely passed have consistently raised our concerns Committee to Protect Journalists. In on civilians in military courts. The over human rights in Egypt at the UN 2017, the authorities started to block authorities do not always publicise Human Rights Council. multiple websites. Some had been executions in Egypt, but on 26 inciting violence, but the authorities In 2018, we will continue to raise December they made public the fact also targeted legitimate news and our human rights concerns with the that 15 people had been executed after NGO websites. Shortly after the NGO, Egyptian authorities in public and in being convicted by a military court. Human Rights Watch, issued a report private, including at the HRC. Our on torture in Egypt, its website was Attacks, mainly claimed by Daesh, priorities will include civil society, blocked. Another NGO, the Association against places of worship significantly freedom of expression, political for Freedom of Thought and Expression, increased in 2017. Hundreds of detainees, extrajudicial killings, enforced concluded that 400 websites had been Coptic Christians fled North Sinai, disappearances and torture. We will blocked. Seemingly innocuous actions where the authorities battled against continue to support programmes were targeted: the police arrested an insurgency, after Daesh executed and projects designed to improve Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel Wahab Coptic Christians and issued a further the human rights situation in Egypt. after she made a negative comment threat. In April, two terrorist attacks on President Sisi has made education about the River Nile at a concert. churches killed over 40 people. In May, a key priority for his presidency; in terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying 2018, we will build on our education According to credible reports, Coptic Christians in Minya, killing 30 programme work, ensuring that it is torture, enforced disappearances and people. President Sisi announced gender sensitive, and look to identify extrajudicial executions continued a state of emergency which was targeted programmes to enhance girls’ throughout 2017. A report by the Al subsequently extended. In November, education. Nadeem Centre documented 1,042 terrorists attacked Al Rawda Mosque cases of enforced disappearance and in north Sinai, killing over 300 people. 191 incidents of torture. On 20 April, a President Sisi has regularly called Eritrea video emerged of a man in camouflage for peaceful co-existence between The human rights situation in Eritrea uniform executing two detainees; religious communities, which the UK showed no improvement in 2017. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Government welcomes. The main problems related to civil International alleged Egyptian military and political rights. The authorities involvement. The British Embassy was President Sisi declared 2017 to be restricted freedom of expression: unable to confirm the veracity of this. the “Year of the Egyptian Woman”. Eritrea is a one-party state with no In January, the Ministry of the Interior According to the 2017 census, 31% of political opposition or independent announced that law enforcement women over the age of 10 are illiterate, media. Citizens continued to be subject agents had killed ten terrorists in an compared to 21% of men. to arbitrary extension of national exchange of gunfire during a raid. The 39 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

service, a form of modern slavery. The the Eritrean Constitution, to respect to work constructively with Eritrea, right to freedom of religion or belief fully the right to freedom of religion or encouraging engagement with the was violated. Citizens suffered arbitrary belief, and to release individuals held in UPR process and OHCHR, and urging detention on religious grounds, with arbitrary detention. improved cooperation with the HRC and a lack of due process in subsequent any Special Rapporteur appointed. Severe constraints on media freedoms criminal proceedings. have resulted in the absence of This contrasts with the progress which independent media in the country. The Iran Eritrea made in 2017 on social, cultural diaspora radio station, Radio Erena, The Iranian state continued to violate and economic rights. The UK has received an award from the London- human rights during 2017. The UK supported the work of the United based charity World One Media on 6 government’s main concerns continued Nations Development Programme June, in recognition of the continued to be over frequent use of the death (UNDP) with the government of absence of a free press and media penalty, the right of women to fully Eritrea to address gender inequality in in Eritrea. The station provides an participate in society, detentions of education and wellbeing. The UNDP alternative voice through its cultural, dual-nationals (covered in more detail assess that more girls are now in school social, political and entertainment in the consular section of this report) compared with 15 years ago, and most programmes. A number of journalists and violations of the right to freedom of regions have reached gender parity and politicians remained in long-term expression and of the right to freedom in primary education. Eritrea achieved detention. Among these is Dawit of religion or belief. However, there antenatal care attendance of 98% Isaac, who was awarded the UNESCO/ were also some positive developments. of pregnant mothers, skilled delivery Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom The presidential election in May passed of 60% of births, and immunisation Prize in absentia on 31 March. without major incident (although all coverage of 95% of babies. In late October, several senior Catholic women who registered as candidates The UN Special Rapporteur on Human and Muslim figures were arrested as the were disqualified by the Guardian Rights in Eritrea, Sheila Keetharuth, was government sought to exert influence Council), and, towards the end of the continually denied access to the country over religious schools and colleges. year, a new anti-narcotics law was by the government and was therefore This led to protests on 31 October by passed, which could have a major unable to fulfil the mandate given by between 100 and 200 students, parents impact in reducing the frequency of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). and administrators from a Muslim application and use of the death penalty However, we welcome the Government school in Asmara, who were dispersed in relation to drug offences. of Eritrea’s continued cooperation by gunfire from the Eritrean security Not all executions in Iran are made with the UN OHCHR, including with forces. The UK will continue to monitor public, so it is difficult to provide an representatives who visited Eritrea closely reports of the excessive use of exact figure for them, but NGOs’ for the second year in succession, in force, of arbitrary arrests, including of estimates suggest that there were October. Despite cooperating with this minors, and of the lack of clear due between 450 and 500 executions in visit, the government gave no update process. FCO officials raised these Iran in 2017. This is slightly lower than regarding progress made on the four- issues in November with the Eritrean the figure for 2016, but still means year implementation programme agreed Ambassador to London. that Iran ranks as one of the most with the UN Development Programme On 26 June, the UK joined international prolific users of the death penalty in (UNDP) following Eritrea’s Universal partners in calling attention to the the world. This figure includes 24 Periodic Review (UPR) in 2014. prolonged detention of Patriarch public executions, a practice which The UK continued to work bilaterally Abune Antonios, the former head of usually involves death by hanging in a and with international partners in the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The public square, and three executions of the EU and the UN to press Eritrea Patriarch has been under house arrest juvenile offenders, who were under 18 to improve its human rights record. since 2007. For the first time since at the time of their arrests. Execution The UK made statements in human his detention, he was allowed on 16 of juvenile offenders violates both the rights dialogues on 14 June in the July to attend mass. However, he has International Covenant on Civil and HRC in Geneva and at the UN General not been seen in public since, and he Political Rights and the Convention on Assembly Third Committee meeting appears to remain under house arrest. the Rights of the Child, both of which in New York on 27 October. On both The European Parliament, in a resolution Iran has ratified. occasions, the UK stressed the need on 6 July[37], condemned human rights It was estimated that at least 180 of to ensure that those engaged in the violations in Eritrea and in particular the executions in 2017 were for drug- national military service system had highlighted the cases of Dawit Isaac and related crimes. In October 2017, the a clearly defined limit to their period Patriarch Antonios. Iranian parliament ratified a new anti- of service, and received financial In 2018, the UK will continue to press narcotics law which does not provide compensation commensurate to their the Government of Eritrea to improve for the use of capital punishment for duties. We also reiterated calls for the its human rights record. Alongside the majority of drugs offences. This law Government of Eritrea to implement international partners, the UK will seek

[37] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2017/2755%28RSP%29 40

could potentially reduce the number the denial of mainstream education to or belief, and gender-based violence. of people sentenced to death in Iran. followers of the Baha’i faith. Daesh was defeated territorially, It will apply retrospectively, which but the Iraqi government must now In many areas across Iran women means it could affect as many as 5,000 stabilise liberated areas to the benefit do not enjoy the same rights and prisoners on death row. The death of all Iraqis, ensuring that previous privileges as men and continue to penalty will still apply to the production perceptions of inequality do not persist, face discrimination. This ranges from and distribution of over 50kg of and that violence does not resurface. mandatory wearing of the hijab, opium, 2kg of heroin and 3kg of unequal rights in marriage, divorce and In 2017, the NGOs Human Rights methamphetamine, as well as for armed child custody to being unable to attend Watch and Amnesty International smugglers, ringleaders and financiers. sporting events. At the end of 2017 continued to report allegations of Daesh This positive news was tempered by there were protests against compulsory atrocities, including abductions, sexual the Iranian authorities’ response to the wearing of the hijab resulting in the violence, torture, the use of human protests in Iran at the end of 2017, and arrest and imprisonment of several shields, and executions, particularly in in particular by reports of deaths in women. Mosul. As more areas were liberated custody, including from torture, of those from Daesh, an increasing number Despite constitutional recognition, detained for participating. The UN High of mass graves were discovered. Christians were also increasingly Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Human Rights Watch and Amnesty harassed in Iran. In June, recent Ra’ad Al Hussein, issued a statement International also reported allegations converts to Christianity, Pastor Yousef in January 2018 stressing that peaceful of sectarian atrocities and human rights Nadarkhani, Mohammad Reza Omidi, protests must not be criminalised and abuses and violations committed by Mohammad Ali Mosayebzadeh, and highlighted reports that more than 20 elements of the Iraqi Security Forces, Zaman Fadaii, were sentenced to ten people, including an eleven-year-old Popular Mobilisation Forces, Federal years in prison. The charges against boy, had died and hundreds had been Police, and Kurdish Peshmerga. Those them included hosting house churches, arrested during the protests. allegations included torture, forced unlawful gathering, propaganda against disappearances, and the destruction There were also wider issues with the regime, and violating national of houses and of civilian property. The freedom of expression in Iran. The security by promoting Christianity. UK lobbied the Iraqi government to Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in There were also several reports of prioritise civilian protection, uphold the Iran, the late Asma Jahangir, reported Catholic property being confiscated rule of law, and ensure that all forces that, as of June, there were at least during 2017, in particular buildings acted in accordance with international twelve journalists as well as fourteen belonging to the Latin Catholic Church. human rights law and international bloggers and social media activists Primary school enrolment rates in Iran humanitarian law. We welcomed in detention. Dissent was not widely exceed 99% for both boys and girls. the Iraqi government’s commitment tolerated and the government exerted However, around 20% of adult women to conduct full and transparent some form of control over the majority are illiterate, compared with around investigations into all alleged abuses of newspapers, TV and radio stations. 10% of men[38]. and violations, and called on them to Restrictions were also in place on the make the results public. use of the internet. During the protests, In 2018, we will continue to hold Iran to and just before the Presidential elections account for its human rights record. We Although official figures on use of the in April, the authorities clamped down will support human rights resolutions death penalty are not made public, on the use of social media and, in on Iran at the UN General Assembly Amnesty International reported that some places, restricted all access to the and the UN Human Rights Council, as Iraq executed 21 people in January, internet. we did in 2017 as co-sponsors, and 42 in September and 38 in December. will continue to support the position of Those executions were for terrorism The Iranian authorities continued to the UN Special Rapporteur for Human offences or for alleged roles in mass violate the right to freedom of religion Rights in Iran. We will also work with killings. The number of people on or belief and discriminate against EU partners on the EU/Iran human death row was not clear, and the ethnic minorities. Many members of rights dialogue and aim to establish our information was not released by the religious minorities faced restrictions own regular bilateral dialogue with Iran government. We continued to condemn and discrimination for peacefully on human rights issues. and lobby against the death penalty, manifesting their beliefs. Members of urging greater transparency and due the Baha’i faith were once again subject process in line with international to persecution. In the spring, following Iraq standards. the murder of Farhang Amiri, his The principal human rights concerns murderers received reduced sentences Violations of the right to freedom in Iraq in 2017 were Daesh atrocities, because their victim was a Baha’i. of expression remained a concern, the use of the death penalty, violations The authorities continued to pursue particularly in the Kurdistan Region. We of the right to freedom of expression economic persecution of Baha’is, for received reports of detained journalists and of the right to freedom of religion example through shop closures, and by and temporary closures of think-tanks

[38] http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2017/dataexplorer/#economy=IRN 41 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

and NGOs, with those perceived and the Government of Iraq has made the second half of the year. This was as critical of the Kurdistan Regional commitments to protect the rights more noticeable following heightened Government (KRG) banned from of all Iraqis. Throughout 2017, we security measures in July at the Temple covering government and official events. discussed the challenges to freedom of Mount/Haram al-Sharif and after the US These reports worsened at the time of religion or belief with religious leaders recognition in December of Jerusalem the Kurdistan Region’s 25 September in Iraq and in the UK. We continued as Israel’s capital. Incitement has referendum on independence. The to encourage them to speak out to continued to play a negative role, authorities prohibited broadcaster Nalia condemn sectarian violence. We particularly on social media. There were Radio and Television from reporting on worked to build consensus around the persistent reports of the excessive use several official events, and a lawsuit importance of freedom of religion or of force by the Israeli security forces. was filed against its owner for initiating belief in Iraq, and of its promotion and The Hamas authorities in Gaza a campaign against the timing of the protection. For example, we continued continued to commit serious human referendum. In December, protests to fund a project to promote legal rights abuses. For example, 19 erupted in the Sulaimaniya and Halabja and social protection for freedom of death sentences were issued and six provinces of the Kurdistan Region, religion or belief in secondary schools, executions carried out. There were during which 46 cases of assaults and with the aim of strengthening the also reports that Hamas and other death threats against journalists and capacity of educators to create a Gaza-based militants were rearming media outlet closures were recorded. culture of respect for this right among and rebuilding attack tunnels. The UK lobbied bilaterally and jointly young people. In November, the Prime Approximately 30 rockets were fired with the rest of the international Minister, Theresa May, and the Iraqi from Gaza into Israel in 2017. community to raise concerns over Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, agreed violations of freedom of expression, on the important role which all Iraq’s Israel continued its systematic policy including delivering a demarche to the communities, including minorities, of settlement expansion, with the KRG. should play in the country’s future. advancement of over 10,000 housing units in the West Bank (including East Ensuring and protecting women’s In 2018, the UK will strive to ensure Jerusalem), some of which are located rights remained central to our work that Daesh is held accountable for its east of the separation barrier. On 6 in 2017. In the Kurdistan Region, the appalling human rights abuses. We February, the then Minister for the KRG undertook several awareness are working with the Iraqi government Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, issued campaigns, including on child marriage. and the UN to establish an Investigative a statement condemning the passing However, the KRG’s Directorate for Team, as mandated by UNSCR 2379, in the Knesset of the expropriation Combating Violence against Women to gather and record evidence of law, which provided for retroactive reported that gender-based violence in Daesh’s crimes. We will also express legalisation of outposts built on private the Kurdistan Region remained high, our concern about the use of the Palestinian land. In March, the Israeli in particular honour killings, burns and death penalty and advocate increased government approved the establishment early marriages. The UK will continue transparency around trials; and we will of a new settlement deep in the West to urge the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional share our position with Iraqi ministers Bank, the first such decision for over 25 Governments to implement the National on the need for progress with regard to years, which the then Foreign Secretary, Action Plan on Women, Peace and freedom of expression, gender-based Boris Johnson, publicly condemned. Security effectively. We will also press violence, and freedom of religion or for an increased and meaningful role for belief. The number of acts of violence and women in reconciliation processes and vandalism against Palestinians by elections. The Iraqi National Education extremist settlers in the West Bank rose Strategy 2011-2020 recognises the The State of Israel again in early 2017. This was despite importance of tackling gender disparity and the Occupied increased law enforcement measures by in education. The British Council, the Israeli authorities. alongside the EU, is delivering a primary Palestinian Territories Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses and secondary education programme Many human rights issues in 2017 and other structures continued in in Iraq, reaching over 26,000 schools stemmed from the Israeli Government’s 2017. 403 structures were demolished across all provinces. This project violation of international human (including 97 donor-funded structures), delivers national campaigns which rights and humanitarian law in the leading to the displacement of 653 encourage girls in rural areas to enrol context of Israel’s military occupation people, including 360 children. The in education, with a further focus on of the West Bank, East Jerusalem Minister for the Middle East, Alistair retention. The UK will continue to and Gaza (Occupied Palestinian Burt, spoke in the House of Commons support the Government of Iraq and Territories, or OPTs). There were also on 6 December about the negative the Kurdistan Regional Government to continued human rights abuses by effect of demolitions on Palestinian enable more girls to receive a quality the Palestinian Authority and by the communities. The UK supports education. Hamas administration in Gaza. After Palestinians whose homes face a decline in violence in early 2017, Freedom of religion or belief is demolition or who face eviction in Area there were spikes in hostilities during protected in the Iraqi Constitution 42

C of the West Bank through funding to infrastructure. Many also face the group attacked Brak al-Shati airbase legal aid. threat of house demolitions. on 18 May. There were also multiple reports of summary executions around We continued to seek improvements in In 2018, we will continue to work Benghazi. In August, ambassadors the overall treatment of Palestinians in towards improving human rights by to Libya of the UN Security Council detention, with a particularly focus on supporting renewed peace negotiations P5 (UK, US, France, Russia and China) minors (there were approximately 358 leading to a two-state solution with a welcomed[40] the International Criminal minors detained at the end of 2017). safe and secure Israel existing alongside Court’s issue of a warrant for the arrest Reports of ill-treatment of minors in a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. of Mahmoud Al-Werfalli, a commander detention included the use of painful We will continue to raise concerns with in the Libyan National Army, for restraints and non-notification of legal the Israeli government on instances suspected war crimes. In November, an rights. Ministers and officials have constituting a breach of international armed group kidnapped and murdered made repeated representations on this human rights and humanitarian law in Mohamed Eshtewi, the Mayor of issue and will continue to do so. The the context of Israel’s occupation of the Misrata. Israeli authorities continued to decline OPTs, including demolitions, settlement offers of expert-to-expert advice from construction, and the treatment of Thousands of migrants continued the Metropolitan Police. The UK funded children in military detention. We to enter Libya with ease, facilitated a number of human rights projects will continue to oppose human rights by traffickers who were members of on this issue, including providing legal abuses by the Palestinian Authority and Libyan militias or colluding with them. aid to minors and capacity building by the Hamas administration in Gaza. Following reports of migrants being to local lawyers. Overall, the number forced into slavery, the Minister for the of Palestinians held in administrative Middle East and North Africa, Alistair detention by the Israel authorities Libya Burt, raised our concerns with the decreased, with 437 at the end of the There were widespread violations Libyan Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed year. and abuses of human rights in 2017 Omar Maiteeq, on 1 December. The in Libya. This was a consequence of Libyan government has undertaken to In the OPTs, there was a narrowing of political divisions and the absence of conduct an investigation into this issue. the space for civil society to operate, functioning state institutions, which The matter was raised in Parliament in a and increasing restrictions on freedom gave rise to a culture of impunity. The debate on 18 December in Westminster of expression, particularly resulting from proliferation of unaccountable armed Hall, in which Alistair Burt set out the the Palestinian Authority’s adoption of a groups exacerbated the situation. This UK position. The British Ambassador restrictive Cybercrime Law. LGBT rights bleak picture was compounded by the to Libya has further underlined our remained restricted. Same-sex sexual ongoing humanitarian crisis, with over concerns about these reports in activity is largely taboo in Palestinian 400,000 people internally displaced and discussions with the Libyan government. society, though legal in the West Bank. with serious disruptions in the provision We will continue to monitor the Conversely, it is illegal in Gaza, where it of public services. A critical human situation closely. The UK is funding carries a 10 year prison sentence. rights issue was the abuse of migrants projects, bilaterally and via the EU, to Palestinian women are among the most in detention, including credible reports provide critical humanitarian assistance educated in the region, but women’s of people being sold into slavery. and protection, facilitate voluntary labour market participation rates are returns, protect female migrants from At the UN Human Rights Council among the lowest in the world – fewer abuse, and address the root causes of in March, the UK co-sponsored a than 20% of women participate in the migration. resolution on increasing accountability labour force. for human rights violations and abuses The UK provided humanitarian support Israel retained a strong civil society. in Libya. The resolution called on the to people displaced by the conflict, There was, however, a steady increase UN OHCHR to conduct investigations, including supplies and technical in pressure against certain NGOs, and for relevant special procedures support to medical centres, and particularly those critical of Israel’s mandate holders to visit. support to migrants held in detention. conduct in its occupation of the We continued to encourage the As highlighted in October by the UN Palestinian Territories. This included Government of National Accord to High Commissioner for Human Rights, critical rhetoric and restriction of their prioritise respect for universal human [39] Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, armed groups activities. rights and do more to protect the continued to murder civilians and most vulnerable such as migrants and In 2017, Israel’s Arab minority combatants or to hold them hostage. members of minority groups. During constituted about 20% of the They arbitrarily detained thousands of his visit to Libya in August, the then population. Some 100,000 Arab people, and often subjected them to Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, Bedouin citizens live in unrecognised torture and other mistreatment. One emphasised the importance of offering villages with limited access to of the worst incidents was the killing humanitarian support to migrants. government services and basic of over 100 soldiers after an extremist

[39] https://unsmil.unmissions.org/statement-un-high-commissioner-human-rights-zeid-ra’ad-al-hussein-end-visit-libya [40] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-recent-violence-around-brak-al-shatti-airbase 43 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Libya’s long-term stability will be closely In 2018, the UK will continue to threatened them with trials in absentia if linked to the extent to which women support UN-led efforts towards a they failed to return to Maldives. are able to participate in public life and sustainable political settlement under There was further evidence of a lack are both included in and represented by the framework of the Libyan Political of judicial independence with cases their government. Women and LGBT Agreement, and to advocate for an brought against the opposition. In people continued to face discrimination. improvement in the human rights March, a vote of no-confidence in The Libyan authorities, and many situation in Libya. A stable, unified, the Speaker of the Majlis was marked traditional elements in Libyan society, inclusive government is the best way by irregularities and manipulation of view women’s rights as a secondary to improve the security conditions, due process. In July, the authorities priority. Although quotas for women the economic fortunes and human shut down the Majlis and removed have helped ensure a growing role for rights situation for millions of Libyans. several opposition MPs attempting women in the political process, the It will also improve our ability to bring to vote on a further impeachment increasing numbers have not translated an end to the impunity of armed motion against the Speaker. The proportionately into influence, in part groups and ungoverned spaces which authorities subsequently stripped because of cultural obstacles. Violence are inextricably linked to the gravely twelve parliamentarians of their against women is underreported, but concerning human rights situation, seats. By-elections for those seats several high-profile incidents of rape including people trafficking as part of have yet to be held, in contravention provoked strong public reactions. modern slavery. of the constitution. The opposition Libya continues to be a focus country subsequently boycotted the Majlis, in the UK’s National Action Plan on but major pieces of legislation were Women, Peace and Security. The UK Republic of Maldives nevertheless passed by the Majlis. government is funding a £2.75 million The human rights situation in Maldives programme to support women’s continued to deteriorate throughout The police arrested leading opposition participation in peace-making and 2017, with the ongoing erosion of parliamentarians Gasim Ibrahim and rebuilding Libya through capacity- political and civic freedoms and an Faris Maumoon on numerous charges, building training for over 20 Libyan civil increase in the intimidation of human in April and July respectively. In August, society organisations. rights defenders and journalists. a court sentenced Gasim Ibrahim to The UK is working with the Ministry three years’ imprisonment for bribery, There was an increase in violent threats of Education on areas such as national despite procedural irregularities, while and intimidation against human rights curriculum reform and teacher training. Faris Maumoon remained in prison defenders and NGOs, in particular on remand, awaiting trial. Other Insecurity and the predominance of against those advocating for freedom opposition parliamentarians also faced illiberal currents had a chilling effect of religion or belief. Human rights harassment, arrest and detention. on freedom of expression, association, activist and blogger, Yameen Rasheed, The police raided opposition party assembly, and religion or belief. For was murdered in April, after receiving offices. In May, the Supreme Court example, Salafist and Jihadist armed numerous online threats. The UK, EU gave itself the authority to restrict groups destroyed Sufi shrines across and the UN OHCHR made statements parliament’s powers to dismiss the country. Libya’s national minorities condemning the murder and calling ministers, judges and other members of continued to suffer persecution on the Government of Maldives to independent institutions, with all votes and political exclusion on religious take action to defend the right of all of no-confidence and impeachment and ethnic grounds. Human rights people to express their views freely. proceedings subject to Supreme Court defenders, journalists and civil society In November, the police launched an review. organisations also regularly faced investigation into another prominent intimidation and violence from armed human rights defender, Shahindha Concerns over the politicisation of groups as well as unlawful detention. Ismail, after accusations that she was independent public bodies continued. advocating for freedom of religion. In September, the Department of The UK sought to raise international Judicial Administration suspended awareness of unlawful restrictions State authorities put independent 56 lawyers for signing a letter to the of the Libyan people’s fundamental media and civil society under Supreme Court calling for judicial freedoms, including in our joint sustained pressure. In the first actions reform. Some of the suspensions were Human Rights Day Statement[41] on taken under the 2016 Defamation subsequently lifted. In November, 10 December with other embassies and Freedom of Speech Act, an President Abdulla Yameen sacked to Libya. Through the Conflict, independent television station, Raajje the chair of the National Integrity Stability and Security Fund, we funded TV, was repeatedly fined for allegedly Commission (NIC), which oversees law programmes in Libya to support peace defaming the president by broadcasting enforcement bodies, after he threatened mediation and local level stability, live coverage of speeches made at to take action against the police for women’s rights, civil society and opposition rallies. Among other cases, obstructing the NIC’s investigations. In freedom of speech. the police summoned several Maldivian December, the Government of Maldives bloggers resident overseas and banned locally elected representatives

[41] https://www.facebook.com/ukinlibya/posts/1719470281459914 44

The UK supports Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) Maldives in their work to help Maldivian women have a greater voice and role in society. ARC Maldives also works with boys to help them be more supportive of women’s empowerment. from meeting representatives of the Maldivian government to reverse one percent of women who achieved international organisations and its decision to reintroduce the death an educational certificate go on to diplomats without central government penalty. attain a bachelor’s degree or above, permission. and only 32% of women are in formal The UK continued to fund civil society employment, compared with 68% of In a positive development, significant projects focusing on gender equality, men. efforts by the Government of Maldives human rights, and building civil society’s to tackle modern slavery led the US election monitoring capacity. In In June, 35 countries signed a UK- State Department to remove Maldives February, the then Minister for Asia and sponsored Joint Statement on Maldives from its Trafficking in Persons watch the Pacific, Alok Sharma, met Maldivian [42]at the UN HRC. The Statement drew list. Traffickers were convicted under Foreign Minister Mohamed Asim at attention to the increasing curtailment the Maldives’ anti-trafficking law for the the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) of freedom of expression and the first time since Maldivian ratification (in in Geneva, and reiterated the UK’s growing intimidation and violence September 2016) of the UN Protocol to concerns over a range of governance towards human rights defenders, Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking and human rights concerns in Maldives. including by those promoting violent in Persons Especially Women and In March, the UK expressed concern extremism. It also stressed the Children. and called for transparent parliamentary importance of allowing legitimate procedures following the vote of no- political opposition and ensuring The Government of Maldives has confidence in the Speaker of the Majlis. judicial independence. In October, continued to state its intention to the European Parliament adopted a reintroduce the death penalty after a The Government of Maldives has resolution which criticised violations moratorium of more than 60 years, announced a ‘no child left behind’ of human rights and actions contrary and it was reported that work on an policy, and that the country is the first to democracy and the rule of law in execution facility has been completed. nation in the region to provide 12 years Maldives. The then Foreign Secretary, Boris of compulsory education and 14 years Johnson, wrote to President Yameen of free schooling for all students. In In 2018, the UK government will in August to raise concerns and to 2017 the UNFPA’s Thematic Analysis continue to support human rights encourage a continued moratorium. on Youth in the Maldives noted that defenders, and will work with our The UK opposes the use of the death there is gender parity in enrolment and international partners to press the penalty in all circumstances as a matter completion of primary and secondary Government of Maldives to restore of principle, and will continue to urge education. At tertiary level fewer than democratic freedoms including free and

[42] UNHRC Joint Statement, 35 Session: Item 2 on June 7th 2017: To ensure independence of the Judiciary. 45 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Over 15 Million children, including 6.9 million girls, have benefited from DFID support to education reforms in Pakistan since 2011. fair presidential elections scheduled for January, five bloggers went missing allegedly making blasphemous remarks 2018. The UK will continue through after criticising state institutions and on social media, the first time that the public and private messaging to make religious groups. Reports of further death penalty has been imposed for clear to the Government of Maldives abductions and of the intimidation blasphemy on the internet. In October, our concerns over the erosion of of journalists, activists and political hate speech in the National Assembly democracy and human rights. party workers followed. In May, the against Ahmadiyya was condemned by government introduced new restrictions political leaders, but restrictions on their on online freedoms and the media’s ability to vote and worship remained. Pakistan ability to operate. In December, a There were recurrent reports of forced The main human rights issues in number of international NGOs had their conversions and forced marriages of Pakistan in 2017 were restrictions on applications to renew their registrations Hindu and Christian women. On the freedom of expression, intolerance denied without explanation, and other hand, parliament in February towards and discrimination against were told to cease operations by the passed the Hindu Marriage Act, religious and other minorities, violations Government of Pakistan. strengthening the rights of members of of the rights of women and children, Pakistan’s second largest minority and Discrimination and violence against the prevalence of modern slavery, and particularly of Hindu women. members of religious minorities the use of the death penalty. Pakistan increased, especially against Ahmadiyya There was an increased number of strengthened laws aimed at protecting and Christians, but also against Hindus, major terrorist attacks against civilians the rights of members of religious Sikhs and Shia Muslims. Misuse and and faith targets in Pakistan. Although minorities, female voters and vulnerable abuse of the blasphemy laws were the majority of terrorist attacks targeted children, and at the provincial level took frequent. For example, in April a the security forces, other notable steps to tackle child labour. These were student was murdered following an incidents included attacks against Sufi positive developments, but it is vital accusation of committing blasphemy. shrines in Sindh and Balochistan, Shia that Pakistan moves to ensure full and The Supreme Court later found areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a effective implementation of such laws the claim to be false. The National Methodist church in Balochistan. The and policies. Assembly called for reform of the downward trajectory of terrorist attacks Freedom of expression and the ability blasphemy laws, but the legislation since 2014 continued, with a total of of civil society to operate came was not changed. In June, a Shia a little under 400 terrorist incidents under increased pressure in 2017. In Muslim was sentenced to death after leading to around 1,000 deaths in 2017. 46

Discrimination and violence against of prisoners without trial and of minorities, human trafficking and the women and girls remained widespread. extrajudicial killings by the security death penalty. We supported projects Pakistan ranked 143rd out of 144 forces. to promote tolerance and religious countries cited in the World Economic freedom, and to improve capacity in LGBT people continued to face violence Forum 2017 Gender Gap Index, provincial human rights ministries. and discrimination. In a positive move, with 33% of women over 15 having Through DFID, the UK helped nearly a new category of ‘third gender’ was experienced physical violence, female one million Pakistani children attend introduced for transgender persons literacy at just 49% and low levels school, including through specific applying for ID cards. of women’s political representation. programmes to enable more girls to Education is enshrined as a right Education is enshrined as a right in the receive a quality education. in the Constitution of Pakistan but Constitution of Pakistan but only 51% In 2018, we will support projects to girls make up just 38% of children in girls are enrolled in school according improve citizens’ awareness of their government-run schools and 40% to the Government of Pakistan. Girls’ constitutional rights and to promote of those enrolled at private schools. enrolment has increased from 36% acceptance and tolerance of cultural Despite stronger laws to protect women to 39% from 2014 to 2016 and the diversity. Our Conflict, Stability and from violence, including from ‘honour number of girls out of school has Security Fund will continue to help to killings’, enforcement remained weak. fallen by more than 1.6 million since strengthen democracy and human In October, the Elections Act 2017 was 2012. The Government of Pakistan has rights institutions, and to improve passed, which will support greater committed to spending 4% of GDP on the capacity of the justice system to participation of women in general education by 2020. It currently spends be more accountable to citizens. We elections due to take place in 2018. about 3%. welcome the continuing efforts by the Modern slavery, including bonded and Since 2011, over 15 million children government, including by the Attorney child labour, continued to be a major in primary and secondary school General, to monitor implementation problem. The Global Slavery Index – including 6.9 million girls – have of international treaty commitments. estimated that Pakistan has the third benefited from DFID support to We will continue to encourage highest number of modern slaves in the education reforms. The UK government Pakistan to take the necessary steps world. A high profile case illustrated the is investing in better-trained teachers, towards meeting in full its international problem: the media reported that a ten- improved textbooks, better data and obligations on human and labour rights, year old domestic servant was regularly assessment, and improved infrastructure in line with the EU review of Pakistan’s beaten by her employer, the wife of a with an increasing focus on the most performance against 27 UN and ILO judge. The UK welcomed legislative marginalised communities. DFID’s conventions within the EU Generalised and policy reforms undertaken by the education programme in Pakistan Scheme of Preferences Plus framework. Government of Punjab with support exceeded £175 million in 2017/18. from UNICEF and DFID to combat child Through DFID, the UK helped nearly 1 labour, including child labour surveys million Pakistani children attend school Russia to generate evidence of exploitation, including specific programmes to enable The human rights situation in Russia better access to child protection more girls to receive a quality education. deteriorated further in 2017, notably services, improved case management The Government of Pakistan continued with regard to discrimination against systems, and greater birth registration to support human rights institutions, and persecution of LGBT people, the to support minimum age employment including the National Commissions right to freedom of religion or belief, laws. for Human Rights and for the Status of and the right to freedom of expression. Pakistan retained the death penalty Women, which contributed positively to The environment for LGBT people in the for 27 separate offences. Fewer monitoring the human rights situation North Caucasus is extremely hostile. In executions took place in 2017 than in in Pakistan. In September, parliament April, reports emerged that up to 100 the previous two years: the Human passed legislation establishing a homosexual men had been detained Rights Commission of Pakistan National Commission on the Rights of and tortured by state authorities in estimates that 44 prisoners were the Child. Chechnya, and that at least three had executed, compared with 87 in 2016 The UK continued to urge the been killed. The UK was one of the and 333 in 2015. However, particular Government of Pakistan to improve the first countries to express concern. On concerns remained over prisoners with human rights situation for all its citizens. 28 April, the then Foreign Secretary, mental and physical illnesses on death British ministers raised concerns about Boris Johnson, co-signed a letter to row. In March, parliament approved human rights, including the rights of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urging the continued use of military courts to women and of people belonging to an investigation into the reports. The try terrorism suspects. These courts minorities, modern slavery and the Russian Human Rights Ombudswoman, lack transparency and are not subject death penalty, during visits to Pakistan Tatiana Moskalkova, agreed to to independent scrutiny, making it in 2017. At the UN Universal Periodic investigate, but the process stalled difficult to assess their compliance Review of Pakistan in November, we amid further reports of persecution with international obligations. There pressed Pakistan to take action on throughout 2017. The Minister for were ongoing reports of the detention the protection of people belonging to Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan 47 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Duncan, raised our concerns with Prime Minister, Theresa May, called the in the human rights situation there, Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov decision a “retrograde step”, adding including intimidation of members of on 8 December, and the then Foreign that the move “sends out absolutely civil society organisations. Freedom Secretary pressed Foreign Minister the wrong message on what is a global of movement was curtailed further, Lavrov in Moscow on 22 December. problem”. with the closure of the Meore Otobaia UK officials continue to monitor the and Nabakevi crossing points on the In addition to the human rights abuses situation and to work closely with NGOs Abkhazia Administrative Boundary Line within Russia, the Russian Government which are supporting victims. (ABL) in March. Access to land remains continues to sanction and commit a challenge for farmers along the South In April, the Russian Supreme Court human rights violations beyond its Ossetia ABL. Education in the native declared Jehovah’s Witnesses to be borders, including in the illegally language was further restricted in South an “extremist organisation”, in effect annexed Crimea and by its support to Ossetia, while new identity document criminalising the worship of 175,000 separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Russian requirements in Abkhazia infringe civic Russians. The organisation was formally authorities operating in the peninsula rights. In June, we supported the banned on 17 August. The Minister continued to target ethnic minority Georgian UN Human Rights Council for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad of groups, particularly Crimean Tatars, with resolution requesting access for the UN Wimbledon, condemned the decision, many exiled or imprisoned, and with OHCHR and the UN General Assembly and called on the Russian government regular raids on homes and mosques. resolution on internally displaced to uphold its international commitments The authorities failed to implement the persons. to religious freedom. The British International Court of Justice’s April Embassy in Moscow attended court provisional measures requiring Russia The UK will continue to support human hearings. to refrain from discrimination against rights in Russia in 2018. Together the Tatars. Those opposed to the with our international partners, we Freedom of expression and peaceful illegal annexation also faced arrest and will attend trials, speak out on human assembly remained heavily restricted detention under fabricated charges of rights, support civil society and human across Russia. On 26 March, hundreds extremism. The release of Tatar leaders rights defenders specifically, promote of citizens, including journalists, were Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov the importance of girls’ education detained following peaceful protests. in October was positive, but many and press Russia to adhere to its On 12 June, peaceful protesters were Ukrainian political prisoners remained in international commitments. again arrested in large numbers. The detention, including some transferred then Foreign Secretary on 13 June outside Crimea to prisons in Russia. In called for their release. December, we supported a resolution at The ‘Foreign Agents’ and ‘Undesirable the UN General Assembly calling again Organisations’ laws continued to for Russia to uphold its obligations constrict space for civil society; in under international law in Crimea, and 2017, four foreign donors were to allow access for international human designated ‘Undesirable Organisations’. rights monitors. While the number of ‘Foreign Agent’ In eastern Ukraine, the UN estimated NGOs dropped in 2017, this is partly that by December the Russian-backed because many NGOs have either conflict had cost over 10,000 lives stopped accepting foreign funding and had displaced internally almost or have changed their focus; 47 have one million people. Russia continued ceased operations entirely. There to violate its commitments under the are now around 500 human rights 2015 Minsk Agreements by supplying organisations in Russia, compared weapons and personnel to separatist with 800 in 2014. On 25 November, forces. Summary executions, sexual President Putin extended the ‘Foreign and gender-based violence and Agents’ legislation to media outlets. restrictions on freedom of speech Independent media continue to face were carried out with impunity by threats, harassment and intimidation. Russian-backed separatists. It remained On 7 February, President Putin approved extremely challenging for humanitarian a bill decriminalising domestic violence. organisations to gain access. There This made battery within families an were widespread concerns that damage administrative offence, equivalent to caused by the conflict to infrastructure minor assault. Repeated offences or could cause a major environmental abuse resulting in “serious” medical disaster. harm are still considered as criminal. Increased Russian pressure in the On 8 February, the then Minister for breakaway regions of Georgia, Abkhazia Human Rights, Baroness Anelay of St and South Ossetia, led to a deterioration Johns, condemned the decision. The 48

Saudi Arabia visited Saudi Arabia in November to Saudi Arabia to encourage greater follow up on this work and to press for freedom of religion and belief. There were some positive reforms the removal of remaining barriers for in Saudi Arabia in 2017, including There was a deterioration in freedom women to access sports in Saudi Arabia. around the participation of women in of expression and freedom of the society, as well as positive messages According to statistics issued by the press in Saudi Arabia in 2017. The around freedom of religion and belief. Saudi Press Agency, confirmed by UN raised concerns about a pattern However, there was a deterioration in NGOs, Saudi Arabia executed 146 of arbitrary arrests and detention of freedom of expression and we continue people in 2017 (c.f. 154 in 2016)[44]. religious figures, writers, journalists, to have concerns about implementation The death penalty was ordered, and academics and political activists and the of the death penalty and the treatment executions carried out, for a wide range use of counter-terrorism legislation to of migrant workers. of offences. Four people were executed prosecute human rights defenders. UN for offences related to protesting experts have written to the government There have been some improvements against the authorities. We continued of Saudi Arabia asking for more detail in the rights of women in Saudi Arabia. to express to the Saudi authorities on the charges. The highest profile reform came with at the most senior levels our strong the Royal Decree in September which In 2017, Saudi Arabia signed the Prime opposition to the death penalty. The permitted women to obtain driving Minister’s Call to Action on Modern UK, together with our EU partners, also licences from June 2018. Other reforms Slavery and drew up a national action continued to press for a reduction in in favour of women’s participation plan to combat human trafficking. death sentences and executions, for the in society included the opening up However, the sponsorship system in application of EU minimum standards, of more professions to women; the Saudi Arabia remains vulnerable to and for implementation to be consistent removal of restrictions on women abuse and exploitation of migrant with the provisions of Article 6 of the entering courts with their faces workers. International Covenant on Civil and uncovered; and allowing women to Political Rights In Saudi Arabia education is free at enter stadiums and to participate in all levels, including public universities, public events such as Saudi National In July, there were media and NGO and compulsory up to the age of 15. Day in September. From May 2017, all reports that a group of 14 Shia men The Kingdom has made significant Saudi government departments, as well were due to be executed imminently, investments in education in recent as education and health institutions, and that two of the group, including years. More than 50% of those who have been required to ensure that Mujtaba al Sweikat, were under 18 at go on to university are women. The guardianship requirements are not the time of allegedly committing their challenge now facing the Kingdom is being imposed upon women in excess offences. The Minister for the Middle translating these educational outcomes of those still required in law. While all East, Alistair Burt, set out our position into increased female labour market of these are steps in the right direction, on the death penalty in parliament on participation. The UK is currently many restrictions still remain, including 14 July. The UK government raised running projects in Saudi Arabia the requirement for women to obtain these cases with the Saudi authorities at supporting the introduction of PE permission from a guardian to apply ministerial and senior official level and classes for girls; and building capacity, for a passport, travel abroad, or marry. we continued to monitor the situation skills and international research links for Female labour force participation closely. As of the end of 2017, these early career female researchers in STEM. remains low at just 21%[43] but Vision executions had not been carried out. 2030, Saudi Arabia’s economic reform In 2018, we will continue to focus our There were positive messages from the programme, aims to increase this to efforts on identifying opportunities Saudi authorities regarding tolerance of 30%. to work with Saudi Arabia and NGOs religious minorities and on freedom of to encourage further steps towards The Prime Minister, Theresa May, visited religion and belief. It remains illegal to allowing women to participate fully in Saudi Arabia twice in 2017 and raised practise publicly a religion other than society. We will continue to focus on concerns about human rights, including Islam in Saudi Arabia, with penalties the application of the death penalty the death penalty, in her meetings with including imprisonment. In October, when not consistent with international senior Saudi figures. With Princess the Crown Prince Mohammed bin minimum standards. We will continue Reema bint Bandar, the then Vice Salman commented publicly that he to raise specific cases at a senior level Minister of Sport, the Prime Minister wanted Saudi Arabia to return to “a with the Saudi Arabian authorities, and discussed how important it was for moderate Islam open to the world and to monitor closely the situation relating all Saudi citizens to be able to access all religions”. A delegation from Saudi to freedom of religion or belief, and sports and leisure and they agreed to Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs freedom of expression. work together on efforts to increase the travelled to the Vatican to meet the participation of women in sport. Tracey Pope in November. We will continue Crouch, Parliamentary Under Secretary to look for opportunities to work with of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage,

[43] WEF The Global Gender Gap Report [44] See Annual Human Rights Report 2016 49 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Prime Minister Theresa May and President Farmajo of the Federal Government of Somalia at the London Somalia Conference, 11 May 2017. Theresa May gave a speech about the importance of building a stable and prosperous future for Somalia.

Somalia among the Somali National Army, organisation, al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab national intelligence agencies and was responsible for the attack in The human rights situation in Somalia forces of the African Union mission Mogadishu on 14 October which killed remained challenging in 2017, with in Somalia (AMISOM), perpetuating at least 512 people – Africa’s most continuing violations of the right to life a culture of impunity. Much of our deadly terror attack to date. including extrajudicial killing; gender- engagement with the AMISOM based violence; the exclusion of women Somalia retains the use of the death mission, so vital to Somalia’s security and members of minorities from penalty. We continued to call on the and wider stability, concentrated on political, economic and social processes; Federal Government of Somalia to human rights protection, while our and restrictions on journalists and introduce a moratorium on its use. wider work in Somalia was considered media freedom. Overall, human rights carefully to avoid contributing to any Despite tentative progress, Somalia was protections and domestic mechanisms human rights violations. In May, the one of the worst places in the world to in the country remained extremely London Somalia Conference set out a be a woman in 2017. Two decades of weak. The UN OHCHR documented range of commitments by the Federal civil war have left a legacy of extreme violations and abuses, including Government of Somalia and the levels of violence against women and arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and international community in support of girls. Prevailing social norms legitimise extrajudicial killing by a range of state stability and security in the country. female genital mutilation and cutting, and non-state actors. In 2017, severe This included respect for and the which is nearly universal, including drought caused the displacement of protection of human rights. The UK in Somaliland. Women and minority over 900,000 people, restricting many continued to train Somali security forces groups continued to be excluded from people’s access to adequate food, in international human rights standards. economic, social and political networks housing and security, and exacerbating In response to reports by UN bodies – a problem exacerbated by the Somali gender-based violence. and following UK training, the Somali clan system. Somalia has one of the The UK played a major part in National Army took important steps to world’s highest proportions of primary- international efforts to strengthen prevent the recruitment of children into age children out of school, with 51%[45] security, stability and the rule of Somalia’s security forces. In December, of girls not in school. The female law, which are required to underpin the UN Secretary-General reported a illiteracy rate is 76%. A tiny minority stronger human rights protections. sharp increase in the recruitment of of teachers are women. DFID’s girls’ There remained a lack of accountability children by the proscribed terrorist education challenge supports 53,000

[45] https://www.education-inequalities.org/countries/somalia#?dimension=sex&group=|Female&year=latest 50

marginalised girls through improved additional social stigma, illustrating the High levels of sexual and gender-based access to education, better quality intersections of the forms of severe violence continued to be a hallmark teaching and life skills training. discrimination which women and girls of the conflict. A report in November face in Somalia. by the Global Women’s Institute[46], Child, early and forced marriage funded by DFID, found that up to 65% continued to occur, but some evidence In 2018, the UK will support Somalia of women and girls living in conflict- suggests that it may be declining. Up in implementing the vision set out in affected zones had experienced physical to 80% of those internally displaced by the New Partnership for Somalia and and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. conflict and drought were women and endorsed at the London Conference ‘Intimate partner violence’ remained children, exacerbating their vulnerability. in May 2017. Supporting security the most common form of violence Early action to respond to drought, forces to provide protection and reported by women and girls and led by the UK, helped to avert famine security for citizens across Somalia, conflict exacerbated this. Armed men and saved many lives. While the while developing the rule of law and used rape to terrorise communities, as parliamentary elections of 2016 had effective accountability for perpetrators victims were often disowned by their seen progress in the representation of violations and abuse, will remain families and communities. Most citizens of women (an increase from 14% to a top priority. The UK will work with who were victims of sexual violence 24%, albeit missing the ambitious the newly formed Human Rights had no recourse through the courts to 30% target), in Somaliland there is Commission, parliament and other seek justice or to hold perpetrators to only one female parliamentarian and Somali institutions to strengthen human account. no women at all in the upper house. rights awareness and compliance, not Throughout 2017, the UK worked least with regard to strengthening the The conflict had a particular impact with female parliamentarians, political promotions of gender equality and on children. The recruitment of leaders, civil society activists and Federal media freedom. children as soldiers continued to be Government institutions to strengthen common, despite commitments by the voices of women and to promote some commanders to end the practice. awareness of gender equality in policy South Sudan UNICEF estimated that armed groups making and public decision making. The human rights situation in South recruited 19,000 children, while an The UK also led work with AMISOM, Sudan deteriorated in 2017, against the estimated 900,000 were suffering the Federal Government and Federal backdrop of continuing and widespread from psychosocial distress.[47] The Member States to deliver tailored conflict, and of the erosion of justice UN Commission on Human Rights gender training in the security sector and accountability mechanisms. The said that UNICEF’s figures probably to improve protection for vulnerable targeting of civilians on the basis of underestimated the extent of grave women and girls. The political their ethnic identity, the pervasive use of violations which children endured. environment in much of Somalia rape, the recruitment of child soldiers, Children also continued to be severely remained restrictive, particularly for the displacement of civilian populations, affected by South Sudan’s refugee crisis, women and members of minority and the clamping down on freedom accounting for 63% of all refugees from groups – acutely so in areas under al- of expression, all continued. In March, the country in 2017. 53% of girls are Shabaab control. the UN Commission on Human Rights not in primary education[48] and recent in South Sudan reported a significant estimates suggest female literacy rates In Somaliland, presidential elections increase in gross human rights violations are less than 20%. Through the Girls’ held in November led to the peaceful and abuses, committed by all parties, Education in South Sudan programme, transfer of power. UK-funded election and warned that ethnic cleansing was the UK supports over 3,600 schools to monitors judged them to be largely underway. deliver basic education, helping to keep free and fair. A UK-supported voter up to a quarter of a million girls in class. registration process encouraged broad Human rights abuses and violations participation. However, for most occurred alongside a rapidly South Sudan slipped to 145th out of of 2017 journalists across Somalia – deteriorating humanitarian situation: by 180 cited in the World Press Freedom including in Somaliland – continued to September, six million South Sudanese Index, published annually by Reporters face significant restrictions, arbitrary people (56% of the population) lacked Without Borders. The authorities closed detention and, in some areas, the sufficient food. In November, the UN down media organisations, blocked possibility of assassination. The use reported that the Government of South websites, and subjected journalists of criminal law and the intelligence Sudan was using food as a weapon of to harassment and violence. Nine agencies to prosecute journalists using war, and was deliberately preventing journalists have been killed in South broadly defined national security lifesaving assistance from reaching its Sudan since 2011, most recently in concerns further curtailed freedoms and citizens. With over four million people August, when US journalist Christopher encouraged self-censorship. Female displaced, the conflict is driving the Allen was killed during fighting between journalists continued to experience largest refugee crisis in Africa. government and opposition forces.

[46] https://www.rescue-uk.org/sites/default/files/document/1580/southsudanlgsummaryreportonline.pdf [47] https://www.unicef.org/southsudan/UNICEF_South_Sudan_Report_Childhood_under_Attack_15Dec_FINAL.pdf [48] http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=edulit_ds 51 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Over the last year, the Media Authority Democratic Socialist Prime Minister, Theresa May, at the UN has enforced the registration of media General Assembly in September. houses and journalists. The charges Republic of Sri Lanka In January, the Cabinet rejected a levied for the registration of media 2017 saw limited progress in the move, spearheaded by civil society, to houses appeared to be set arbitrarily, human rights situation in Sri Lanka. decriminalise homosexuality following and were often beyond the means of There were particular concerns around opposition by some members of the smaller community stations with lower inter-communal tensions and the government and by some conservative incomes, further reducing the space slow delivery of key human rights and religious groups. Although there in which the media operated. South reconciliation commitments, including have been no recent prosecutions for Sudanese media continued to self- delays in introducing new human rights homosexual acts, members of the censor following years of repression. compliant counter-terrorism legislation LGBT community face harassment and Most well-trained journalists have left and in the Office of Missing Persons discrimination in society. Supported by the industry or the country as a result of becoming operational. UK funding, the 13th Colombo Pride harassment by the authorities. There were a number of allegations Week was held successfully in June. UK policy focused on maximising that the security forces continued to There was progress on legislative the chances of success for the resort to torture, including in reports reforms and improving institutional and renewed peace process, led by the published by the Sri Lanka Human policy frameworks designed to prevent Intergovernmental Authority on Rights Commission, by the UN Human discrimination against women. This Development (IGAD). Without progress Rights Council (HRC) Special Rapporteur included the finalisation of the National in this area, there is little hope for on Torture, Nils Melzer, and by the HRC Human Rights Action Plan (2017-21) and improvements in the dire human Special Rapporteur on the promotion the introduction of a quota for female rights situation. A major diplomatic and protection of human rights and candidates in local elections. There achievement in December was the fundamental freedoms while countering are continued concerns around issues signing of an agreement to a Cessation terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin. Work affecting gender equality, including of Hostilities by all parties to the continued on a draft Counter Terrorism discriminatory laws and policies, access conflict, following the first round of Act, intended to replace the much to justice, marginalisation of war- peace talks. Nevertheless, fighting criticised Prevention of Terrorism Act, affected women, and violence against continued across the country. but the government failed to advance women. Civil society continued to call the new legislation through parliament. Achieving a stable South Sudan which for the reform of the Muslim Marriages protects human rights will be an Civil society and journalists continued and Divorce Act, which does not incremental process. In 2018, the peace to report concerns about surveillance stipulate a minimum age of marriage for process will remain our key priority, and harassment in the north and east of women of the Muslim community. 3.6% without which an improvement in the the country, albeit at a lower level than of Sri Lanka girls are not in primary human rights situation is inconceivable. in previous years. Military involvement school compared to 1.8% of boys[49]. We will continue to work closely with in civilian life in the north reduced, and In January, the then Foreign Secretary, our Troika partners (the US and Norway) the military released approximately 550 Boris Johnson, met former Foreign to give the process the best chance acres of private land. Minister Mangala Samaraweera. of success, and to encourage IGAD to Communal tensions increased, with They discussed constitutional reform, take strong action against those who incidents of violence and intimidation HRC resolution 30/1, the repeal and seek to derail it. We are considering against Muslims and Evangelical replacement of the Prevention of how the UK government can best Christians. The Government of Sri Terrorism Act, and accountability and lend support to IGAD to achieve this Lanka established inter-religious reconciliation issues. The Minister for important aim. We will also continue to committees to address the issue, and Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, visited urge the Government of South Sudan committed to hold to account those Sri Lanka in October. He emphasised and the African Union to expedite responsible for inciting violence. the UK’s support for reconciliation the establishment of much needed and accountability, and urged greater accountability and justice mechanisms, The International Organization for progress towards delivering the including the Hybrid Court for South Migration assessed that human commitments made to the HRC. Sudan. It is also vital that evidence of trafficking remained common within the violations and abuses is preserved for large numbers of Sri Lankans migrating In March, the OHCHR published its use in a future court of law, so that the for employment, with men, women and assessment of Sri Lanka’s progress in the perpetrators of these crimes can be held children being trafficked for labour and implementation of HRC resolution 30/1. to account. Through initiatives such as commercial sexual exploitation. The While acknowledging positive steps DFID’s Girls’ Education South Sudan Government of Sri Lanka established taken, the report described progress programme we will continue to support new anti-trafficking units in order to towards establishing transitional justice longer-term development efforts. help address the issue and endorsed mechanisms as “worryingly slow” and the Call to Action to end Modern noted reluctance by the government Slavery which was announced by the to address difficult issues. The UK

[49] http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2017/dataexplorer/#economy=LKA 52

welcomed the Government of Sri to engage with the international While there is freedom to worship, Lanka’s co-sponsorship of a new HRC community on human rights issues, the broader restrictions on religious resolution 34/1, rolling resolution 30/1 state continued to restrict freedom of freedom in Sudan continued. Arbitrary commitments over for another two expression and freedom of religion or rules on acceptable clothing and years. The UN Special Rapporteur belief, and to carry out the arbitrary restrictions in Khartoum State on on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, detention of political and human opening days for Christian schools Reparation and Guarantees of Non- rights activists. Although the impact remained a concern. The Archbishop of recurrence, Pablo de Greiff, visited Sri of conflict on civilians continued to Canterbury’s visit to Sudan in July was Lanka in October. His report concluded diminish, government and government- a focal point in efforts to encourage that the Government of Sri Lanka affiliated forces continued to violate the government to ensure that citizens was making slower progress than and abuse human rights with impunity enjoyed the right to freedom of religion hoped on transitional justice issues, in conflict-affected areas. Sudan’s 2.7 or belief. and questioned its commitment to million internally displaced persons We continued to work with the a comprehensive transitional justice remained particularly vulnerable to Government of Sudan to tackle programme. violations of their rights. 18%[50] of girls forced labour and people trafficking. are not in primary school and around Sri Lanka had its Universal Periodic Throughout the year, there were 42% of girls over 15 are illiterate. Review at the HRC in November. The a number of reports of sexual and UK recommended that Sri Lanka should The international community continued gender-based violence by state and design and implement strategies to focus on the humanitarian situation, non-state actors on the borders and to tackle sexual violence; mandate with 4.8 million people in need of in conflict areas, and the UN High companies to ensure supply chain assistance. The implementation of Commissioner for Refugees reported transparency as part of efforts to government directives improved the forced deportation of 66 Eritrean combat human trafficking; and take humanitarian access, and we continued trafficking victims. We will continue to steps to implement the Optional to encourage the government to ensure provide support to victims of trafficking, Protocol to the Convention against full access for humanitarian actors, as including through supporting safe Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or well as for the UN/African Union Hybrid houses and judicial procedures relating Degrading Treatment or Punishment Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). to trafficking cases. (OPCAT), following its ratification earlier Following a marked decrease in the The UK government engaged in November. The Government of Sri seizure of newspapers by the security extensively on human rights with the Lanka made a voluntary commitment services in the first half of the year Government of Sudan and with human to designate the Human Rights (confiscation of three print-runs), more rights activists throughout 2017. We Commission of Sri Lanka as the national than 30 print-runs were confiscated in continued to press for progress on a preventive and monitoring mechanism the second half of 2017, the majority range of issues, including the peace to fulfil OPCAT obligations. in December. Sudan continues to be process, freedom of association and The UK is providing £6.6 million from ranked 174th out of 180 countries cited expression, freedom of religion or belief, the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in the World Press Freedom Index. and gender equality. We expressed (2016-19) for projects in Sri Lanka, We worked with the international concern about the proposed new laws including support for police reform, community to identify the implications on freedom of the media and NGOs. demining, inter-faith dialogue and of the draft media law on the plurality Our staff attended several trials of mediation, and support for the UN’s of media ownership and on Sudan’s human rights defenders, and we raised Peacebuilding Priority Plan. vibrant media scene, as well as on individual cases, in public and in private. freedom of expression on the internet. We worked constructively with the In 2018, the UK will continue to Government of Sudan to make progress encourage progress on human rights Arbitrary arrests and the summoning in a number of these cases. issues, including modern slavery, gender of political activists and journalists inequality including girls’ education, continued throughout the year, with Our project work promoted human and reform of discriminatory laws. The multiple reports of torture and ill- rights in a number of respects, UK will also continue to press for the treatment by the Sudanese authorities including on rule of law in conflict release of private land occupied by of these detainees. We continued to areas, promoting women’s and the military or the payment of suitable urge Sudan to implement its Universal marginalised groups’ voices in the compensation to landowners. Periodic Review and National Dialogue peace and other processes and recommendations regarding reform of parliamentary strengthening and the National Security Act, to ensure that capacity building for political parties. Sudan the national intelligence and security We worked with international partners There was little overall improvement services conform to international to secure a mandate renewal for the in the human rights situation in Sudan human rights standards. We urged Independent Expert on Sudan, Aristide during 2017. While the government full accountability for all human rights Nononsi, at the UN Human Rights demonstrated an increased willingness violations. Council in September, and urged the

[50] https://www.education-inequalities.org/countries/sudan#?dimension=sex&group=|Female&year=latest 53 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Government of Sudan to address the have now been destroyed. Almost medical consultations, 10 million relief recommendations in his report, as 30%[51] of girls are out of school. The packages, and 10 million vaccines. We well as encouraging Sudan’s future lack of protection of civilians was a also co-hosted the Brussels conference engagement with the UN system and major factor in new displacement; in April to support Syria and the region. international community on human between 113,000 and 442,000 people The COI reported that local truces, rights issues. We are working with were newly displaced per month in which ended some sieges, led to the partners to strengthen the legal 2017. According to a UN needs analysis, regime forcibly displacing thousands framework at national and state level 97% of communities reported one or of civilians, and either detaining or for the prevention of female genital more protection issues, ranging from conscripting others. mutilation and cutting, although lack of civil documentation (reported progress at the national level has been in 83% of communities) and keeping There were several reports of chemical delayed. children out of school in order to work weapons attacks by the regime and (82%) through to sexual violence (27%) by Daesh. The Joint Investigative In 2018, we will continue to push and kidnapping/abduction (24%). Mechanism of the UN and the for systemic change to improve the Organisation for the Prohibition of human rights situation in Sudan. This NGOs and the UN also expressed Chemical Weapons concluded that will focus on freedom of expression concern about heavy civilian casualties an attack in Khan Sheikhoun in April, and association and greater political during the campaign by the Global which killed around 80 people and inclusion, particularly the freedom for Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces injured hundreds, was carried out by political parties to organise ahead of the to liberate Raqqa from Daesh control. the Syrian regime using sarin – the elections scheduled for 2020. We will The Coalition takes seriously all reports fourth chemical weapons attack it maintain pressure on the Government of civilian casualties and investigates has ascribed to the regime. The EU of Sudan to recognise the constitutional all claims. We have not seen any added more regime-linked names to its rights granted to all Sudanese citizens, evidence that the RAF caused civilian sanctions listings in 2017 for their role to reform its intelligence and security casualties in Syria in 2017 but the UK in the use of chemical weapons. In service, to maintain progress on conflict and Coalition continue to take seriously February and April, the UK co-drafted resolution, and to improve humanitarian and investigate all reports of civilian and co-sponsored draft UN Security access. We will support Sudan in its casualties. Council resolutions condemning the use accession to international human rights The regime used sieges, and blocked of chemical weapons, but Russia (twice) treaties, particularly the Convention humanitarian aid and medical and China (once) vetoed their adoption. against Torture. evacuations to force opposition fighters There were continued reports of to surrender. By the end of 2017, widespread and systematic use of nearly 3 million people were living in Syria arbitrary detention, torture and besieged and hard-to-reach areas. This execution of detainees, predominantly There was no improvement in the dire included almost 400,000 besieged by by the regime, which is estimated to human rights situation in Syria. The the regime in Eastern Ghouta, where have detained tens of thousands, but continuing conflict gravely hindered the UN reported that almost 12% of also by Daesh and some armed groups. efforts to protect human rights and children under five were suffering from NGOs reported that Kurdish forces have there were numerous allegations of the acute malnutrition. The regime denied, also arbitrarily detained and tortured most egregious human rights violations or only approved with conditions, 73% people. and abuses. The Syrian regime was by of UN inter-agency aid convoy requests far the primary perpetrator of human in 2017. The UK lobbied in support of A number of organisations reported rights violations, but Daesh and some UN Security Council resolution 2393 to that sexual violence, especially against armed groups also committed many ensure the continuance of cross-border women and girls, but also against men human rights abuses. humanitarian aid deliveries to almost and boys, was widespread, particularly There were also allegations of breaches 3 million people. The UK continued by pro-regime forces during house of international humanitarian law. to disburse the £2.46 billion which searches, at checkpoints, and in Many civilian areas, including some we have pledged in humanitarian aid detention facilities. Daesh and some in areas supposedly subject to de- in response to the Syria crisis. We are armed groups also reportedly used escalation agreements, were subjected at the forefront of the humanitarian sexual violence. The UK has allocated to disproportionate and indiscriminate response to the Syria crisis, providing £29 million since 2013/14 to the UNFPA aerial bombing and artillery life-saving support to millions of Syrians, in Syria, including for projects to help bombardment, mainly by pro-regime supporting refugees to remain in reduce and mitigate gender-based forces, resulting in heavy casualties. The countries in the region, and enabling violence. We have also provided over UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) found their host communities to accommodate £9 million in direct support to gender- that pro-regime forces’ intentional them. Since 2012, across Syria and related projects in Syria. These projects targeting of medical facilities amounted the region, UK support has delivered will document and raise awareness of to war crimes. One in three schools over 27 million food rations, 12 million sexual violence, and provide support to its victims.

[51] http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2017/dataexplorer/#economy=SYR 54

Much of the territory held by Daesh HRC, and to support organisations whom he offered UK support. The in Syria was retaken during this working on accountability and assisting British Embassy is providing help to period. However, where it retained victims. We will also continue to set up her office, working through control, Daesh continued to detain support UN mediation to negotiate a the UN Development Programme people arbitrarily, carry out summary long-term political settlement to end (UNDP). As part of the National Human executions, impose severe corporal the conflict. Rights Action Plan, the UNDP, with punishments against those perceived support from the British Embassy, to transgress its rules, conscript civilians organised training for the judiciary in forcibly, and use civilians as human Turkmenistan implementing international standards of shields. Daesh also held captive In 2017, there were continued justice. enslaved Yazidis. allegations of torture and poor NGOs outside Turkmenistan continued A UN protection needs analysis reports prison conditions, and no visible to call for information on over 80 that 83% of assessed communities improvement in gender equality, people taken into detention, the cited lack/loss of civil documentation freedom of expression, of religion or majority of whom were detained 15 as an issue. Respondents mentioned belief, of speech and of movement, years ago. In March, the EU asked the consequences of restrictions of or in the rights of those belonging Turkmen government to re-examine movement, inability to register life to minorities, including LGBT people. some of the cases raised ahead of events, housing/land/property-related The presidential election did not the Human Rights Dialogue in 2017 transactions and access to humanitarian offer voters a meaningful choice of together with some new cases, and assistance as main consequences of not candidates. Human rights defenders received a written response covering a having official/government-issued civil continued to operate largely from small number of the individuals listed. documentation. outside the country. Few contacted The EU further urged the Turkmen foreign embassies for fear of reprisals government to ratify the International The UK continued to support by the authorities against them or Convention for the Protection of All accountability for human rights abuses their families. Turkmenistan has signed Persons from Enforced Disappearance. and violations. We led action in the UN many of the international conventions The Turkmen government continued Human Rights Council (HRC) on Syria, on human rights and has incorporated to deny the use of torture, but has yet including the thrice-yearly resolutions their requirements into law, but to ratify the Optional Protocol to the on the human rights situation in Syria, implementation remains poor or non- Convention Against Torture. In January, and co-sponsored the UN General existent. foreign ambassadors in Ashgabat, Assembly Third Committee resolution. including the British Ambassador, visited The UK contributed £200,000 towards The Turkmen government appointed the women’s prison in Dashoguz. the start-up costs of the International, Yazdursun Gurbannazarova as Human Despite repeated requests, permission Impartial and Independent Mechanism Rights Ombudswoman in March for a was not granted to visit the Ovadan to assist in the investigation and five-year term of office. In September, Depe detention centre where many prosecution of those responsible for the the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) political prisoners are said to be held most serious crimes under international approved a Turkmen declaration and where NGOs allege that prisoners law committed in Syria since March linking participation of refugee teams are tortured. In a traditional gesture 2011. This is in addition to our in the Olympics to the protection of of goodwill, the president pardoned continuing funding for the collection of refugee rights, a positive response to a some 3,400 prisoners to mark national evidence. Turkmen initiative to strengthen their engagement with the HRC. However, holidays in February, June and October. In 2016/2017, the UK supported over we regret that Turkmenistan did The OSCE held a seminar in May to 350,000 children (50% girls) to access not participate in the OSCE Human discuss how the Turkmen government formal education inside Syria and over Dimension Implementation Meeting, could bring its media legislation into 80,000 (50% girls) to access non-formal and we encouraged them to resume line with its OSCE commitments and education. In addition, in 2017 we participation in 2018. international standards. There remains, published the Education and Gender however, no independent media in report which analysed the barriers During his visit to Ashgabat in May, Turkmenistan, and the state prohibits which women, girls, men and boys the Permanent Undersecretary of the sale of foreign publications. The face in accessing school and jobs in State (PUS) at the FCO, Sir Simon authorities block most social media, education. This has informed how McDonald, raised human rights directly including Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin we approach inclusion through our with Foreign Minister Raşit Meredov, and WhatsApp, and many internet sites. education programme, including under who assured him that Turkmenistan the joint CSSF/DFID/EU funded Syria is in the process of implementing its NGOs outside Turkmenistan continued Education Programme (2018-2021). new National Human Rights Action to report the persecution of religious Plan. The PUS confirmed that the UK groups and the arrest and torture in In 2018, the UK will continue to would continue to engage and support prison of those accused of Wahhabism. highlight the appalling human rights Turkmenistan on human rights. The The embassies of EU Member States situation and to press for accountability PUS was the first senior foreign visitor in Ashgabat, in company with the through the UN Security Council and to call on the Ombudswoman, to 55 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

embassies of Canada, Norway and reform. Using project funding, we will prison sentences during the year. the US, raised concerns regarding the continue to support the human rights However, challenges remain. We obstacles still faced by religious groups work of UNDP and the OSCE, as well have concerns over the legal process seeking legal registration. as local NGOs where possible, focusing followed and treatment in custody of on the implementation of the National journalists arrested in the autumn and The state further curtailed freedom Human Rights Action Plan, improving accused of attempting to overthrow of movement in 2017. During the the judicial system, and supporting the the constitutional system. Widespread months before the Asian Indoor and Ombudswoman’s office and gender allegations continued to be made of Martial Arts Games, the authorities equality. torture in custody, so we welcomed the banned vehicles registered in other law introducing CCTV into holding cells, parts of the country from entering the and the presidential decree making capital. They closed the border to all Uzbekistan evidence obtained through torture or foreign visitors except those holding There were positive developments in harassment inadmissible in court. accreditation for the Games. For Uzbekistan in 2017, which have the security reasons, they forced residents Freedom of religion or belief remains potential to improve significantly the to leave flats overlooking the site until a sensitive issue. Uzbekistan permits wider human rights environment in the the Games were completed and no the practice of officially registered country. provision was made for their housing religions. However, registering new elsewhere. Restrictions remained in In 2017, Uzbekistan re-engaged with religious groups or groups in new place on vehicles from outside the city international human rights bodies. In locations remains a challenging and and surrounding Ahal province. May, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein became opaque process, in effect criminalising the first ever UN High Commissioner those who practise their religion outside The incumbent president, Gurbanguly for Human Rights to visit Uzbekistan. state-sanctioned structures. President Berdimuhamedov, won the presidential Subsequently, there was a visit by Mirziyoev has called for greater election on 12 February with 97.69% Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special tolerance, support and rehabilitation of the vote. The OSCE / Office for Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion of individuals formerly charged with Democratic Institutions and Human or Belief. The authorities followed up radicalisation and of their families. In Rights Election Assessment Mission these visits, engaging with the UN on August, the government stated that reported that the elections had taken prison reform, freedom of religion or it had removed from a ‘black-list’ place in a strictly controlled political belief, torture, media freedom, civil the names of approximately 16,000 environment with a lack of genuine society, gender equality and labour individuals, many previously accused of opposition and transparency. They also reforms. The leading international religious extremism. noted serious irregularities in the voting human rights NGO, Human Rights process, with a rigidly constrained State authorities continued to harass Watch, was also invited back to the media giving the incumbent a clear some human rights defenders (HRDs), country, and was received at a senior advantage. but have also begun to meet HRDs level. Following these very welcome directly to discuss their concerns, for Data on girls’ education is not readily high-level and high-profile exchanges, example on labour issues connected available in Turkmenistan. According to there now needs to be consistent to the cotton harvest. The highly UNESCO statistics in 2014, girls had an implementation of tangible reform. restrictive Ministry of Justice Order almost equal share to boys in primary During 2017, the government began 177 on procedures regulating NGO and secondary education with a ratio to reform the criminal justice system, activity remained in force. The of 0.97%. We believe the practice of focusing on protecting the rights of authorities permitted small-scale keeping girls from school is decreasing individuals. Since this series of reforms demonstrations. They also initially and we are not aware of any disparity was announced, a conviction for allowed an unauthorised demonstration in performance between girls and boys. religious extremism was successfully of at least 200 people in Tashkent, The British Embassy has supported appealed and a judge was dismissed protesting against police inaction over gender equality projects promoting for not following due process. We the death of a student, to go ahead. the rights and empowerment of welcomed progress on prison reform, However, the organisers were later rural women run by international particularly releases of a number of sentenced, in a closed hearing without organisations and local NGOs. We will high-profile prisoners whose detentions legal representation, to administrative consider support for a UNFPA project had been politically motivated, including detention of 10 and 15 days. empowering teenage girls in rural areas Rustam Usmanov, Muhammad Demonstrations on the anniversary of in 2018. Bekjanov, Erkin Musayev, A’zam the events in Andijan in 2005 took place In 2018, we will continue to work Farmonov, Sali Abdurakhmanov, A’zam unchallenged. closely with the EU and other like- Turgunov, Mamatkhanov Ganikhon In 2017, Uzbekistan continued to minded countries represented in and Muhammadali Karabaev. There work on the Decent Work Country Ashgabat, as well as bilaterally, to also appeared to be a reduction in Programme for 2014-2016[52]. We raise human rights concerns with the the practice of arbitrarily extending followed the work of the ILO and World Turkmen government and to press for

[52] http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/program/dwcp/download/uzbekistan.pdf 56

Bank in this area. Higher prices for accreditation of foreign journalists was an estimated 1.4 to 3.2 million. UNHCR cotton and higher wages for the pickers slow. We continued to hear from a reported that the number of Venezuelan led to better conditions in the cotton variety of sources about the harassment asylum-seekers increased from 34,200 harvest. We received credible reports of families of Uzbek journalists working in 2016 to 52,000 in 2017. of schools, universities and hospitals overseas. In March, Venezuela accepted 193 in several regions being required During 2017, the British Embassy and noted 81 recommendations out to provide workers for the harvest, expanded its programme supporting of the 274 it had received from 102 although there were fewer such reports progress on human rights and good countries during its Universal Periodic after President Mirziyoev referred to the governance. We funded projects Review at the UN Human Rights issue in his speech to the UN General on promoting the rule of law, prison Council in November 2016. The UK’s Assembly in September. Human rights reform, press freedom, media plurality recommendations on outcomes- activists and embassies conducting and women’s rights (including based political dialogue and enhanced independent monitoring of the harvests education reform, empowerment and cooperation with the UN OHCHR were found the authorities less obstructive preventing domestic violence), and we not accepted. than in previous years. actively monitored developments in Political violence soared in Venezuela, On gender equality and women’s the area of labour reform, including the especially between April and August rights, the Uzbek government has cotton harvest. when there were sustained protests taken measures to address the issue In 2018, we will continue to prioritise against the government. An OHCHR of suicides among young women support for Uzbekistan’s reform report published in September and the high incidence of domestic programme, media development and reported at least 124 deaths and the violence. The Women’s Committee plurality. We will also continue to arbitrary detention of more than 5,000 has drafted a National Action Plan address adult involuntary labour, and individuals during the protests. Patterns to fulfil the obligations under the will support the empowerment of of ill-treatment were reported, in some Convention on the Elimination of women. cases amounting to torture. OHCHR all forms of Discrimination against also highlighted that more than 600 Women for Uzbekistan’s 2018 Universal civilians had been tried at military courts Periodic Review. Primary and secondary Venezuela for offences including treason, rebellion education are compulsory and free and theft of military equipment, of charge for both boys and girls. The human rights situation in Venezuela following anti-government protests According to UNICEF the literacy rate deteriorated markedly in 2017. A between April and July 2017. is 99.98% for women and 99.99% for wide range of civil and political rights men. Government policy is to support violations, against a backdrop of Protests started following two rulings gender parity in education. reduced access to food and healthcare, by the Venezuelan Supreme Court at were issues of particular concern. the end of March. By these rulings, the Consensual sexual activity between Supreme Court gave itself new powers people of the same gender remains The economic crisis, with hyper- to exercise the legislative powers of illegal and LGBT people in the country inflation and continuing shortages of the National Assembly and to restrict continue to face discrimination and food and medicines, severely reduced the parliamentary immunity of MPs. homophobia. the capacity of Venezuelans to meet their basic needs. According to The opposition declared this an attack President Mirziyoev promised significant Caritas International, the Global Acute on the autonomy of parliament. The reforms to the political system. He Malnutrition Index, which measures the Supreme Court announcements publicly held government officials to percentage of children under the age of provoked strong international reactions, account and introduced elections for five with acute to severe malnutrition, including from the UK and the EU. local government leaders. However, stood at 15.6% in November. Medical On 1 May, President Maduro called freedom of association was still and pharmaceutical associations for a Constituent Assembly to rewrite restricted, in effect preventing the reported a sharp increase in cases of the Venezuelan Constitution. He said formation of credible, independent malaria, diphtheria, measles, and a that the Constituent Assembly would opposition parties. lack of medication. Criminal violence transform the state and bring about There was growing freedom of remained a serious problem. One peace, dialogue and elections. On 30 expression. President Mirziyoev has local NGO, Venezuelan Observatory of July, despite internal and international pushed the media to become more Violence, estimated more than 26,000 criticism, a vote took place to select the critical and analytical, but traditional violent deaths in 2017. UNESCO figures members of the Constituent Assembly. media has been slow to modernise, suggest that nearly 50% of girls are not The opposition dismissed it as a and self-censorship is rife. By contrast, in primary education. fraudulent process and did not take part online and social media provided an The International Migration Laboratory in the vote. Several countries, including increasingly popular means to speak of the Simon Bolivar University the UK and EU member states, refused out. Media stations were encouraged calculated that the number of to recognise the Constituent Assembly, to use content from international Venezuelans living overseas doubled and called for negotiations to ensure a news agencies, but progress on the between 2015 and 2017, growing from lasting solution to any disagreements. 57 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

Following the election, the Constituent Future, Venezuela, and the inaugural the importance of freedom of religion Assembly took on a supra-constitutional meeting of the Business Forum of or belief both publicly and in our authority, taking away legislative the Venezuelan Alliance for Women’s engagement with parties to the conflict. capacity from the National Assembly. It corporate leadership. UN and NGO reports highlighted the replaced the Prosecutor General who The deteriorating humanitarian situation continued recruitment of child soldiers had spoken against the government is likely to have increased Venezuelans’ by all parties in Yemen. Economic during the protests, and ordered the vulnerability to modern slavery, deprivation and the breakdown of electoral authorities to call for overdue particularly to neighbouring countries the education system rendered young gubernatorial and municipal elections (including islands in the Caribbean). males especially vulnerable. There before the end of the year. These practices include sex trafficking were anecdotal reports of families Despite having no constitutional (especially of women, girls and LGBT), sending their children to fight in order powers to write laws, on 8 November, domestic servitude and forced labour. to generate much-needed income. The the Constituent Assembly passed a UNICEF Resident Representative said In 2018, the UK will continue to focus Law against Hatred, which imposed that the organisation had verified 2,369 on concerns over the erosion of political further restrictions on media outlets cases of child recruitment between freedoms and the adverse impact and political parties. The Special March 2015 and January 2018 in of the social and economic crisis, Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Yemen. including modern slavery, girls’ access of the Inter-American Commission on to education and women’s rights, with Yemen was last among the countries Human Rights, Edison Lanza, said that a special focus on eliminating violence cited in the 2017 World Economic the law would fuel repression and self- against women and girls. Forum Global Gender Gap report. The censorship. The NGO Freedom House breakdown of the rule of law meant ranked the internet in Venezuela as “not that there was limited recourse for free”. The Venezuelan press workers’ Yemen victims of gender-based violence or union reported a total of 498 violations The human rights situation worsened abuse. A 2017 UN report highlighted to freedom of expression during 2017, in Yemen in 2017. The conflict child marriage as a particular concern, an increase of 26.5% compared with undermined the rule of law, leaving estimating that 52% of women marry 2016. Venezuela continues to lack few mechanisms to protect human before the age of 18, and 14% before legislation and policies to protect LGBT rights. The main issues were women’s the age of 15. The report said that the communities, and impunity for hate rights including girls’ education, the desperate need of many families for crime is high. recruitment of child soldiers, arbitrary income had exacerbated the problem. In November, the EU Foreign Affairs detention, and attacks on freedom of Through the Conflict, Stability and Council unanimously adopted a religion or belief and on freedom of Security Fund (CSSF), we supported UN sanctions regime on Venezuela. The speech and association. The de facto Women to increase Yemeni women’s EU expressed its concerns about the Houthi authorities in northern Yemen, capacity to influence political and lack of respect for and erosion of the Government of Yemen and a conflict actors and their inclusion in the democratically elected institutions, number of non-state militias across the peace process, political dialogue and violations of human rights and country allegedly committed a wide local peacebuilding initiatives. fundamental freedoms, and the urgent range of human rights violations and Arbitrary disappearances and the use needs of the population that affected abuses. The UN reported that 13,520 of torture were common across Yemen. their rights such as the right to food and civilians had been killed or injured since In northern Yemen, there were regular to health. April 2015, and that over two million credible reports of kidnapping being people had been displaced. The UK maintained dialogue on human used as a political tool. In December, rights with diverse actors. In May, The right to freedom of religion or belief the Houthis reportedly imprisoned the then Minister for Human Rights, was denied in several areas. Members hundreds of General People’s Congress Baroness Anelay of St Johns, visited of the Baha’i faith faced persecution, members without proper judicial Caracas and held meetings with senior including arrest and imprisonment. The process. In the liberated areas, government representatives, including UN Human Rights Council resolution there were credible reports from the the then Foreign Minister, Delcy on Yemen in September called for Associated Press and from Human Rodríguez, in which she encouraged the immediate release of all Baha’i Rights Watch of the use of secret respect for civil and political rights detainees. There were credible reports prisons. There is no reliable process for all Venezuelans, including the alleging that the de facto Houthi for inquiry into detainees held at these holding of free and fair elections. She authorities in northern Yemen had facilities. also met the National Assembly’s tortured Baha’i detainees. In the Freedom of speech was curtailed Board, as well as representatives of liberated areas of southern Yemen, across the country. There were reports civil society organisations and high- there were reports that three teenagers that the Houthis arrested dozens of profile human rights defenders. In in Aden accused of atheism had been journalists in Sana’a. There were also March and November, we organised murdered. The UK lobbied for the reports of beatings and killings. Yahya two major events: Women of the release of Baha’i detainees and raised Al Jubeiha, a journalist, was sentenced 58

to death in April in Sana’a. Human Zimbabwe The ongoing economic crisis left rights defenders were also under citizens without access to cash as threat. The Houthis arbitrarily detained In 2017, the human rights situation banks struggled to honour deposits. prominent activist Hisham Al Omeisy in in Zimbabwe remained serious. The Anecdotal evidence indicated that Sana’a for five months with no access to human rights monitoring group children in low income areas were a lawyer or to his family. The UK spoke Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) recorded increasingly vulnerable to sexual out publicly about the need to respect 1,852 human rights violations, 20% exploitation because of the economic journalists and freedom of expression. fewer than in 2016. This continues a situation. Child rights groups reported long-term trend of slow improvement that girls aged between 12 and 17 had The death penalty is used in Yemen. In since the extensive government- been engaging in prostitution along August, there was a credible report of a sponsored political violence in 2008. major highways and in some poor public execution in Sana’a for an alleged Incidents included politically motivated neighbourhoods of Harare. Despite a violent crime. Consensual sexual intimidation, discrimination, harassment ban in 2015, child marriage remained relations between people of the same and assault, violent policing, arbitrary common. In June alone, 40 cases were gender remain illegal in Yemen and arrests and torture. Following a military reported in Mbire District. Gender- are subject under the law to the death intervention, Emmerson Mnangagwa based violence was also a common penalty in some cases. was sworn in as president on 24 problem. There is near gender parity As part of our commitment to November, marking the end of Robert of schooling until secondary level improving the overall human rights Mugabe’s 37 years in power. where there are 5 boys for every 4 situation in Yemen, the UK negotiated Politically motivated intimidation girls. Pregnancy and/or early marriage and agreed the UN Human Rights occurred throughout 2017. The account for 18% of total female drop- Council (HRC) resolution which was National Constitutional Assembly outs and financial pressure accounts adopted in September. The resolution alleged that ZANU-PF members for a further 46%. In response, the UK mandated the creation of a panel of assaulted its candidate and agent in a supported Camfed’s Zimbabwe Girls’ experts to conduct an independent by-election in Bikita West in January. Secondary Education project which investigation into the human rights In October, ZANU-PF supporters provided 40,374 girls with bursaries and situation in Yemen. reportedly assaulted supporters of the complementary support. In 2018, the UK will continue to lead Movement for Democratic Change – Periodically, small-scale urban street international efforts to end the conflict Tsvangirai (MDC-T) mobilising voter traders had their wares confiscated and and restore the legitimate Government registration in Chitungwiza. Factional destroyed by the local authorities with of Yemen. A stable political settlement disputes within ZANU-PF resulted in the assistance of government security is the only way to provide the intra-party intimidation and violence. forces. Many local authorities failed to conditions necessary to improve the There were incidents of violence along provide basic services, including safe human rights situation. While the ethnic lines in the MDC-T also, as rivals drinking water and sanitation. There conflict continues, we will continue to clashed over alliance building with other were multiple reported incidents of road urge all parties to protect civilians and parties. traffic accidents caused by aggressive respect international human rights and The authorities continued to use the use by the police of metal spikes to humanitarian law. The UK will work distribution of food aid for political stop vehicles in order to extort money. with the UN OHCHR to increase the ends, including after the inauguration However, police roadblocks largely capacity of Yemeni bodies to investigate of President Mnangagwa. In May, the disappeared following the military and to prevent human rights violations Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission intervention in November. and abuses. deployed teams to Gutu, Zaka and LGBT people faced discrimination, DFID provided £112 million in aid Bikita West to investigate alleged cases. family disownment, displacement from to Yemen for 2016/17, including The authorities imposed more stringent lodgings, unfair labour practices, arrest programmes supporting internally conditions on opposition demonstrators and harassment by police, blackmail displaced persons, education and than on supporters of the ruling ZANU- and bullying on social media. A the protection of civilians. The UK PF party. Several planned opposition court sentenced one LGBT person to provided £205 million in aid to Yemen demonstrations were banned, and at 18 months in jail for “inappropriate for 2017/18, making us the second- least two opposition political meetings conduct”. largest donor to the UN Humanitarian were interrupted by Zimbabwe Republic The state continued to fail to enforce Appeal for Yemen and the third-largest Police. property rights effectively, and court humanitarian door to Yemen overall. In orders were frequently ignored. The 2018, we will continue to use the CSSF The state continued to limit freedom of farms owned by the Connolly and to support additional activity to increase expression. The authorities responded Rankin families remained occupied the role of women in local governance to perceived criticism of former President Mugabe by arresting two in violation of court orders. The and peacebuilding. journalists and several activists and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission charging them with insulting the office is investigating allegations of human of the president. rights violations by government officials 59 Human Human Rights Rights and and Democracy Democracy: The: The 2017 2017 Foreign Foreign & Commonwealth& Commonwealth Office Office Report Report

The UK is helping clear minefields in Zimbabwe, making it safer for children to get to school. during the eviction of villagers from a miners resulted in assaults, injuries and education and to improve the electoral farm seized by former First Lady, Grace the deaths of ten miners. environment ahead of the 2018 Mugabe. elections, including through public During the military intervention which education and access to biometric voter Elections will take place on 30 July led to former President Mugabe’s registration. The UK welcomed the 2018. Opposition groups and civil resignation, the ZNA arrested, detained president’s openness to international society organisations have campaigned and reportedly tortured government observation of the elections. for a broad set of electoral reforms officials and politicians. ZNA personnel including reform of the Electoral Act. were responsible for 36% of the In 2018, the UK will continue to call on The new government indicated its violations recorded by ZPP in December. the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold intention to do this before the elections. the rule of law and human rights, During 2017, the Embassy met Thanks to a UK funded court case, and to encourage all Zimbabweans activists, democracy campaigners, 300,000 citizens previously denied the to exercise their democratic rights, parliamentarians and political leaders right to register to vote – because their including through free, fair and credible from across the political spectrum to residency status described them as elections, under the protection of the encourage engagement, dialogue and a “aliens” – won the right to do so in an 2013 Constitution and international more open society, respecting the rights extended voter registration exercise. of all the people of Zimbabwe. human rights law. Civil society organisations raised The UK supported a £30 million multi concerns about the militarisation of donor programme through DFID state institutions. Conflict between and the FCO Magna Carta Fund to the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), improve access to justice, to promote Zimbabwe Republican Police and artisan media freedom, to support girls’ 60