Human Rights & Democracy Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report 2019

Human Rights & Democracy

The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Cp 273 Office Report

Human Rights & Democracy The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty

July 2020

Cp 273 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

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Cover images: A photojournalist documenting war and conflict, and a male photojournalist in a war zone. (iStock) Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Contents

Preface by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab...... iv

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

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

Democracy and Democratic Freedoms...... 2 Westminster Foundation for Democracy...... 2 The Community of Democracies...... 3 Civil Society...... 4 Freedom of Expression...... 4 Human Rights Defenders...... 4 Restrictions of Civil Society Space...... 5 Media Freedom...... 5 Gender Equality...... 8 Women and Girls’ Rights...... 8 Girls’ Education...... 8 Violence against Women and Girls...... 9 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI)...... 10 Women, Peace and Security...... 11 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse...... 12 Children and Armed Conflict...... 12 Rights of the Child...... 12 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Rights...... 13 Freedom of Religion or Belief...... 14 Post-Holocaust Issues...... 16 Modern Slavery...... 16 Human Rights and the Private Sector...... 17 Business and Human Rights...... 17 Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights...... 18 Private Security Companies...... 18 Responsible Sourcing of Minerals...... 18 The Kimberley Process...... 18 Transparency and Open Government...... 18 Death Penalty and Torture Prevention...... 19 Overseas Security and Justice Assistance...... 20 Export Controls...... 20 Migration and Human Rights...... 21 Economic and Social Rights...... 21 Women’s Economic Empowerment...... 21 Rights of People with Disabilities...... 22 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Rights of Older Persons...... 22 Right to Health...... 22 Water, Sanitation and Land...... 23 Social Protection...... 23 The Overseas Territories...... 23 Human Rights and Democracy Programmes...... 24 Case studies of programme work supporting human rights and democracy...... 25

CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System...... 26

Human Rights at the UN...... 26 Human Rights Council...... 26 Country issues...... 27 Thematic issues...... 28 Universal Periodic Review...... 29 Treaty Monitoring Bodies and Special Procedures...... 29 Appointment of International Human Rights Ambassador...... 29 Security Council...... 29 UN Reform...... 30 Responsibility to Protect and Mass Atrocity Prevention...... 30 Peacebuilding...... 30 Peacekeeping...... 30 Commonwealth...... 31 Human Rights Institutions...... 31 Social and Political Inclusion...... 31 The Role of the Commonwealth...... 31 Europe...... 31 European Union...... 31 The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe...... 32 Council of Europe...... 32 International Criminal Justice...... 33 Sanctions...... 34

CHAPTER 3: Consular Assistance...... 35

Consular cases...... 35 Death penalty...... 35 Torture and mistreatment...... 35 Overseas detainees...... 35 Forced marriage...... 36

CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries...... 37

Afghanistan...... 37 Bahrain...... 38 Bangladesh...... 39 Burundi...... 40 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Central African Republic...... 41 China...... 41 Colombia...... 43 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)...... 43 Democratic Republic of Congo...... 44 Egypt...... 45 Eritrea...... 46 Iran...... 47 Iraq...... 48 The State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories...... 48 Libya...... 49 Republic of Maldives...... 51 Myanmar...... 52 Pakistan...... 52 Russia...... 53 Saudi Arabia...... 55 Somalia...... 55 South Sudan...... 56 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka...... 57 Sudan...... 58 Syria...... 59 Turkmenistan...... 60 Uzbekistan...... 61 Venezuela...... 62 Yemen...... 63 Zimbabwe...... 64 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Preface by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

As I write, the coronavirus pandemic has magnified and exacerbated some of the world’s greatest challenges, including to human rights and democracy. But one thing is clear: the UK remains committed to being a force for good in the world, with democracy, human rights, and the international rule of law acting as our guiding lights.

As outlined in this report, 2019 saw which emphasised the important of In September, we will be merging some notable successes. I announced freedom of religion or belief for all. the Department for International the UK’s intention to introduce our Development and the Foreign and We will remain leading voices in the own autonomous human rights Commonwealth Office, placing our multilateral institutions that work to sanctions regime, giving us the power world-class aid programme at the uphold human rights, democracy, to impose sanctions, with asset freezes beating heart of our foreign policy and the rule of law. We will stand and visa bans, on those involved decision-making. The new Foreign, for election to the Human Rights in the most egregious violations Commonwealth and Development Council. And we are supporting and abuses of human rights. Office will be a chance to tackle the UK candidate, Judge Joanna the world’s greatest challenges in Alongside the Canadian government, Korner QC for judicial elections to a modern and innovative way. the UK hosted the first Global the International Criminal Court. Conference for Media Freedom, bringing We will also be conducting the biggest In 2020, we will carry on our vital together participants from over 100 review of British foreign, defence and consular work, assisting tens of countries. We also launched the Media development policy since the end of the thousands of British people around Freedom Coalition to safeguard media Cold War. This strategic review, now the world. We remain committed freedom in participating countries, and ongoing, is aimed at bringing the UK’s to fighting forced marriage, encourage it in others around the world. strengths and expertise to bear on the discrimination and the death penalty. world’s greatest challenges, including On gender equality, we championed And we are urging governments to threats to universal human rights. girls’ education through our global release arbitrarily detained UK dual #LeaveNoGirlBehind campaign. We nationals, particularly in Iran. The global landscape may be forever pursued our Women, Peace and Security changed by coronavirus. It has certainly This crisis has shown that necessity is the (WPS) agenda, through our diplomatic, shone a stronger light on the necessity mother of invention. In the past months, defence, and development efforts. And for greater international cooperation. our international response to coronavirus we have led global efforts to prevent And it has underscored the need for has involved a cross-Whitehall approach, and respond to conflict-related sexual British leadership, as doughty defenders bringing together departments to violence through the FCO’s Preventing of the rules-based international system, support the most vulnerable countries, Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. human rights and democracy. So in 2020 develop a vaccine, keep supply chains and beyond, we will continue to work And we continue to defend Freedom open and procure vital Personal alongside our international partners as of Religion or Belief, accepting all the Protective Equipment. The success of a global force for good, dedicated to recommendations of the report by that integrated approach has shown making a real and lasting difference to the Bishop of Truro into the FCO’s how right it is to align our development the poorest, the oppressed, and the work to defend persecuted Christians, and wider foreign policy objectives. most vulnerable throughout the world. Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Foreword by Minister of State for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

Respect for human rights and democratic freedoms underpins the UK’s foreign policy. Events, both at home and abroad, during the last 12 months again demonstrated that human rights matter and we, the UK, must always be a strong advocate for accountability and justice.

Every day, across the globe, UK Ministers Nations. I also pay tribute to many in or Belief. In July, at the second and officials stand up for a set of the UK Parliament who rightly hold Ministerial Conference to Advance universal rights that, if fully realised, our Government to account and Religious Freedom in Washington DC, I would afford everyone, everywhere, campaign tirelessly for the fundamental announced that the Government would dignity and allow people to flourish. The rights of others across the world. implement all of the recommendations UK, whether through our diplomacy or from the Bishop of Truro’s review We have continued our work across our development programmes, seeks to into the persecution of Christians. a broad spectrum of human rights. promote our shared human values, from We have now implemented 11 of We have worked closely with Nobel championing freedom of expression the Bishop’s 22 recommendations Laureates, Nadia Murad and Dr Denis and the press, to equality of access to under the stewardship of Rehman Mukwege, in particular, to develop education, health and justice. It is these Chisti MP, who succeeded me as the the Murad Code: a global standard for very values that drive our campaign for PM’s Envoy in September 2019. documenting the crimes of conflict- an end to the abhorrent acts of torture, related sexual violence. As the Prime In July, as part of our 2019 campaign the abolition of the death penalty, Minister’s Special Representative on to Defend Media Freedom, we co- and the eradication of the scourge of Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted the first Global Conference for modern slavery and human trafficking. I was delighted to welcome Her Royal Media Freedom alongside Canada in Our Annual Human Rights & Democracy Highness The Countess of Wessex London and appointed Amal Clooney Report highlights the human rights as our new champion for the UK’s as our first Envoy in this area. The event situation around the world in 2019, Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict attracted over 1,500 participants from and the role we have played. Simply Initiative (PSVI), and the Women, Peace more than 100 countries, including 60 put, human rights matter. And so, and Security agenda. In October, Ministers. The High Level Panel of Legal importantly, do those working to we also announced our first PSVI Experts on Media Freedom, headed by defend them. As the UK’s Human Survivor Champions, Nadine Tunasi and Lord Neuberger, was established and Rights Minister, I have been privileged Kolbassia Haoussou, who are helping we have now built a Media Freedom and honoured to work with some to shape a survivor-centred approach Coalition, alongside more than 30 other of the most inspiring Human Rights to our policy and programming. governments, committing to share best Defenders (HRDs) and I pay tribute practice, and lobby on specific cases Protecting the rights of people of to their commitment and courage. around the world. This remains a priority. all faiths or beliefs continues to be I was therefore delighted that last a top priority. Last year, we backed Across the spectrum of human rights, July, we underlined our support for the creation of a new International to end discrimination for all, we have those partnerships by publishing ‘UK Day to Commemorate Victims of sought to bring renewed focus to issues Support for Human Rights Defenders’ Acts of Violence Based on Religion and build alliances. The UK took on in all six languages of the United Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

the role of chair of the Equal Rights UN’s human rights work in Geneva. control the virus have had profound Coalition last summer and we have We have now launched our re-election effects on people’s freedoms and ambitious plans to re-energise its work campaign for the 2021-23 term, focused rights. The crisis has had a particularly and tackle injustices. As recent events on promoting inclusive democracies and significant impact on the most have shown, the scourge of racism still freedom of expression, as we continue vulnerable and marginalised. For me, plagues the world and we should renew to show leadership on the human rights COVID-19 has also served as a reminder our commitment to tackling its root issues dominating the global agenda. to us all of the interdependency of causes in our battle for equality. We We have pledged to strengthen our humanity. From our homes and our continue to strive for the eradication work for gender equality, including towns, to nations and internationally, of modern slavery by 2030. Our Call to the full, effective and meaningful the need for us to work together Action to end Forced Labour, Modern participation of women in political, to overcome shared challenges has Slavery and Human Trafficking has now economic, and social life. As part of never been greater. So, as we evaluate been endorsed by over 90 countries, our commitment to these priorities, priorities and re-examine relationships and we have appointed Jennifer we appointed Rita French in May 2019 to build back better and greener, it is Townson as our new International to the new role of UK International vitally important that we, as citizens of Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy. Ambassador for Human Rights. the world, not only reclaim our human rights, but work to strengthen them. 2019 was the last year of our term as Looking back on 2019 provides a stark an elected member of the UN Human reminder of just how much COVID-19 . Rights Council (HRC). We continue to has changed our lives. Measures taken actively shape the outcomes of the by states recently around the world to CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 2

CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes

Democracy and Democratic Freedoms Democracy and respect for human rights are fundamental values. They are the foundations on which strong institutions, responsible and accountable government, a free press, the rule of law, and equal rights for all people are built. In recent years, the global democratic environment has altered, and the pace of democratisation is slowing. Evidence from Freedom House shows that 2019 was the 14th consecutive year of democratic decline.[1] The growing influence and threat presented by authoritarian states has continued Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab meets his Advisory Group on human rights, October 2019 to contribute to this decline.

One of the greatest threats to Westminster Foundation democracy comes from hostile state One of the ways that the UK defends activity in cyber space. In 2019, the democracy is through providing support for Democracy then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to electoral processes. In 2019, we Established in 1992, WFD is an arms- delivered a speech that warned of the continued to provide technical and length body of the FCO dedicated to damage which authoritarian states and financial assistance and observers supporting democracy around the cyber-attacks do to the credibility of to election observation missions run world. With offices in 33 countries, the democratic process.[2] Reflecting by the Organization for Security and WFD partners with UK political the UK’s position as a global leader Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and by parties, parliaments, and institutions in technology, we engaged partners the EU. For example, we funded the to help bolster and strengthen across the UK government and civil participation of four long-term and human rights globally, by making society on cybersecurity, disinformation, 36 short-term UK observers to the countries’ political systems fairer, and the erosion of human rights election observation mission run by the more inclusive, and more accountable. online. From 2017/18 until 2019/20, we Office for Democratic Institutions and WFD also recruits international have spent £62 million, to reduce the Human Rights (ODIHR) to Uzbekistan election observers for the UK and impact of Russian disinformation across for its parliamentary elections. We helps ensure that elections around wider Europe, through our Counter followed Somalia’s preparations for the world are credible and inclusive. Disinformation and Media Development elections in 2020/21, which could be In October in the Western Balkans, programme, funded by the Conflict, the first one-person-one-vote elections WFD established the Human Rights and Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). We held in the country since 1969. The Gender Network of MPs (HUGEN) to have also used our work as a member UK used our diplomatic influence to support parliaments across the region of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) support efforts to develop a democratic in reaching international standards to defend a free, open, and secure electoral model and to build political for human rights and gender equality. internet, and to promote the protection consensus. We also closely followed HUGEN supports human rights and of human rights online in the same way the elections in Guatemala and gender equality through peer-to-peer as they are protected offline. The Prime the Embassy participated in election learning, sharing best practice, and Minister, Boris Johnson, reinforced monitoring during both rounds improving parliaments’ oversight of this message in his speech to the UN of voting (June and August). the implementation of law and policies General Assembly in September.[3] related to gender and human rights

[1] https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2020/leaderless-struggle-democracy [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/deterrence-in-the-cyber-age-speech-by-the-foreign-secretary [3] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-to-the-un-general-assembly-24-september-2019 3 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

are being implemented. In Kenya, terrorism legislation into line with National Assembly, supporting a WFD supported local disabled persons’ international human rights principles. research and library unit to enable organisations in lobbying for disabled evidence-based debate among National The UK government, continues to fund people to be included in politics, Assembly members, supporting the the ‘Inclusive and Accountable Politics’ leading to the creation of inclusive digitisation of parliamentary records programme, delivered by WFD. The disability laws that we expect to be and providing training to newly- programme covers countries eligible for enacted in 2020. In Uganda, WFD elected representatives.[4] In Nepal Overseas Development Assistance. In has worked with parliament, the youth WFD is providing support to some of 2019, £3.7m was spent on supporting parliament, young MPs, and other the newly-elected female legislators. greater inclusion of women and under- youth-focused groups to support the Through the programme, WFD are represented groups in formal and representation and inclusion of young working with them both in their informal political processes, improving people. In March, WFD organised a parliamentary work as well as increasing accountability through more robust conference in Kampala that attracted their profile and strengthening networks scrutiny of government performance, over 200 participants from more amongst their constituencies.[5] and generating evidence about the than ten countries, and resulted effectiveness of democracy support in parliament looking into cutting in different political contexts. The Community of nomination fees, which are a big barrier for young people entering politics. WFD is the lead partner of an Democracies FCO-sponsored programme, the During 2019, WFD adopted an The Community of Democracies (CoD) is Commonwealth Partnership for integrated approach to electoral an intergovernmental coalition of states Democracy, which is helping 18 reform, engaging political parties, that aims to support democratic rules, Commonwealth countries to improve parliaments, civil society organisations, expand political participation, advance the representation of women, young and electoral bodies before, during, and protect democratic freedoms, people, people with disabilities, and and after elections to help bolster and strengthening democratic norms LGBT people in the democratic process. democratic governance. The UK sent and institutions around the world. WFD brings together parliamentarians election observers to participate in and civil society—on local, global, The UK started the year as the chair six election observation missions: in regional, and in-country platforms—to of the Governing Council of the El Salvador, Nigeria, Senegal, address complex problems and barriers CoD, concluding our six-month term Malawi, Tunisia and Kosovo. to political access, with input from in March. In 2019, the Governing WFD delivered an independent members of these marginalised groups. Council expanded to include North technical report to the national Macedonia and Georgia, while WFD is also working to build electoral commission of Democratic Romania began its two-year role as capacity in new democracies such Republic of Congo ahead of the chair of the Presidency in September. as The Gambia, and supporting January 2019 vote. The report set women parliamentarians in Nepal. In In January, we hosted the Governing out a list of recommendations to the collaboration with the Commonwealth Council in London to discuss the commission on how to use electronic Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), importance of democratic participation, voting machines in a safe, effective, and WFD is working with The Gambia’s devolution in the UK, media freedom, transparent manner in the upcoming election. WFD also worked with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German The Community of Democracies Governing Council, January 2019 political foundation, to help train political party polling agents, providing local partners with the skills needed to support a credible electoral process. In Indonesia, WFD helped local and national government to apply innovative techniques to review laws intended to combat discrimination and human rights violations in local regulations, to make sure they achieve their intended outcome. This built on WFD’s previous support for the House of Representatives as they helped bring new counter-

[4] https://www.wfd.org/network/the-gambia [5] https://www.wfd.org/2020/05/06/remote-learning-sessions-with-nepals-women-mps CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 4

and democratic resilience. The Minister 106 internet shutdowns in India increasingly oppressive after large-scale for Foreign Affairs for the Maldives, in 2019, according to the website anti-Government protests broke out in Abdulla Shahid, spoke about his Internet Shutdown Tracker. The UK October. The last months of 2019 saw country’s democratic journey. continued to support Access Now acts of intimidation by Iraqi security and their #KeepItOn campaign, which forces against journalists and media The UK provided financial support for brings together a coalition of over organisations, and the suppression the CoD’s fact-finding missions. The 200 organisations from 75 countries of information including the internet. aim of the fact-finding missions is to in a global effort to counter internet Over 500 people were killed in the open dialogue with countries seeking shutdowns. We also continued protests, with many thousands injured. to strengthen their democracies. This to work closely with the Freedom In October, the Foreign Secretary, included a mission to Mali in July, Online Coalition (FOC), a partnership Dominic Raab, made clear to the former and to The Gambia in November. of 30 governments committed to Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mehdi that During the missions, representatives advancing internet freedom. In the UK condemned these actions. of Governing Council member states May, we joined the organisation and of the International Steering We continued to advocate the right in releasing a joint statement on Committee (representing national and to freedom of expression at the defending civic space online. regional NGOs) met representatives UN Human Rights Council (HRC). of government and local civil society. Freedom of expression continued to In July, the UK co-sponsored a joint These missions will be followed in decline in Egypt. At the end of 2019, statement[7] alongside Canada and 2020 by a fact-finding mission to over 500 websites remained blocked, the Netherlands, reiterating our Armenia, and a publication setting and 26 journalists were in prison. On 24 commitment to defending the right to out the democratic landscape in these November, security forces raided one freedom of opinion and expression. countries, as well as recommendations of the last independent news outlets, for the Governing Council to implement Mada Masr. The UK was the first Human Rights Defenders in support of democratic governance country to comment publicly later that in Mali, The Gambia, and Armenia. day. All staff members from Mada Masr Human rights defenders (HRDs) play were subsequently released. In South an essential and courageous role in Sudan, a systematic clampdown on the promoting and protecting democracy, Civil Society media, censorship, shrinking civil rights respect for human rights, and the rule space, enforced disappearances, and of law. They fight every day to protect Freedom of Expression arbitrary arrests continued to restrict human rights for all, often putting freedom of expression severely. The themselves, and their loved ones, at Freedom of expression is essential to UK continued to support initiatives great risk in doing so. According to the any functioning democracy. Citizens that improved and defended the legal NGO Frontline Defenders, 304 human must be able to discuss and debate protection of human rights. In May, rights defenders were killed in 2019 freely, challenge their governments, the Myanmar government pardoned alone.[8] It is right that we recognise and and make informed decisions on the two Reuters journalists, who had support the excellent work they do. issues that affect them. However, been imprisoned for over 500 days for In his annual report, the then UN according to the NGO Article 19, 5.5 investigating military atrocities. The UK Special Rapporteur on the situation of billion people are now living in countries was a prominent advocate on behalf of HRDs, Michel Forst, highlighted the that have seen an overall decline in the two journalists, and welcomed the continued “systematic discrimination, freedom of expression over the last government’s decision. Nevertheless, marginalisation and repression” decade, with freedom of expression the space for free expression in that many women HRDs (WHRDs) now at a ten year low[6]. In 2019, at Myanmar continued to shrink in 2019. face as a result of their work (10).[9] least 213 internet shutdowns were In 2019, WHRDs continue to face a documented, up from 196 in 2018, In Cuba, freedom of expression growing threat online, with online greatly restricting freedom of expression continued to be subject to restrictions, smear campaigns and defamation and freedom of peaceful assembly and with reports of arbitrary arrests. The aiming to intimidate and shame them association for many people around Cuban government continued to use and deter them from their work the world at democratically critical short-term detentions as a tool to being a daily occurrence for many. times. In Kashmir, the Government stem dissent. The UK raised human rights concerns directly with the Cuban of India detained political leaders In July, we published the document ‘UK government, including at ministerial and restricted protests, and telephone Support for Human Rights Defenders’ to level. In Iraq, the environment for and internet services. There were emphasise the UK’s support for HRDs. journalists and the media became

[6] https://www.article19.org/resources/global-expression-report-2018-19-global-freedom-of-expression-at-a-ten-year-low [7] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/un-human-rights-council-41-joint-statement-on-freedom-of-expression [8] https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/global_analysis_2019_web.pdf [9] https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/004/97/PDF/G1900497.pdf 5 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

[10] To produce the document, we concerned by the use of anti-terror conduct in managing peaceful consulted a number of partner NGOs, legislation to restrict the legitimate demonstrations. In Syria, the regime British embassies and high commissions, activities of HRDs. As observers, we continued to exert pressure on civil and HRDs themselves. The document attended the trials of a number of society activists. This included refusing is available in all six UN languages. journalists and HRDs, and raised key to grant civil society organisations legal issues with the Turkish authorities. status. The space for civil society in Three years on from the signing of the Libya became increasingly restricted. peace deal, Colombia continued to The UK co-sponsored the UN General Presidency Council Decree 286 (2018) struggle to protect HRDs. According to Assembly resolution on HRDs during continued to limit the activity of civil the UN[11], there were 108 confirmed its 74th Session. The resolution’s society groups, prohibiting them from killings in 2019. The UK directly aims were to create stronger global receiving international donations and supported approximately 450 at-risk standards of support for HRDs, promote from engaging in activity related to HRDs in 2019, through training to the legitimacy of HRDs, and protect political, military, or security matters. improve protection and security, as them against threats, harassment, Over a 30 month period finishing well as legal support to fight impunity reprisals, and killings. The UK Mission in March 2020, the UK provided in cases of attacks. In Brazil, the work to the UN also worked with the £2.75 million in funding from the and safety of HRDs remain under International Service for Human Rights Conflict, Stability and Security Fund threat, especially for those focusing on to provide training and opportunities (CSSF) to build the capacity of local land conflicts, environmental harms, for HRDs from around the globe. This civil society partners across the and the rights of indigenous people. included the opportunity to conduct east, west, and south of Libya. Through our bilateral programme, the advocacy at the UN in New York, UK contributed to the protection of, and engage with UN mechanisms. The UK continued to support civil and respect for, HRDs in the Brazilian society activists including through state of Pará by improving access to Restrictions of Civil funding for civil society organisations security measures and strengthening and women’s groups, and for those community self-protection networks. Society Space pursuing justice and accountability. In 2019, DFID provided £1.9m in new In Afghanistan, HRDs continued to A vibrant and diverse civil society funding for two consortia to work face a high level of threat to life and enables all people—including those with local CSOs in six countries, to liberty from both state and non-state who find themselves socially, politically, increase effective approaches to actors. The British Embassy in Kabul and economically marginalised within building free and open societies in undertook a range of programmes society—to express their priorities, developing and fragile countries. that aimed to protect vulnerable aspirations, and concerns, and is an groups and support those working essential component of any healthy Peaceful protests that took place to defend human rights. Meanwhile democracy. In 2019, the role of during the revolution in Sudan in Nicaragua, we remained civil society organisations (CSOs) in 2019 were met with a violent concerned by the continuing reports in amplifying grass root voices was response from security services. The of harassment of HRDs, restrictions increasingly challenged, and open then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, imposed on freedom of expression, civic space was faced growing threats condemned the violence, and the then curtailment of political rights, and around the world. The CIVICUS Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, the imprisonment of opponents of Monitor[12] rated civic space as ‘open’ summoned the Sudanese Ambassador the regime. We continued to press in just 43 of 196 countries, assessing 42 after the violent attack on 3 June. as ‘Narrowed’, 49 as ‘Obstructed’, 38 for an end to abuses, a resumption [13] The UK welcomed the subsequent of dialogue, and the unconditional as ‘Repressed’ and 24 as ‘Closed’ . political changes that the protestors release of all political prisoners. The In Vietnam, those peacefully exercising called for, and supported Sudan in its UK encouraged Thailand to uphold their constitutional rights were transition to a democratic future. its commitment to creating genuine subjected to violence, harassment, political space following long-awaited and detention by government forces. elections in March. There was concern The UK encouraged Vietnam to Media Freedom over the treatment of HRDs, including improve protection of the rights to The UK ran a major international through the Strategic Litigation Against freedom of expression and freedom campaign in 2019 on Media Freedom. Public Participation (SLAPP), and over of peaceful assembly by reviewing This reflected growing concern about the disappearance of Thai, Lao, and existing legislation, and by publishing constraints on free and independent Vietnamese dissidents in neighbouring and implementing clear and transparent media around the world, with 2018 states in the region. In Turkey, we were guidelines on security personnel having been the worst year on record

[10] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-support-for-human-rights-defenders [11] https://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/A_HRC_43_3_Add.3_AdvanceUneditedVersion-2019-2.pdf [12] https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/reports-publications/4192-global-monitor-report-twice-as-many-people-live-in-repressed- countries-compared-to-a-year-ago [13] https://monitor.civicus.org/watch-list CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 6

Special Envoy for Media Freedom Amal Clooney addresses the Global Conference for Media Freedom, Global Conference on Media Freedom, London, July 2019 the UK announced plans to develop its own domestic National Action Plan. Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIMED) programme: the UK government announced new funding to promote media freedom in developing countries including £12 million for a consortium led by BBC Media Action to help existing media improve their business models, working in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Sierra Leone. The programme supports media organisations to develop better business models, for example by helping them to cut production costs and find new funding streams. In addition to the Global Conference for violence and abuses against Committee took place in November, in London, a wide range of other journalists. In July the first Global where priorities for the fund were set, media freedom events took place. At Conference for Media Freedom took with the first call for bids to enable the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting place in London, co-hosted by the organisations to receive financial in April, Canadian Foreign Minister, UK and Canada. It attracted over assistance for projects in line with the Chrystia Freeland announced Canada’s 1,500 participants from over 100 fund’s goals closing in May 2020. partnership on the campaign and countries, with 60 ministers attending. High Level Panel of Legal launched the High Level Panel of Legal Several initiatives were launched: Experts: an independent panel of Experts. The then Foreign Secretary, Media Freedom Coalition: 33 distinguished international lawyers, Jeremy Hunt, attended and spoke at countries signed the Global Pledge[14] focused on improving legal protections the World Press Freedom Day event on Media Freedom and formed the for journalists and for a free and in May, hosted by the Government Media Freedom Coalition, committing independent media. The panel was of Ethiopia, with UNESCO and the to raise media freedom, share best convened by Amal Clooney and chaired African Union. There he announced practice, and lobby on specific cases by the former President of the UK a Chevening Africa Media Freedom around the globe. The Coalition was Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger of Fellowship for 60 African journalists. then formally launched at an event Abbotsbury. It met for the first time In September, the Organization in the margins of the UN General at the Global Conference for Media for Security and Co-operation in Assembly (UNGA) in September which Freedom, and again in December. Europe (OSCE)’s Human Dimension was chaired by Amal Clooney, the The panel is working on producing Implementation Meeting featured Foreign Secretary’s Special Envoy on a series of papers to provide advice events focused on media freedom Media Freedom, and co-hosted by to governments on legislation and the safety of journalists. On 2 Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon and and other measures. The first two November, the UK participated in a key international partners. In 2020, reports will be on the use of targeted UNESCO-led event in Mexico to mark the Coalition will develop a rapid sanctions to protect journalists[15], the International Day to End Impunity response mechanism to respond to and on the creation of a visa system for Crimes against Journalists. In New attacks on, or killings of, journalists, for states to provide safe refuge York, we co-sponsored the International and to emerging situations of concern. for journalists. Further papers will Press Institute’s roundtable discussion be published throughout 2020. Global Media Defence Fund: with members of the UNGA Third administered by UNESCO, the fund’s International Task Force on Committee to give greater profile aim is to ensure effective legal National Action Plans: led by to the issues of attacks on, killings assistance and support to civil society UNESCO with contributions from and intimidation of journalists. The and journalists, including training for multilateral and regional organisations, UK also co-sponsored a side-event journalists. The UK committed £3 as well as civil society, to support at the International Humanitarian million over a period of five years, and engage countries in developing Law Conference, held in Geneva in with a further $1m contribution National Action Plans for the safety December, on the importance of from Canada. The first Steering and protection of journalists. At the protecting journalists in conflict.

[14] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-pledge-on-media-freedom/global-pledge-on-media-freedom [15] The panel published its first report on targeted sanctions to protect journalists on 13th February 2020 7 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Special Envoy for Media Freedom Amal Clooney and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon at UNGA, 2019

Other events and conferences were new Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdock, credible and transparent investigation held throughout the year focussing who spoke at the launch of the Media into the death of Jamal Khashoggi. on challenges and developments in Freedom Coalition, made a commitment And in Mexico the UK Embassy have specific regions and countries. The to end censorship of the media, and regularly spoken out on numerous UK made statements in multilateral to ensure that journalists would never cases where journalists have been fora, including the Human Rights again be imprisoned for doing their attacked and murdered, calling for Council, OSCE, Council of Europe, job. In Indonesia, the UK worked justice for such attacks, particularly and the Commonwealth, encouraging with others to defend hard won media relating to the Miroslava Breach case. partners to do more to translate freedoms and strengthen protection Laws have been passed that infringe collective commitments into tangible for journalists from the misuse of journalistic freedom and run counter action. UK Ministers, Ambassadors defamation and blasphemy laws. In to freedom of expression. Many cases and High Commissioners, and May, following concerted diplomatic relating to the murder of or attacks diplomatic missions lobbied privately and public pressure, Myanmar released on journalists remained without an and publicly on specific individual two Reuters journalists, who had been effective justice process. Various cases and situations of concern. held in detention since December countries have intermittently shut down 2017 for reporting on alleged war While 2019 saw further negative the internet or continued to resort crimes by the Myanmar military. developments relating to media to censorship or intimidation of the freedom in many countries, there However, in some areas there continues media. China, Turkey, Egypt, and were some signs of improvements. to be serious deterioration. Some Saudi Arabia continued to imprison Overall, the number of journalists countries continue to publicly criticise the highest numbers of journalists killed in 2019 fell to 56, a significant the media, undermining trust in globally, followed by Eritrea, Vietnam, fall from previous years’ figures. journalism, and emboldening a culture and Iran, bringing the total number of impunity. In the Philippines, the of journalists in prison worldwide to In Africa, Namibia’s rating on the British Embassy has continued to follow over 250. Tanzania has seen the World Press Freedom Index, compiled closely the case of Maria Ressa and shutdown of TV stations and the by Reporters without Borders, improved staff have attended her court hearings. temporary suspension of the Citizen to 23rd, making it the highest ranking In Saudi Arabia the UK was at the newspaper. In Venezuela, journalists country in Africa. Ethiopia and forefront of the international response, have been victims of violence and Gambia also improved their ratings (up engaging at the highest levels and arrests. Nicaragua dropped 24 40 and 30 places respectively). Sudan’s pressing publically and privately for a points on the World Press Freedom CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 8

Equality, the UK continues to lead and British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru engagement to mark #16DaysofActivism invest in girls’ education, sexual and 2019 with a focus on gender equality and empowerment programmes reproductive health and rights (SRHR), women’s political and economic empowerment, and ending violence against women and girls. The FCO, DFID, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), and the Stabilisation Unit have developed a suite of guidance and training products to mainstream gender equality across the UK government’s work. Sustained commitment is vital. In 2019, we worked with like-minded countries to defend gender equality and women’s rights. In June, the Development Minister, Baroness Sugg, called for a stand against the attempted rollback of women’s rights, and to defend and support often life-saving sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls. We worked closely Index, following harassment of human together to improve the overall media with like-minded states and civil society rights defenders and restrictions freedom environment globally. representatives to protect language imposed on freedom of expression. on SRHR in international negotiations. In 2019, we provided support to Gender Equality In September, DFID launched a £600 organisations monitoring the situation million Reproductive Health Supplies of the press in Turkey, and observed programme to help 20 million women the trials of a number of journalists and Women and Girls’ Rights and girls access family planning, and to prevent five million unintended human rights defenders. We also raised Promoting gender equality is key issues with the Turkish authorities. pregnancies each year up to 2025. UK fundamental to the UK’s diplomatic, support to the multi-donor challenge In addition to wider work supported development, and defence work to fund ‘AmplifyChange’ contributed to by the Conflict, Stability and Security achieve economic growth, peace, the endorsement of over 160 new Fund, and through the FCO’s stability, and lasting poverty reduction. grants for grassroots advocacy on SRHR. International Programme, we developed The FCO’s Special Envoy for Gender 20 media freedom projects across Equality, Joanna Roper, along with our network. Examples include: Regional Gender Advisers across the Girls’ Education network, promote gender sensitive > Sudan: a project implemented by Girls’ education a priority for the UK policy and programming. Through UNESCO to develop a media reform and our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. DFID’s Strategic Vision for Gender roadmap to help capacity building for Access to education is a human right. journalists in countering fake news; > Peru/Bolivia: a project to help strengthen safety awareness for journalists in remote regions; and > Egypt: a project training journalists on countering disinformation and fake news. The UK is determined to continue to champion media freedom. We are taking forward initiatives from the Global Conference for Media Freedom and focussing on translating the commitments made into tangible impact. We are working both through the newly formed Media Freedom Coalition and bilaterally, lobbying on new and existing cases, and working Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the UK’s Girls’ Education Reception, August 2019 9 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

However, girls are more likely than boys Wessex launched the second paper Violence against never to receive any type of education. alongside Platform Co-Chair, former Women and Girls Education unlocks individual potential, Kenyan Foreign and Education Minister, empowers women and benefits society Ambassador Amina Mohamed. One in three women worldwide as a whole, powering sustainable will experience physical or sexual The FCO funded a number of projects development. The UK’s support for violence in their lifetime. The UK has aimed at tackling the barriers to girls’ twelve years of quality education for all continued to lead global efforts to education. In Namibia, the ‘Stay in is a key priority for the Prime Minister. eradicate violence against women School Initiative’ deployed 40 volunteers Our work focuses on: improving and girls in all its forms, including to provide one to one tutorials to teaching; supporting education intimate partner violence, sexual disadvantaged girls across five schools reforms that deliver results in the violence, female genital mutilation in Accounting, Science, Maths, Biology classroom; and stepping up targeted (FGM), and child, early and forced and Economics, reducing the number support for the most marginalised. marriage. In 2019, DFID support to the of girls dropping out of school due to UN Global Programme ‘Accelerating All UK-funded education programmes difficulties with learning. The project Action to End Child Marriage’ have a focus on girls and young also provided reading books to reached 2.97 million adolescent women. Between 2015 and 2019, learners, fostering a reading culture. In girls, with targeted life skills training, the UK helped 5.8 million girls Tanzania, radio programmes on girls’ health care, or skills development access a decent education. The education reached over one million for economic empowerment. Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) 18-35 year olds, raising awareness, is the world’s largest global fund and encouraging young women to DFID’s £25 million flagship programme, dedicated to girls’ education, and be involved in discussions that affect ‘What Works to Prevent Violence’, supports up to 1.5 million marginalised their lives. Since 2013, the UK’s Girls’ released new evidence on the most girls with access to education and Education Challenge has helped over effective interventions to drive down learning across 17 countries. 300,000 Afghan girls attend primary violence against women and girls in school, with a second phase in 2019 some of the world’s most challenging In 2019, the UK continued to supporting 70,297 marginalised contexts, including Syria, Democratic demonstrate leadership and girls access primary and secondary Republic of Congo, and South commitment on girls’ education education, and skills training. DFID is Sudan. Around half of the interventions through our global #LeaveNoGirlBehind one of the founding partners of the achieved significant reductions in campaign. At the G7, the UK co- ‘Safe to Learn’ campaign and has violence, of up to 50%, demonstrating funded the Gender at the Centre provided £5 million to address violence that violence is preventable. In Ghana, Initiative, which will assist eight African that prevents girls from attending for example, ‘What Works’ supported countries to ensure their education and learning in school. This support community-based action teams to systems support the most marginalised includes programmes in Nepal and educate and sensitise the community girls. The Prime Minister also pledged Uganda to help strengthen and on violence against women and girls, an unprecedented £90 million develop school systems and improve and to support survivors of violence. As for education in emergencies and teachers’ capacity to prevent and a result, women in participating villages protracted crises, supporting 600,000 respond to violence in schools. reported a 55% drop in sexual violence children, with a third of the funding to by their partner over 18 months, and support 100,000 children in the Sahel a 50% reduction in physical violence. region and the surrounding area. In November, DFID announced the Building on this, at the UN General Assembly in September, the Prime Minister also announced £515 million Special Envoy for Gender Equality Joanna Roper speaking at a Girls’ Education to help get over 12 million children— panel at the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver, June 2019 half of them girls—into school. The Foreign Secretary continued to co-chair the Platform for Girls’ Education, an initiative launched at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, with the aim of mobilising international support for girls’ education. In 2019, we published two policy papers. The first examined the state of girls’ education across the Commonwealth. The second focused on Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning. In September, Her Royal Highness The Countess of CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 10

HRH The Countess of Wessex and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon visited Lebanon in June 2019 to champion the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and Women, Peace and Security agenda. Here they visit HRH The Countess of Wessex meets Kosovo refugees in the Bekaa Valley, to learn more about their lives in Lebanon. sexual violence survivors, October 2019 next phase of the programme, which schools to respond to GBV incidents, Government’s efforts in his capacity will invest up to £67.5 million to to establish a legal clinic for survivors, as the PM’s Special Representative. scale up proven interventions, and to and to support 1,980 GBV survivors Our focus remained on the three conduct further research in conflict and 1,010 victims of conflict-related objectives: to strengthen justice for and humanitarian settings, to help trauma through the Humanitarian Fund. survivors and hold perpetrators to stop violence against one million of The UK demonstrated leadership on account; to provide support to all the world’s poorest women and girls. this issue at the Ending Sexual and survivors and children born of CRSV, DFID support to women’s rights GBV International Conference in Oslo by ensuring access to holistic care organisations included a £21 million in May, and at Women Deliver in and tackling stigma; and, to prevent contribution (for 2014 to 2020) to Vancouver in June. We committed CRSV by tackling its root causes. In the UN Trust Fund to End Violence £7 million over the financial year February, over 60 experts from 23 against Women. This included 2019/20 to support UN Population countries attended the Wilton Park funding to support organisations Fund humanitarian operations within conference on strengthening justice and working with women and girls with Syria. This funding will reduce the accountability and its recommendations disabilities, who are at four times risk of GBV for those in acute need by have shaped our activities since. greater risk of violence. Despite South addressing the root causes of violence. In April, the UK played a key role in Africa’s advanced legislation and the The UK continued to be the co-chair of ensuring the passage of UN Security funds they dedicate to this issue, the the States and Donors working group Council Resolution 2467 on Sexual enforcement of laws and the prevention of the Call to Action on Prevention Violence in Conflict. We championed of violence remain a challenge. In of GBV in Emergencies, which the the inclusion of a survivor-centred South Africa, ‘What Works’ evidence UK and Sweden launched in 2013. approach to CRSV, highlighted the informed the planning of the National need to support children born of Gender-based Violence and Femicide Preventing Sexual Violence sexual violence, and promoted specific Summit[16] and has influenced the language on using sanctions regimes draft Gender-based Violence and in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) to address sexual violence. But we also Femicide National Strategic Plan[17]. Rape and other forms of sexual expressed regret that the resolution Her Royal Highness The Duchess of violence are used as weapons of war did not include language on the need Sussex highlighted the importance to devastate communities and the lives for survivors of sexual violence to and urgency of tackling gender-based of women, men, and children. The have access to comprehensive sexual violence (GBV) during her 2019 visit. FCO’s Preventing Sexual Violence in and reproductive health services. The UK continued to work with Conflict Initiative (PSVI) remained a key In March, Her Royal Highness The all partners to help ensure the priority. The UK led global efforts to Countess of Wessex became a protection of women and girls during prevent and respond to conflict-related champion for PSVI and Women, Peace humanitarian crises. For example, for sexual violence (CRSV), with Lord (Tariq) and Security, focusing on supporting the 2019/20 financial year in DRC, Ahmad of Wimbledon leading the all survivors of CRSV, including children the UK committed to support 820 born of rape; promoting women’s

[16] https://www.gov.za/nationalgendersummit [17] https://www.gov.za/documents/national-gender-based-violence-and-femicide-strategic-plan-draft-12-aug-2019-0000 11 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

inclusion in peace processes, including as mediators; and supporting women building peace at grassroots level. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon championed PSVI on overseas visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia to mark the International Day to End Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June), and with Her Royal Highness during a joint visit to Lebanon. Her Royal Highness also visited Kenya and Kosovo, to meet sexual violence survivors and highlight the need for justice. In October, the UK announced its first PSVI Survivor Champions, Nadine Tunasi and Kolbassia Haoussou, who advocate for all CRSV survivors As part of their #16DaysofActivism 2019, British High Commission Freetown hosted and help shape PSVI survivor-centred a roundtable discussion on women’s rights with female activists and Civil Society policy and programming. We worked closely with Nobel Laureates Nadia (DRC) in March, and brought a second 2018. The plan sets out how the UK Murad and Dr Mukwege, in particular group of filmmakers from around the will deliver its commitments under UN on developing the Murad Code, a world to London in November to help Security Council Resolution 1325. The global minimum standard for the develop their own film projects, helping UK has focused on women’s meaningful documentation of CRSV, which will to amplify the voices of survivors. participation in peace processes. In ensure that survivors are not re- Afghanistan, the UK advocated the The UK intends to host the PSVI traumatised during the process. meaningful involvement of women in International Conference—Time for all forums on peace. We supported We supported the work of TRIAL Justice: Putting Survivors First—at the implementation of a second NAP International to increase access to a time that will ensure the event has on WPS in Iraq, and commissioned justice for CRSV survivors. In BiH, the inclusive, global impact that the a scoping study to explore how the this led to the successful conviction issue demands. We continue to pursue UK’s contribution to the WPS agenda of Saša Cvetković for the wartime those agreements and deliverables in Nigeria could be strengthened. rape of two women and a double intended for the conference. murder in 1992. The FCO also provided In October, the UK actively participated financial support to the UN Office of Women, Peace and Security in negotiations for UN Security the High Commissioner for Human Council Resolution 2493, led by South Rights, and the UN Team of Experts The UK continued to demonstrate Africa, and successfully lobbied for on Sexual Violence in Conflict. global leadership on Women, Peace and references to the protection of civil Following the successful 2018 PSVI Security (WPS), through our diplomatic, society actors on WPS, in the face of Film Festival, we funded capacity defence, and development efforts as shrinking space for women’s rights building for young filmmakers in Goma outlined in our fourth UK National organisations. UNSCR 2493 reaffirmed Action Plan (NAP) launched in January the international community’s commitment to the WPS agenda in the run up to 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, a landmark resolution on WPS. Resolution 2493 made reference to the need to support and protect civil society organisations and women peacebuilders, laying the foundation for further action to protect these groups. The UK continued to support the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (WMC) initiative, with 48 members from 21 Commonwealth countries building peace around the world. At the UN General Assembly, the UK supported the launch of the On International Women’s Day, Lord Ahmad and HRH The Countess Global Alliance of Women Mediator of Wessex pledge their support for women peacebuilders in Networks to amplify voices, and provide Commonwealth and conflict-affected countries, March 2019 access and accountability to members. CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 12

In 2019, we also supported grassroots and communications projects, focused on advocacy and implementation women peacebuilders, by funding the on providing redress for victims. The of the Safe Schools Declaration, an UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian UK also supported the UNSG Victims’ intergovernmental commitment to Fund, as well as funding NGOs working Rights Advocate, including through a reduce the impact of conflict upon in our NAP focus countries, through contribution of £200,000 in 2019/20, education. In November, the UK the International Civil Society Action and will support the launch of a hosted a joint Arria Formula meeting Network (ICAN) and the Women’s Victims’ Rights Statement in 2020. on CAAC with Belgium, Poland, and International League for Peace and Peru. It explored how the international In addition, we used our position on Freedom. In Libya, the CSSF continued community could better support the UN Security Council to ensure to fund the Institute for War and Peace children once they are separated that all mandates for Peacekeeping Reporting’s work to build the capacity from armed forces and groups. The Missions contained language on the of local partners across the country to UK will be exploring how we can protection of women and children from advocate and promote women’s voices collaborate further with like-minded SEA offences, and on accountability locally and on the national stage. partners to maintain momentum and measures. We are committed to instigate change on this agenda. The UK provided £1 million in 2019/20 maintaining the momentum for reform. to the UN Elsie Initiative Fund to The FCO deployed a senior policy support the meaningful participation of advisor to provide technical and Rights of the Child uniformed women in UN peacekeeping policy support to the NATO Secretary 20 November marked the 30th operations. We also hosted the first General’s Special Representative on anniversary of the UN Convention on meeting of the WPS Chiefs of Defence WPS, to support the development of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which Network in July, and handed over the NATO’s first SEA policy. The policy has been driving positive change for chair to Canada and Bangladesh. was endorsed at the NATO Foreign children globally. At the UN General As part of her commitment to Ministers’ Meeting in November. DFID Assembly, the UK announced its championing women peacebuilders, continued to support efforts to raise support for the UN Voluntary Global Her Royal Highness The Countess of safeguarding standards across the Pledge, ‘Every Child, Every Right’, Wessex attended the annual ICAN international aid sector to ensure the agreeing to enhance UK commitments Forum of women peacebuilders held delivery of aid in a way that does no to strengthen protection for children. in Norway in November. The UK harm. DFID published three reports The FCO is responsible for the will continue to provide support to detailing progress made against coordination of cross-Government countries in their efforts to realise the the October 2018 Safeguarding policy instructions for the Rights of the WPS agenda as we approach the 20th Summit cross-sector commitments. Child (RoC) resolutions and for thematic anniversary of UN Security Council debates within multilateral fora, such as Resolution 1325 in October 2020. Children and Armed Conflict the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Human Rights Council Sexual Exploitation and Abuse The UK is deeply committed to ending (HRC). The FCO ensures that the UK’s the recruitment and use of child soldiers policy position on the expansive RoC The UK is committed to tackling and to protecting all children in armed portfolio is both reflected and protected the scourge of sexual exploitation conflict. The UK remains the largest at all stages of negotiations on relevant and abuse (SEA) and harassment by single financial contributor to the office resolutions. In 2019, we coordinated members of the peacekeeping forces, of the UN Special Representative of instructions for the RoC resolutions at practitioners in the aid sector and the Secretary-General for Children and the 42nd HRC and the 74th UNGA. We across the UN system. The UK fully Armed Conflict (CAAC). We increased ensured consensual adoption of the supports the United Nations Secretary- our funding to £450,000 for 2019/20, strongest possible texts, in line with General’s (UNSG) victim-centred to continue assisting with the role’s UK priorities and with the UNCRC. The strategy and zero tolerance approach core mandate. We are a member of the FCO also works in close partnership towards SEA, and the Prime Minister, UN Global Coalition for Reintegration, with wider government on this agenda, Boris Johnson, joined the UNSG’s which aims to provide long-term, in particular with the Department Circle of Leadership on SEA in 2019. sustainable funding for reintegration for Education, which oversees the programmes, and we provided an UK’s domestic implementation of The CSSF ‘Multilateral Championing additional £50,000 to fund extended the UNCRC, and with DFID. We our Values’ programme continues to research activities. We continue to be continue to support and amplify cross- support efforts to stamp out SEA within an active member of the UN Working government efforts to ensure that the UN system, providing a further Group on CAAC, pressing parties listed children’s rights remain central to UK $1 million during 2018/19, bringing in the UNSG’s annual report on CAAC decision making and programming. the UK’s total contribution to $3 to agree concrete action with the UN. million over the last three years. These funds support staff to deliver system- Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon wide coordination more effectively, represented the UK at the third Safe and to establish robust vetting and Schools International Conference in May mandatory pre-deployment training to demonstrate continued UK leadership 13 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, We used our embassies and high the UK Delegation to the OSCE, and commissions to monitor and raise the UK Mission to the International Transgender Rights human rights concerns and to promote Organisations in Vienna) continued to The UK is committed to the principle the full and equal enjoyment of take a leading role in the organisation of non-discrimination on all recognised human rights. For example, the High of the 35-nation initiative, ‘Diplomats grounds, including on the basis of Commissioner in Bandar Seri Begawan, for Equality’. Diplomats for Equality sexual orientation and/or gender raised concerns with the authorities participated in EuroPride 2019, identity, affording the dignity, respect, before the government of Brunei and organised a side event at Pride and the rights which international introduced the final phase of the Sharia Village on ‘How the International human rights law offers all individuals. Penal Code. The then Minister for Asia, Community works together to advance The UK works through international Mark Field, raised this in the House LGBTI equality’. At EuroPride 2019, organisations, including the UN, of Commons in April, stating: “This the initiative won a jury award for the Commonwealth, and European government considers it appalling that best group, which was based upon institutions, to promote non- in the 21st Century people anywhere originality, message, creativity, and discrimination towards LGBT people, are still facing potential persecution and diverse membership. Diplomats for and to address discriminatory laws. discrimination because of who they are Equality has been replicated across and who they love.” We welcomed the the globe, and it plays an important The authorities of many countries Government of Brunei’s subsequent part, through Pride marches, in actively persecute LGBT people. declaration to respect individual demonstrating the international Consensual same-sex relations continue privacies, and urged it to formalise this community’s commitment to equality to be criminalised in 69 countries, commitment by ensuring that its laws and non-discrimination. The British including 34 out of 53 Commonwealth do not discriminate on these grounds. Embassy in Baku was the only foreign countries. Even in countries where mission in Azerbaijan to raise the In June, we welcomed the decision consensual same-sex relations are legal, rainbow flag on IDAHOBIT in 2019. We of Botswana’s High Court to many people still face violence and expressed concerns that major cities in decriminalise same-sex relations. In discrimination because of their sexual Turkey, citing security fears, banned November, we expressed our concern orientation, and/or gender identity. LGBT Pride marches again in 2019. at Sharia court sentences handed down The UK government is committed to five men for same-sex relations in On 14 June, the UK took over the role to supporting the legal, cultural, Malaysia, and called for the rights of co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition and social change required to make of all LGBT persons to be protected. (ERC), in partnership with Argentina. equality a reality for LGBT people the The ERC is a grouping of 42 like-minded The UK marked the International Day world over. In January, the Minister countries, working together with civil Against Homophobia, Biphobia and for Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad society and key stakeholders to address Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May, of Wimbledon, met members of The violence and discrimination against along with Pride and other local anti- Commonwealth Equality Network LGBT individuals and the continuing discrimination events in the UK and (TCEN), to hear about their work, and criminalisation of same-sex conduct. overseas, to demonstrate publicly our to follow up on the success of the We announced our intention to deliver commitment to LGBT human rights. UK’s Commonwealth Summit in 2018, a new strategy to shape, guide, and Our posts around the world flew which saw the largest ever contingent re-energise the work of the ERC. of LGBT activists participating in the rainbow flag, whenever judged a summit. At the Human Rights appropriate. The three UK missions With a core objective to increase Council in July, the UK supported in Vienna (British Embassy Vienna, respect for equality and non- the extension of the mandate of the Independent Expert focusing on the protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, three years after its first creation. In Indonesia, UK officials worked with partners to raise concerns with Indonesian lawmakers regarding draft national legislation, which risked discriminating against minority groups. The UK worked with civil society, including young people, to ensure that minority voices were heard as the new criminal code legislation was UK in India, British High Commission in Delhi and our Deputy High Commissions in debated by the Indonesian parliament. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai celebrated the first anniversary of the Section 377 judgement which decriminalised same-sex relations, September 2019 CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 14

Christchurch, New Zealand, to the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, and the targeting of the Poway Synagogue in the US. The UK has worked closely with all countries concerned. We are now a leading partner on New Zealand’s Christchurch Call to Action. The then Minister of State for Security, Ben Wallace, visited Sri Lanka after the attacks there to offer UK support, and to encourage a response that would bring communities together and ensure the protection of members of minority groups. The treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang, China, has been a priority issue. We underlined our serious concerns with China’s restrictions on religion and culture in Xinjiang, High Commissioner to Nigeria visits areas affected by including through statements at the UN intercommunal violence in Benue, Nigeria, September 2019 Human Rights Council (HRC) sessions in March, July and September, and at the UN General Assembly in September. We also raised our concerns about restrictions on wider FoRB in China, including on Christians, in the HRC in March. In July, the UK and 24 other countries registered their concerns about Xinjiang in a public letter to the President of the HRC and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The UK remains deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and other religious groups. We also Lord Ahmad Roundtable of Faith Leaders’ 2019 continue to monitor allegations of systematic, state-sponsored organ discrimination for all, £10.6 million from Freedom of Religion harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners. the FCO’s International Programme or Belief The UK called for the protection and was allocated to support human rights fair treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses projects, including those focussed on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Russia, and for followers of the the rights of LGBT people. Through was a priority for the UK in 2019. For Baha’i faith in Iran and Yemen. UK Aid Connect, DFID supported most of the year, FCO policy on this We used the UN’s Universal Periodic a consortium of organisations led issue was led by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Reviews to draw further attention to by Hivos to promote LGBT inclusion Wimbledon, who served as the Prime restrictions on FoRB, including in Iraq, across Africa. This £12 million four- Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of where we remained committed to year programme, launched in 2018, Religion or Belief, and visited over 13 working with the Government of Iraq seeks to oppose discrimination countries in this capacity and as FCO to address issues facing Christians, and stigma and to empower and Minister of State. In September, Rehman Yezidis, and other religious minorities. strengthen LGBT communities. Chishti MP was appointed as the Prime In a year that saw increasing focus As part of our ERC co-chair Minister’s Special Envoy, undertaking on the rights of India’s minority commitments, the UK announced visits to Bahrain and The Holy See, communities, we continued to discuss our intention to host an international as well as to the Netherlands for the with the Government of India the LGBT human rights conference. seventh meeting of the Istanbul Process. strength that comes from diversity and The conference would address key In 2019, there were terrorist attacks inclusion. Our project work brought challenges including violence and targeting people of faith, from together over 300 young people of discrimination towards LGBT people, the attack against the mosques in different religious backgrounds for and their continued criminalisation. 15 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

in the Afghan constitution, but members of minorities continued to face widespread discrimination and insecurity in Afghan society. The UK government increased its engagement with faith-based communities in Nigeria, where we have urged the Nigerian government at the highest level to foster social cohesion and peacebuilding. Following joint UK, US, and Canadian efforts in Sudan, the Government of Sudan in January dropped restrictions on Christian school opening hours. On 20 November, the Sudanese Prime Minister’s Office issued a decree to Foreign Office lit up to mark Red Wednesday on 27 November, in allow public institutions in Sudan support of persecuted Christians and other minority groups to accommodate the religious rites and ceremonies of non-Muslims. interfaith workshops and social action In Myanmar, there were reports of the Working with like-minded partners projects in three cities in India in 2019. destruction of places of worship and of remained a priority for the UK. In May, forced conversions. We were concerned The situation of religious persecution in the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy about laws restricting the freedom to Pakistan continued to be of concern. Hunt, welcomed US Secretary of State, change religion, and about the placing While the Supreme Court of Pakistan Michael Pompeo, to the UK. During of arbitrary restrictions on places upheld the acquittal in January of the visit, the Archbishop of Canterbury of worship that disproportionately Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who hosted a meeting with UK-based faith affected Christians and Muslims. had been accused of blasphemy, leaders to discuss the challenges to Ahmadi Muslims, Christians, and other In Afghanistan, religious and ethnic FoRB internationally. In July, Lord (Tariq) minorities continued to suffer severe minority groups were regularly Ahmad of Wimbledon represented the levels of discrimination and intolerance, targeted by non-governmental UK at the second Ministerial to Advance with attacks on places of worship, groups, in particular in “Islamic State Religious Freedom in Washington DC. including mosques and churches. in Khorasan Province”. The rights of Mr Chishti represented the UK at the minority groups are legally protected seventh meeting of the Istanbul Process in The Hague on combatting religiously- motivated intolerance in November, where he stressed the importance of defending the right to FoRB globally. The UK joined 87 states to co-sponsor a UN General Assembly resolution to create a new International Day to Commemorate Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. To mark the first International Day on 22 August, we co-sponsored a UN Arria Formula meeting in New York, where Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon delivered a statement from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. He said: “Freedom of Religion or Belief is at the heart of what the UK stands for. We are determined to use the tools of British diplomacy in this cause, including our permanent seat on the UN Security Council.” DFID’s £12 million Freedom of Religion Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and or Belief programme, the ‘Coalition for trade Péter Szijjártó to affirm our joint commitment to aiding persecuted Christians Religious Inequality and Development’ & to ensuring the rights of our respective citizens are protected post-Brexit (CREID), is working with local partners CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 16

War to issue visas to thousands of Jews trying to escape Germany. Following concerted UK effort to promote the importance of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), we were delighted to welcome Australia as IHRA’s 33rd member. We worked closely with IHRA during 2019 to develop best practice guidelines on safeguarding Holocaust sites across Europe. The UK focused particularly on Alderney. Lord Pickles visited Alderney in March to discuss the importance of preserving the prison camps built and operated by Nazi Germany during its occupation of the Channel Islands. Lord Pickles visited a number of countries including Israel, Germany, Lithuania and Romania. As Head of the UK delegation to IHRA, Lord Pickles attended the IHRA plenary meetings in Luxembourg in September and December. During these meetings, Lord Ahmad and the Bishop of Truro at the launch of the final report of the Independent Review of FCO support for persecuted Christians, July 2019 Lord Pickles worked to ensure that the UK played a key role in drafting to address stigma, social exclusion, and persecuted Christians around the a renewed commitment to the economic exclusion. CREID projects world); lobbied other countries to founding principles of the Stockholm were launched, to counter hate appoint FoRB special envoys; and Declaration under the auspices of the speech, to promote representation wrote to the British Council, Wilton Luxembourg Chairmanship of IHRA. of religiously marginalised women Park, and Westminster Foundation In June, the UK assumed the in local governance, and to for Democracy to encourage them Chairmanship of the Arolsen Archive create economic opportunities to expand their work on FoRB. Mr (formerly known as the International that foster social cohesion. Chishti leads the implementation of the Tracing Service), a collection of recommendations from this review. In December 2018, the then Foreign documentation from Nazi concentration Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, commissioned camps. This important collection is still the Bishop of Truro to conduct an Post-Holocaust Issues being used to reunite families in the 21st independent Review of the FCO’s century. 2020 is a particularly significant work to combat the persecution of The Rt Hon Lord Pickles continued to year for Holocaust remembrance, as Christians around the world. The serve as the UK’s Special Envoy for Post- it marks the 75th Anniversary of the aim of the review was to explore Holocaust Issues, representing the UK at Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. whether the FCO’s response to the international discussions on Holocaust- persecution of Christians matched related matters. He also continued to Modern Slavery the scale of the problem. support wider international work to address anti-semitism and restitution. The Bishop of Truro published his Modern slavery is an abhorrent final report in July, which included 22 In January, the FCO and the Embassy of human rights abuse and a crime recommendations. The government Israel marked International Holocaust that is prevalent around the world. accepted the recommendations— Memorial Day. Speakers included the According to the Global Slavery the majority of which related to then Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Index, 40.3 million people across the principle of supporting FoRB Lord Pickles, and Israeli Ambassador the globe will be victims of modern [18] for all, not just Christians—and Mark Regev. During the event, the slavery on any given day. The UK committed to implementing them. then Foreign Secretary unveiled a bust uses ‘modern slavery’ as an umbrella For example, we created a new of Major Frank Foley, a former British term covering the offences of slavery, John Bunyan Fund to support FoRB Secret Intelligence Officer, who used servitude, forced and compulsory projects; led cross-Whitehall efforts his position at the British Consulate labour, and human trafficking. to mark Red Wednesday (a day in Berlin during the Second World In 2019, the UK continued to lead dedicated to drawing attention to the fight against modern slavery

[18] https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/2019/findings/executive-summary 17 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

internationally in line with our In May, the Independent Review In Mauritius, we worked with UK commitment under the Sustainable of the Modern Slavery Act was retailers, NGOs, and local authorities Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate published, which examined possible to raise awareness of the rights of Modern Slavery by 2030 (SDG 8.7). improvements to the UK’s legislation migrant workers through a ‘Know We continued to drive the issue up and its implementation. The Your Rights’ campaign. In Vietnam, the international agenda, with our government accepted the majority of our programmes have focused on Call to Action to end Forced Labour, the review’s recommendations. During awareness raising and capacity building Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking a speech in June at the International to reduce the numbers of people now endorsed by 90 countries. This Labour Conference centenary, the falling victim to criminal trafficking was complemented by an increase in then Prime Minister, Theresa May, gangs and to support victims. Overseas Development Aid spending announced that in response to the In 2020, we will continue focusing on modern slavery to over £200 review the FCO would appoint an on areas where the UK can make a million. We continued to promote International Migration and Modern meaningful difference and drive further best practice through vehicles such Slavery Envoy to drive forward our positive change. We will maintain our as the public procurement principles work internationally. In October, recognised global leadership in the fight (launched in 2018), alongside Australia, Jennifer Townson took up the role. against modern slavery, working with Canada, New Zealand, and the US. The UK maintained a proactive domestic and international partners The FCO continued to be at the multilateral presence, using membership to make the world safer and fairer. forefront of the UK’s efforts, of different organisations to advance coordinating responses across our the global will to tackle modern diplomatic network in a way that slavery. We supported the Inter- Human Rights and complemented the efforts of other Agency Coordination Group against the Private Sector government departments. Slavery Trafficking in Persons in its efforts victims in the UK come from 130 to enhance coordination among UN countries. Our diplomatic efforts agencies tackling modern slavery. We Business and Human Rights continued to be vital for developing continued to support Alliance 8.7 as a The UK government is committed to sustainable responses to the problem platform for sharing of information and improving the human rights practices of modern slavery, despite the complex best practice, especially through the of businesses, both domestically and and sensitive political contexts in which development of the Pathfinder initiative, around the world, and was the first it thrives. The tragic deaths of 39 whereby states volunteer to accelerate country to produce, and later update, a migrants discovered in a refrigerated efforts towards achieving SDG 8.7. National Action Plan (NAP) in response lorry in Grays in October highlighted We regularly raised modern slavery the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) how interconnected our domestic issues when countries underwent their on Business and Human Rights. and international efforts must be. Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, and, alongside Domestically, a range of legislative and We strove to advance international Australia, led work to secure a renewed non-legislative measures prevent and cooperation, ensuring that governments mandate for the Special Rapporteur provide remedies in respect of human and international agencies prioritised on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. rights abuses committed by businesses. efforts to tackle modern slavery, share Over the course of 2019, the FCO and evidence about its causes and effects, This multilateral work ran in parallel to the Department for Business, Energy and support victims. We supported continuing bilateral diplomacy aimed and Industrial Strategy completed states which endorsed the Call to at tackling modern slavery in country- follow-up to recommendations made by Action to develop national action specific forms. We undertook projects the Joint Committee on Human Rights plans, and continued to encourage to collect better data on modern slavery in its 2017 report on our progress. In regular reporting through the UN in Pakistan and Latin America. accordance with the recommendation University Delta 8.7 platform. We Our programming promoted the to provide more information online, intensified the scrutiny of modern rights of female migrant workers in details of our follow-up work can now slavery risks in public and private Bangladesh, secured sustained training be found on the Gov.UK website.[19] sector supply chains, working with programmes for police in India, helped The FCO continued to work closely international partners to strengthen and improve official responses to trafficking with the UK National Contact Point, harmonise governments’ approaches. victims in Indonesia, Ethiopia, and which was set up as a non-judicial This was the focus of an international Mali, and supported inter-agency state mechanism to implement conference we co-hosted in March, coordination in Ghana. We provided the complaints process when UK where representatives from suppliers, anti-trafficking training for networks of businesses do not meet guidelines set NGOs, and governments from around religious sisters in conjunction with the by the Organisation for Economic Co- the world came together to discuss Holy See, and funded campaigning in operation and Development (OECD). modern slavery in procurement. the Philippines against trafficking of children for online sexual exploitation.

[19] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-un-guiding-principles-on-business-and-human-rights-may-2020-update CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 18

Internationally, the UK promotes national private security legislation in The UK continued to encourage UK the implementation of the UNGPs Madagascar; and to strengthen the importers of 3TG minerals to carry out through drawing up National Action capacity of civil society organisations their responsibilities based on the OECD Plans (NAPs). We worked with the to support implementation of the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Government of Peru, sharing UK International Code of Conduct for Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict- experience and best practice in the Private Security Service Providers Affected and High Risk Areas. implementation of the UNGPs and (ICoC) in DRC. UK funding supported The UK supported dissemination of development of national-level initiatives, a review by the Government of the OECD guidance through funding including supporting the inclusion of Cameroon of its mining codes. a capacity-building project in Burkina members of indigenous communities Faso, Mali and Niger, and through and human rights defenders in the Private Security Companies research to improve policy coherence NAP drafting process. Initiatives in between the OECD and the Extractives Guatemala have raised awareness The UK is a signatory to the Montreux Industry Transparency Initiative. around business and human rights, Document, which reaffirms the existing including the hosting of a mock forum obligations of states under international The UK is a member of the Governing in partnership with the EU and Office of law relating to private military and Board of the European Partnership the United Nations High Commissioner security companies’ activity during for Responsible Minerals (EPRM), for Human Rights (OHCHR), that armed conflict. The UK advocates and funded development of an brought together an all-female panel for implementation of the Montreux EPRM Knowledge Portal to support of elected officials and representatives Document via the ICoC. The ICoC sets SMEs in implementing due diligence, from NGOs and the private sector. out principles for security providers, which will launch in 2020. In Mauritius, we partnered with and related standards, governance, the UK retail sector, NGOs, and local and oversight mechanisms. Compliance The Kimberley Process authorities to raise awareness of the is monitored by the International rights of migrant workers through Code of Conduct Association for The UK remains committed to a ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign. Security Providers (ICoCA). the principles and values of the Kimberley Process (KP). Since the KP’s The UK supports ICoCA through establishment in 2003, trade in conflict our seat on the Governing Board. Voluntary Principles on diamonds has fallen from 15% of the Through project funding in 2019/20, Security and Human Rights global diamond trade to less than 1%. we supported field assessments and The EU is a KP participant and currently The Voluntary Principles on Security outreach missions to Iraq, Kenya, acts on behalf of the UK. In September, and Human Rights (VPs) provide Tanzania, South Sudan, Guatemala the UK hosted an Experts’ Mission as guidance on responsible business and Honduras. UK-funded guidance on part of our application for Independent practice, to mining and other protection from sexual exploitation and Participant status. In November, the FCO extractive businesses operating in abuse was published by ICoCA in April. high-risk and conflict-affected areas. successfully secured UK independent The VPs are therefore a key tool We have worked with the UK participation in the Kimberley Process for implementing the UN Guiding Private Security Companies (PSCs) which will begin from the date at Principles on Business and Human through the Security in Complex which EU law ceases to apply to the Rights (UNGPs). Further detail on the Environments Group to ensure that UK. Our participation in the KP enables UK’s VPs work over the last twelve stakeholders are engaged with the us to take a leading role, alongside months can be found in the UK’s 2019 government’s policy on PSCs. EU partners, in preventing the rough Voluntary Principles Annual Report.[20] diamond industry from fuelling conflict. The UK has continued to support Responsible Sourcing the Security and Human Rights of Minerals Transparency and Implementation Mechanism (SHRIM), Open Government Companies involved in the mining the multi-donor initiative created by of precious stones and high value The UK supports and promotes the UK and the Geneva Centre for minerals, including tin, tantalum, the values of transparency, Security Sector Governance (DCAF) to tungsten, and gold, known as 3TG, accountability, and participation. It improve the implementation of security can generate income, prosperity, does this domestically through the and human rights good practices in a and stability for local communities. development and delivery of policy coherent, cost effective, and sustainable However, in conflict areas, there is a and services, and internationally way. UK funding supported projects: risk that some proceeds from mining through multilateral engagement to improve human rights compliance may be diverted to support armed and innovative global projects. of public and private security forces conflict and human rights abuses. in Democratic Republic of Congo In 2019, the UK continued to be a (DRC) and Kenya; to develop leader in open government and open

[20] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-principles-on-security-and-human-rights-for-businesses-operating-in-fragile-environments- 2019-uk-update-report 19 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

data. Led by the UK Open Government test an Open Government Playbook, > be transparent about death penalty Network, various government which is designed to help countries use, in line with international departments delivered joint projects mainstream Open Government standards. with civil society organisations, aimed values into their decision-making According to Amnesty International’s at creating greater transparency in both processes by sharing best practice. 2019 Global Report on the Death government and private industry. DFID continued to be a leading Penalty, global executions continued to The Open Government Partnership funder of the OGP. This included a decrease, falling to the lowest recorded (OGP) was established in 2011 to £12 million programme to support figure of the past decade. Just twenty provide an international platform open governance in Ghana, Kenya, countries were responsible for all known for domestic reformers committed Liberia, Nigeria and Pakistan and executions worldwide, however, of to making their governments more contributions to an OGP Multi-Donor these Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South open, accountable, and responsive Trust Fund, hosted by the World Bank, Sudan and Yemen all saw a rise in the to citizens. It is a global platform and co-financed by France and Canada. number of executions. China continued to promote transparency and open to execute in the thousands and The UK also continued to support the [21] government initiatives, and drives remained the world’s top executioner. OGP through projects, in partnership national reform through locally-led with the Open Knowledge Foundation, There was some progress in 2019. National Action Plans (NAPs) which in nine countries during the year. As In May, New Hampshire became the are produced through collaboration part of International Open Data Day, latest US state to abolish the death between governments and civil this included projects to promote the penalty, meaning that 21 states now society, with support from the OGP. use of open data and advocate equal have a de jure moratorium in place. The UK’s work on OGP priorities development, civic participation, and California’s Governor ordered a continued to promote transparency. government accountability in Peru, suspension of executions in the state To celebrate Open Government Week Argentina, Lesotho, Colombia, in March, making California the latest in March, the UK organised a series of Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. state to suspend executions indefinitely events with civil society partners, such through executive action. The UK as the Open Contracting Partnership, was encouraged that Brunei publicly and Global Witness and Transparency Death Penalty and announced on 5 May for the first time International, and held the first Torture Prevention that it was observing a moratorium UK workshop on Feminist Open on the use of the death penalty. Government, which has led to the The UK government opposes the This followed intense international development of a gender database. use of the death penalty, in all criticism that it would enact inhumane circumstances, as a matter of principle. penalties for those prosecuted under In May, the UK launched its fourth Its use undermines human dignity, the Sharia Penal Code. The UK was National Action Plan (NAP) for Open there is no conclusive evidence of its at the forefront of the international Government at the OGP Summit in deterrent value, and any miscarriage community in opposing such penalties, Ottawa. A cross-government delegation of justice leading to its imposition and lobbied at the highest levels in- attended the forum, and announced is irreversible and irreparable. country. We welcomed the introduction policies on: enhancing company by the Government of Malaysia of disclosure for payments to governments In 2019, we aimed to increase the number of abolitionist a moratorium and its commitment to for the sale of publicly owned oil, gas, abolish mandatory death sentences, and minerals; empowering citizens to countries and countries with a moratorium on death penalty use, and encouraged them to pass the consider and facilitate impactful change necessary legislation without delay. through local area democracy forums; through working with multilateral and improving the compliance with, institutions and targeted bilateral The UK remained extremely concerned coverage of, and quality of procurement interventions in priority countries. about the high number of executions in data for publication. In addition We encouraged retentionist Saudi Arabia, including the execution to the NAP, the UK government’s countries to: of 37 people in April. We raised these Anti-Corruption Champion also concerns with the Saudi authorities > reduce the range of crimes carrying launched a campaign to improve the and continued to call for a reduction in the death penalty; transparency of beneficial ownership. the use of the death penalty, and for > move towards a moratorium on international minimum standards to be The UK has reinforced its commitment death penalty use; applied. In Pakistan, some progress to Open Government by securing a > stop the use of the death penalty was seen at the federal level to reform position on the Bureau of the newly against juvenile and vulnerable the Presidential Pardon process with formed OECD Working Party on offenders; and respect to the death penalty. We Open Government. The UK used the remain concerned that, for 27 crimes, inaugural meeting of the Working Party Pakistan retains the death penalty. The group in Colombia to develop and UK remained very concerned about the

[21] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/1847/2020/en CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 20

continued use of the death penalty in This will lead to an increased level overseas, and to identify suitable Belarus. The British Embassy in Minsk of awareness and knowledge within mitigation measures for those risks. worked closely with local human rights government, the criminal justice system, Below is an estimate of the organisations, including the Death the media, and wider public, which number of OSJA cases from across Penalty Project and the International will in turn strengthen democratic government during FY 2019/20: Commission against the Death Penalty, governance and promote informed to lobby parliamentarians and youth and constructive dialogue on the death Number of OSJA groups on the need for reform. penalty at a national level. This will lay Region cases for FY 2019–20 the foundations for eventual reform The UK expressed regret over the Europe 87 of the death penalty in Indonesia. We executions in July of three people in also worked with the DPP in Guyana Central Asia 17 Bahrain, which broke a two year on a project with local judges and hiatus from using capital punishment. Americas 72 lawyers, focusing on sentencing and Although the last execution was trial processes. This promoted the Middle East and 197 carried out in 2005, citizens of importance of ensuring the consistent North Africa Zimbabwe continue to be sentenced application of these processes to death. The President of Zimbabwe Sub-Saharan 123 meeting international law standards. has publicly committed his support Africa for abolition, and we engaged The UK government unreservedly South Asia 79 regularly with the government and condemns the use of torture. Torture parliament, in conjunction with local is an abhorrent violation of human Asia Pacific 75 and international NGOs, in order to rights and human dignity, and its encourage abolition. The de facto impact on societies and individuals is authorities in Georgia’s breakaway devastating. We funded projects aimed Export Controls region of Abkhazia passed a law at preventing torture, in particular UK export licensing processes are key in April that would re-introduce the to encourage states to ratify and to ensuring responsible UK defence and death penalty from January 2020. The implement the UN’s Optional Protocol security exports. All export licences are UK continued to work with advocacy to the Convention against Torture. assessed on a case-by-case basis against groups and law makers to reform The FCO continued to fund the the Consolidated EU and National Arms approaches to the death penalty Association for the Prevention of Export Licensing Criteria. The criteria in Indonesia, shape public debate Torture (APT) to implement safeguards provide a thorough risk assessment about its use, and raise concerns during the first hours of police custody framework, and require detailed over continuing cases. We urged the in Thailand, alongside the Sub- consideration of the capabilities and Government of the Philippines to Committee on Suppression of Torture impact of the equipment to be licensed. reconsider moves to re-instate the and Enforced Disappearance, and to death penalty. The UK continued to The criteria include provisions to uphold develop a stronger understanding raise concerns over the use of the death domestic policies and international of the importance of safeguards penalty in retentionist US states. obligations, such as those related to among the public and civil society. sanctions and the Arms Trade Treaty. The UK government supported several We welcomed the Government of The criteria are used to assess whether projects dedicated to abolishing the Brunei’s commitment to ratifying the there is a clear risk that the items death penalty through the £10.6m UN Convention against Torture and exported might be used for internal allocated to the Magna Carta Fund (part supported APT in providing technical repression; for the commission of of the FCO’s International Programme). expertise. We also funded APT to a serious violation of International Working with the NGO Reprieve, the continue supporting the National Humanitarian Law; for the provocation FCO delivered a project campaigning Preventative Mechanism in Panama. or prolongation of armed conflicts, or for the abolition of the death penalty in the aggravation of existing tensions Malawi and Tanzania, and supporting Overseas Security and or conflicts in the country of final prisoners on death row. We also destination; for aggression against facilitated a visit by Alistair Carmichael Justice Assistance another country; or for asserting MP, Vice Chair of the All Party a territorial claim by force. These Parliamentary Group on the Abolition The FCO continued work to implement the Overseas Security and Justice criteria apply to all types of licence of the Death Penalty, to Japan to share applications, without distinction the UK’s path towards abolition. Assistance (OSJA) Guidance across the UK government, providing advice and between civilian or military use. The FCO worked with the NGO Death training to OSJA leads in government During 2019, the government continued Penalty Project (DPP) in Indonesia to departments. The OSJA Guidance is to face complex challenges in export survey and interview opinion leaders, the government’s framework used licensing, with continuing conflicts and to gather data and identify to assess human rights risks related and concern over internal repression reasons behind the retention and to our security and justice work around the globe. The government took administration of the death penalty. measures to ensure that export controls 21 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

for strategic items, including those that would-be migrants did not need to 2,000 additional lives during 2019, covered by the EU Torture Regulations, attempt high-risk journeys. Alongside bringing the total of those rescued would continue to work effectively after this, through the UK’s Organised to over 16,600 since May 2015. the UK leaves the European Union. Immigration Crime Taskforce, we As of December 2019, 19,353 refugees disrupted criminality and strengthened The UK government has one of the had been resettled through the law enforcement capabilities in most transparent licensing regimes Vulnerable Persons’ Resettlement origin and transit countries. in the world. We publish quarterly Scheme (VPRS)—4,408 in the year and annual statistics on all export The FCO used its diplomatic network to December 2019. Under the VPRS, licensing decisions, including details to monitor conditions in migrant camps the UK has pledged to resettle of export licences granted, refused, and detention centres. In Bosnia 20,000 vulnerable refugees fleeing and revoked. UK export licensing is and Herzegovina, our Embassy the Syrian crisis by the end of 2020. accountable to Parliament, including raised concerns about conditions in A further 1,747 children and their through a statutory obligation the migrant camp at Vucjak, and in families had been resettled from the to provide an Annual Report on December, migrants were moved Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Strategic Export Controls. as a result of international pressure region under the Vulnerable Children’s and support. In Libya, the UK raised Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)—489 The Export Control Joint Unit, located concerns following reports of serious in the year to December 2019. within the Department for International sexual abuse, physical abuse, and Trade, with input from Advisory Forecasts at the end of 2019 predicted torture of migrants in detention. The Departments, assessed 15,807 Standard continuing high global migration flows. then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, Individual Export Licence applications The UK will continue to respond to and the Ambassador to Libya, Martin and issued 12,088, refused 223, and emerging migration crises and their Reynolds, also publicly condemned revoked 11 licences during 2019. underlying causes, in addition to an airstrike in July which killed over building capabilities to reduce irregular 50 detained migrants at Tajoura migration in the longer term. Consistent detention centre, calling for the Migration and with our ‘whole of route’ approach, centre’s closure and the evacuation Human Rights we will continue to work bilaterally, of all migrants that remained. In regionally, and internationally to create June, the then Prime Minister Theresa Despite a further reduction in the safer migratory pathways that promote May announced that the FCO would overall numbers of migrants entering and protect the human rights of all. Europe, global migration continued appoint an International Migration and to grow in 2019. Irregular migrants Modern Slavery Envoy. In October, (those who migrate outside of legal Jennifer Townson took up the role, Economic and pathways) remained vulnerable to working to strengthen our international Social Rights human rights violations by states engagement on these issues. and to abuses by non-state actors. In Greece, we sought to improve Irregular migrants are at risk of being conditions for the most vulnerable Women’s Economic subjected to people smuggling, modern on the island ‘hotspots’ by providing Empowerment slavery, and violations of their rights highly skilled interpreters, so that to liberty, education, asylum, and Women’s Economic Empowerment migrants could communicate with the is essential for the full realisation of ultimately to life. These risks were camp authorities and gain access to highlighted in October by the deaths human rights and for gender equality. vital services such as medical care and It is also central to achieving and of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a support. In response to a European refrigerated lorry in Grays, Essex. sustaining inclusive economic growth. Commission request, and to avoid a The UK’s priority areas for success The UK government remained humanitarian crisis, the UK drew on are work, assets and addressing committed to limiting irregular the Conflict, Security and Stability gender specific barriers to these. migration and safeguarding those who Fund (CSSF) to increase the supply take such dangerous journeys. The of emergency winter supplies. The UK continued to increase economic opportunities for women UK continued to pursue a ‘whole of CSSF-funded projects also helped route’ approach, working at all stages through a number of DFID- Turkey support nearly four million led programmes, notably two of migratory routes in origin, transit, refugees, including more than 800,000 and destination countries, as envisaged programmes that were scaled-up at girls from Syria. A new research the UK-Africa Investment Summit: by the UN Global Compact for Safe, project launched in 2019 promoted Orderly and Regular Migration. the integration of these Syrian girls > ‘Work and Opportunities for The UK sought to tackle both into mainstream schooling through Women’—which has now signed six the demand for and supply of inclusive education practices. partnerships with businesses (total irregular migration. We supported target of ten) in support of its goal of A CSSF-funded Border Force Search and reaching 300,000 women in global various efforts, including economic Rescue vessel continued to operate in development and conflict resolution, so supply chains with improved working the Aegean Sea, saving approximately conditions; and CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 22

more likely to have disabilities. Work on ageing is important to the UK’s approach to the UN programme on inclusion, ‘Leave No One Behind’. High quality disaggregated data is essential to designing and delivering effective programmes and policies that are inclusive of older people. The UK has continued to take the lead in the UN Titchfield Group on Ageing and Age Disaggregated Data. In March, DFID published the Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan[22], laying out the next steps it would take to understand better the situation of the poorest and most marginalised, Visit to Sarpanch Bhakti Sharma’s panchayat in Madhya Pradesh, India, 2019 and to make decisions that positively impact the lives of people at all ages. > ‘SheTrades Commonwealth’—which disabilities living in developing countries. The UK is also supporting governments provides direct support to women- Without including people with to make vital social protection systems owned businesses to increase their disabilities in our work, the international more inclusive of older people. For international trading power. Since community will not eradicate poverty, example, DFID continued to build on its launch in 2018, the programme deliver the Sustainable Development its partnership with the Government has provided training and mentoring Goals (SDGs), or implement the UN of Uganda to deliver a senior citizen to over 3,200 women-owned Convention on the Rights of Persons grant, which now supports over businesses, supported the creation of with Disabilities (UN CRPD). 168,000 older people—including over 2,000 jobs and generated £18m The UK government’s vision is a world 70,000 older people with disabilities— in sales for the businesses it supports. where all people with disabilities, in to meet their basic needs. As an international champion for all stages of their lives, are engaged, Women’s Economic Empowerment, empowered, and able to exercise and Right to Health the UK continued its support for the enjoy their rights on an equal basis with Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, others. The Global Disability Summit: Worldwide, millions of people die and approved £30 million of new One Year On report was published in from preventable causes, especially funding for the African Development 2019 and shows that significant and the most disadvantaged people. Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for concrete progress against commitments Countries with weak health systems Women in Africa programme, which has been made. Work is underway are vulnerable to shocks, including both supports women entrepreneurs on 74% of commitments, and 10% of outbreaks of disease. In October, the and removes structural barriers to commitments are reported as already UK government announced it would their full economic participation. The completed. Specific examples of impact step up efforts to end the preventable UK’s development finance institution in 2019 include the Government of deaths of mothers, newborn babies (DFI), CDC, is a key supporter of the Nigeria, which enacted national and children by 2030. This is in line 2X Challenge. This is a commitment legislation prohibiting discrimination with our commitment to achieving by the G7 DFIs to mobilise £2.3 billion based on disability, and the UN’s launch the Sustainable Development Goals. ($3 billion) in investments supporting of a new Disability Inclusion Strategy, Achieving universal health coverage, women. During 2019, CDC led the which is ground-breaking in its aim to including through strengthening health DFI group towards agreement of embed sustainable and transformative systems to provide quality affordable harmonised definitions of gender progress on disability inclusion across essential health services, and access investing. CDC has made qualifying the UN system. The UK’s Inclusive to sexual and reproductive health and investments that contribute £19.3 Education Initiative fund was launched rights (SRHR), will be central to these million ($25 million) to the target. in April, which will support countries to efforts, as well as addressing the build their capacity to realise inclusive wider determinants of health such as Rights of People and equitable quality education. healthy diets and healthy environments. The UK played a leadership role in with Disabilities ensuring that rights, including SRHR, There are an estimated one billion Rights of Older Persons and equitable access to health services people with disabilities globally, with Many older people have no reliable without financial hardship, were focal an estimated 80% of people with source of income and are much issues during negotiations of the

[22] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leaving-no-one-behind-our-promise/inclusive-data-charter-action-plan#inclusive-data-charter 23 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Political Declaration on Universal Health the right to an adequate standard population are covered by at least Coverage (UHC) at the UN General of living. Sustainable Development one social protection benefit, and just Assembly in September. This approach Goal (SDG) six calls for universal 18% in Africa. The UK recognises the was maintained through the Health access to safe water and sanitation. important role which social protection Systems Strengthening Resolution at the plays in ensuring income security, In financial year 2018/19, the UK Health and Development Policy Group which is essential for achievement of helped 11.5 million people gain access in December. DFID continued to support the Sustainable Development Goals to water and/or sanitation. Current countries to fulfil their UHC ambitions (SDG), including SDG1 to end poverty, programming indicates that by 2020, through bilateral and multilateral and leave no one behind. It helps the the UK will have helped over 60 million investments, in June announcing that poorest and most vulnerable to meet people gain access since 2015. it would contribute £1.4 billion to the their basic needs, build human capital, Sixth Replenishment of the Global Fund In 2020, the UK will continue to support cope better with stresses and shocks, to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. poor people in gaining access to water and have more control over their lives. and sanitation in Africa, Asia and the In 2019, the UK continued to support The UK supported countries to Middle East, putting an increasing poor and vulnerable people to gain strengthen health system preparedness, focus on strengthening national systems access to social protection in more including the Department of Health of service delivery, and ensuring that than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and and Social Care executive agency Public water and sanitation services are the Middle East, including a new Health England’s project to strengthen resilient to the effects of climate change. programme in Liberia. DFID worked the International Health Regulations, with partner governments to increase the Public Health Rapid Support Land and related social rights are the reach, quality, domestic financing, Team and DFID’s Tackling Deadly addressed in the human right to and sustainability of their social Diseases in Africa Programme. own property and the entitlement protection systems, and supported Globally, DFID supported the World to its peaceful enjoyment. Secure safety nets in fragile and conflict- Health Organisation’s role in universal land and property rights also affected states to be more effective. health coverage, health systems underpin the realisation of other and emergency preparedness and human rights, including the right response. The UK continued to invest to food, water and housing. The Overseas Territories in research, including new treatment The UK government supports good options for drug resistant tuberculosis. Each Overseas Territory has its own land governance as a key pillar of Constitution, government, and local The challenge the world faces in inclusive and sustainable economic laws. The UK government continued to responding to the coronavirus development. Achievements include: expect the territories to abide by the (COVID-19) pandemic is unprecedented > Strengthening tenure security of same basic standards of human rights and will have a profound impact on poor people through large-scale as the UK. We continued to encourage people’s enjoyment of their human land regularisation programmes. them to seek the extension of the rights. In 2020, countries will need to DFID-funded land titling programmes core UN human rights conventions balance the demands of responding have issued over 14.5 million land ratified by the UK, but to do so only to the pandemic directly and titles, with over half either having a when they were ready to apply them. maintaining delivery of essential health woman’s name on them or a joint services, while also addressing the The UK continued to support the title between spouses; broader health, social, and economic governments of the Overseas Territories determinants that impact on the right > Innovative global approaches to in their commitment to ensuring to the highest attainable standard of map and pre-register land rights (i.e. the highest possible standards health. This is particularly important in in the absence of an authoritative for the protection of children and the context of movement restrictions government agency, preparing for promotion of children’s welfare. introduced as part of physical distancing formal registration in anticipation Tailored programmes of support measures to control the virus, which of there being an authoritative were developed and delivered for a can have unintended consequences, government agency that can, in number of territories. These aimed including reducing access to quality future, finalise rights); and to enhance the capability of key essential health services. States should > Improving evidence, transparency, agencies (particularly police, social ensure they design physical distancing and accountability on governance workers, and educators) to recognise measures and adapt health services through its Land Governance for child abuse and tackle it effectively; to protect access to essential health Economic Development flagship strengthen legal frameworks; and services, particularly for the most programme. develop more robust systems to enable marginalised and vulnerable groups. agencies to work together effectively Social Protection on child safeguarding. For example, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Water, Sanitation and Land Despite good progress in recent years, support to the police, social workers, The UK recognises that the right to social protection coverage globally and educators has helped them to water and sanitation derives from remains low. Only 45% of the world’s enhance their capability on child CHAPTER 1: Human Rights and Democracy Priority Themes 24

(Gender Equality), and SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). FCO programme funding works in addition to other funding mechanisms such as the Conflict, Security, and Stability Fund (CSSF), as well as funding from other government departments. It enables the FCO to complement traditional diplomatic activity, respond effectively to changing international situations, and leverage funding from international partners and the private sector.

Adolescent Child Defenders, Project Jagaran, funded by the Projects funded by the International International Programme Fund, in Chhattisgarh, India Programme in FY 2019/20 looked at a range of human rights themes. safeguarding. In the Falkland Islands tasked the Legislative Assembly FCO objectives in 2019/20 placed we supported the police to further to move expeditiously to provide a particular emphasis on: strengthen their investigative skills legal recognition and protection > working closely with domestic when dealing with offences relating for same-sex relationships in the and international partners to drive to child sexual abuse and exploitation. Cayman Islands, which is functionally international efforts to combat We worked with Anguilla as it drafted equivalent to marriage. In response, modern slavery and ensure that and finalised its Child Protection Act, the Premier has committed to bringing this effort is recognised as a global and are providing support for its legislation complying with the moral imperative; implementation. The UK government judgment to the Legislative Assembly > defending the right to Freedom also provided technical assistance to during the first quarter of 2020. of Religion or Belief for people the Cayman Islands to enable it to In 2020, we will continue to encourage of all faiths, beliefs, and none, review and enhance the efficiency of all of the Overseas Territories to work and encouraging respect between its Child Safeguarding Board. We will towards greater equality, and to different communities around the continue to provide technical support ensure that all legislation is compliant world; to the Overseas Territories in 2020. with human rights obligations. > supporting the right of human The UK government is committed to rights defenders to carry out their equal rights, including upholding the Human Rights and work, while being able to voice their rights of LGBT people. We believe opinions freely and safely; that the strongest, safest, and most Democracy Programmes > promoting the development and prosperous societies are those in which strengthening of democracy, all citizens can live freely without The UK promotes and defends a wide including through the work of fear of discrimination, and where all range of human rights set out in the Westminster Foundation for citizens, including LGBT people, can the Universal Declaration of Human Democracy; play a full and active part in society. Rights and in other international At the end of 2019, nine Overseas human rights instruments. The UK > opposing the death penalty and Territories had legal recognition and strongly encourages all states to abide the use of torture as a matter of protection for same-sex relationships. by and fulfil their obligations under principle, in all circumstances; international law. One of the ways Same-sex marriage is legal in the > gender equality (as detailed in which the FCO supports other Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Pitcairn below); and Islands, St Helena, Ascension countries in meeting their human rights obligations is through funding > defending the right to freedom Island, and Tristan da Cunha. In of the media and freedom of November 2018, Bermuda’s Court provided by the FCO’s International Programme. We have highlighted many expression as essential components of Appeal struck down the provision of any functioning democracy, of the Domestic Partnership Act that of our projects in the country specific sections of this report, as this work leading to greater stability and removed same-sex marriage rights. The prosperity. Bermuda Government has appealed the has strongly supported our human Through international institutions ruling to the Judicial Committee of the rights engagement, particularly with and frameworks, the FCO has also Privy Council. A provisional date for the our human rights priority countries. used International Programme hearing has been set for February 2021. FCO funding covers a wide geographic funding to strengthen relationships spread and activity in support of the In November, the Cayman Islands between states, with shared rules and FCO’s strategic objective to project our Court of Appeal reversed the decision agreements on behaviour. Specific global influence. It also helps to advance of the Grand Court that provided for programme objectives have been: same-sex marriage. The judgment the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG5 25 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

> strengthening the efficiency and Case studies of programme capacity of the United Nations, the work supporting human world’s leading multilateral institution rights and democracy and international forum for the development of collective standards In Sudan, FCO programme funding was on human rights; used to train parliamentary oversight and scrutiny committees in post- > support increased levels of UK legislative scrutiny. These committees representation at all levels in in turn passed on skills, tools, and multilateral institutions; knowledge to other committees. > strengthening the rule of law across A pioneering training centre was Commonwealth countries, a established to ensure sustainability worldwide partnership of diversity and longer-term impact. The UK is and shared values; now regarded as a trusted partner in > supporting the International terms of good governance support. Criminal Court and other tribunals The UK’s Mission to the UN in New involved in global efforts to end York partnered with NGO Article 19 impunity for the most serious crimes to enhance multilateral understanding of international concern; and of and support to UN standards on > working with business and civil Freedom of Religion or Belief, including society, including to support by engaging national stakeholders adherence to the UN Guiding in the implementation of those Principles on Responsible Business. standards. The project supported Gender equality: the UK government the participation of civil society is committed to a foreign policy representatives from Bangladesh, that consciously and consistently Malaysia, Myanmar, and Tunisia in delivers for women and girls. For the 7th Istanbul Process meeting in the FCO-led, projects, this has meant Hague, held on 18-19 November. This providing funding to support: furthered UK objectives by ensuring > the Preventing Sexual Violence that a diversity of perspectives were in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), which represented at the meeting, which seeks to support all survivors of focused on combatting intolerance sexual violence in conflict, including on the basis of religion or belief. by tackling stigma; strengthening In Vietnam, funding has supported justice and accountability; and training by Marie Collins Foundation for preventing conflict-related sexual 400 teachers on safeguarding children in violence by tackling its root causes; schools. Educationalists engaged actively > working with international partners with trainers and took learning back to to provide the opportunity for their schools to create a legacy for new all girls to receive 12 years of teachers. The project substantially raised quality education; both the profile of UK action against > delivering the UK government’s child abuse, and recognition of the need National Action Plan[23] commitments to adhere to international standards. on Women, Peace and Security, In Peru, FCO programming has including promoting women’s supported NGO Padre Pío to open meaningful participation in peace the Peruvian labour market to processes, as well as supporting fleeing Venezuelan migrants. them in resolving conflict, countering An online platform was created, violent extremism, and building peace matching Venezuelans with Peruvian at the grassroots level; and employers. The platform, valiosos. > supporting the right for all people, org, is open to over 400,000 irrespective of their sexual Venezuelans holding professional orientation or gender identity, to qualifications, bringing vulnerable live with dignity, free from prejudice, migrants into the formal economy, thus violence, or discrimination. combating risks of modern slavery.

[23] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/677586/FCO1215-NAP-Women-Peace-Security- ONLINE_V2.pdf CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 26

CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System

Human Rights at the UN Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN education, violence against women, Security Council (UNSC), and the UN and discrimination against women. Almost 75 years ago, the UN Charter Commission on the Status of Women. established the three pillars of the In 2019, the UK maintained its Human Rights Council UN’s work: maintaining international support for UN human rights work peace and security; promoting and The UK’s latest term on the Human and was again one of the top ten protecting human rights; and fostering Rights Council (HRC) ended in donors to the Office of the High development. As we mark UN’s 75th December 2019 and we are standing Commissioner for Human Rights anniversary, the UK’s commitment to for election in 2020 (for the 2021-23 (OHCHR), providing funding of these three pillars remains steadfast. term). We are proud of our work at around £8m. This included support the HRC as an active member shining The UN is the leading international for projects on preventing conflict, a spotlight on those who violate and forum for the development of combating sexual and gender-based abuse human rights. While we will not collective standards on human rights, violence, and specific country issues. be a member of the HRC in 2020, we scrutiny of human rights violations The UK continued to raise central will continue to use our voice to support and abuses, and dialogue on human human rights themes, including modern countries that are working to improve rights between states. The main slavery, gender equality including girls’ their human rights record, and to hold intergovernmental forum on human education, the rights of LGBT people, to account those states that violate rights is the Geneva-based UN Human media freedom, and freedom of religion the human rights of their people. Rights Council (HRC). Other important or belief, at all relevant UN fora. We UN fora for human rights issues include Our campaign pledges[24] for the 2021- co-sponsored a number of resolutions the UN General Assembly (UNGA) 23 term reflect UK priorities at home that reinforced women’s rights and Third Committee, the Economic and and overseas, draw on our tradition of gender equality, including on girls’

United Nations, Geneva

[24] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/un-human-rights-council-united-kingdom-2021-to-2023-candidate 27 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

conviction that a two-state solution is Human Rights Council, Geneva the only sustainable path for delivering justice and human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians. The UK supports an effective HRC as a central element of the rules-based international system that holds all to account. However, the existence of a dedicated agenda item (Item 7) which singles out Israel is disproportionate, unhelpful and harmful to the HRC’s credibility, and does little to advance the achievement of a negotiated two-state solution. For those reasons, the UK voted against all Item 7 resolutions in 2019. We supported the tabling of a fifth resolution, on accountability, under Item 2, which allowed the UK to engage with the resolution on its merits. Ultimately the resolution failed to address the supporting democratic and inclusive the UN’s International, Impartial and actions of non-state actors such as values, and focus on some of the Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and Hamas; the UK therefore abstained. most prominent challenges which the supported the UN Secretary-General’s international community faces. They are: proposal to provide future funding for The UK continued to work through the the IIIM from the UN Regular Budget. UN to highlight human rights issues > to promote 12 years of quality At the UNSC, we repeatedly raised in Cameroon. In March we made a education for all girls, and to work [25] concerns about violations and abuses joint statement with Austria, which to end violence against women and of human rights, and about breaches expressed deep concern about the girls; of international humanitarian law, deteriorating human rights situation > to stand up for freedom of thought, including in a session with Syrian civil in the north-west and south-west conscience, religion or belief; society in August on the situation regions of Cameroon, and urged the > to support democratic values; and of detainees and missing persons. Government to cooperate with the OHCHR. During UNSC briefings in > to be at the forefront of global The UK maintained the UN’s focus June[26] and December[27], the UK called efforts to protect media freedom. on the serious human rights issues in for investigations into all human rights We remain fully engaged with efforts to Myanmar, raising these at the HRC, violations and abuses, and stressed strengthen the HRC and to ensure that it the UNSC, and the UNGA. We raised the need for inclusive dialogue about continues to hold human rights violators concerns about human rights in both the root causes of the crisis in the to account. The UK will continue to be formal and informal UNSC meetings, north-west and south-west regions. a strong advocate for both the HRC, emphasising the need for accountability, and the OHCHR, in promoting and and calling on Myanmar to create We supported EU led resolutions on the protecting human rights worldwide. conditions for the voluntary, safe, Democratic People’s Republic of dignified, and sustainable return of Korea (DPRK) at the March HRC and at the UNGA Third Committee. The HRC Country issues Rohingya refugees. The UK also played an active role in the EU’s co-tabling of resolution continued to address the The UK continued to lead action resolutions with the Organisation of most serious issues related to the dire on human rights in Syria, drafting Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Myanmar human rights situation in the DPRK. The resolutions at each HRC session, at the UNGA and HRC, as well as in Third Committee resolution recognised and as a member of the core group the EU-led resolution renewing the that the DPRK had submitted its for the UNGA Third Committee mandate of the Special Rapporteur. initial report on the implementation resolution. The March session of of the Convention on the Rights of The March session of the HRC passed the HRC renewed the mandate of Persons with Disabilities, but also four resolutions under Agenda Item 7, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria included strengthened language on ‘Human rights situation in Palestine and for another year. The UK continued civil society, and a call for stronger other occupied Arab territories’. The UK to support accountability, including cooperation with humanitarian actors. shares the international community’s through a £775,000 contribution to

[25] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/human-rights-council-40-cameroon [26] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/inclusive-political-dialogue-in-central-africa [27] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-importance-of-unoca-in-preventing-and-resolving-conflict CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 28

In March, the HRC renewed the Group of Eminent Experts was given regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia), mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur further time to examine the conflict the Philippines, and Cambodia. on Iran. The UK is part of the core fully, and to ensure that its conclusions group on the UNGA Third Committee accurately reflect the conduct of all Thematic issues resolution, and we remain concerned parties, especially the destabilising role about limitations on freedom of religion of Iran. We are clear that the only way Throughout the year, the UK supported or belief, and restrictions on freedom to end the cycle of violence is through initiatives at the UN on gender. The June of expression, on the operation of the a political settlement, which will enable session of the HRC adopted resolutions rule of law, and on women’s rights. a legitimate government to protect on ending discrimination against the human rights of all Yemenis. women, violence against women and Also in March, the UK led international girls, child and early forced marriage, consensus to renew the unique The HRC also adopted two resolutions and equal pay. In November, the UNGA mandate of the UN Commission on on Venezuela in September. Third Committee passed resolutions on Human Rights in South Sudan, The first strengthened the mandate rights of the child, the girl child, migrant with South Sudan’s agreement. This of the OHCHR office in Caracas. women workers, and the situation enabled the Commission to continue The second, co-sponsored by the of women and girls in rural areas. its vital work in monitoring human UK, established an independent rights and tackling impunity. international fact-finding mission Sexual and Reproductive Health (FFM) to investigate extrajudicial and Rights (SRHR), as well as sexual We were encouraged by Sri Lanka’s executions, arbitrary detentions, orientation and gender identity, agreement to co-sponsor a further and torture since 2014. The Maduro continued to be contested topics resolution at the March HRC continuing regime refused to cooperate with in both the HRC and UNGA Third the commitments it made to the HRC the FFM, which established its Committee. The UK co-sponsored the in October 2015 and March 2017. We headquarters in Panama as a result. resolution renewing the mandate of the will continue to work with Sri Lanka Independent Expert on the prevention as it implements its commitments. The UK raised concerns about the of violence on the grounds of Sexual situation in China at all three sessions At the June HRC, the UK supported a Orientation or Gender Identity at the of the HRC. In July, the UK and 24 other resolution on technical cooperation June HRC, and actively worked to countries registered their concerns and assistance to Ukraine by ensure that all amendments tabled about Xinjiang in public letter[28] the OHCHR. At the UNGA Third against the resolution were defeated. to the President of the HRC and to Committee, as a member of the core We were pleased there were no the High Commissioner for Human group, the UK supported a resolution procedural attempts at UNGA Third Rights. In October, the UK read a tabled by Ukraine on human rights in Committee to target the mandate, joint statement[29] on behalf of 23 Crimea. The resolution condemned as there had been during its creation countries at the UN Third Committee, Russia’s illegal annexation of in 2016, demonstrating progress drawing attention to the human rights Crimea, and sought to ensure Russia’s in moving towards international violations in Xinjiang and calling on accountability for its actions there. consensus. On SRHR, the US continued China to uphold its obligations to its policy of opposing references to In September, we worked with respect human rights. The UK also reproductive rights, and challenged Sudan and others on a resolution co-sponsored events at the HRC and agreed understandings of gender that renewed the mandate of the UNGA, highlighting the serious human equality, women’s empowerment, and Independent Expert on Sudan and rights situation in Xinjiang and calling the intersection of health and human committed the Sudanese government for China to allow UN observers rights. The UK worked closely with like- to open a fully mandated OHCHR, unfettered access to the region. minded member states and civil society with field offices. The adoption of the Across the three HRC sessions in 2019, to protect existing language, ensuring resolution, and Sudan’s willingness the UK also worked with partners no rollback of international agreement to engage constructively with to renew the mandates of (among on these issues. We advanced related international partners, highlighted the others) the Special Rapporteurs on concepts in relevant negotiations, government’s commitment to address Eritrea and Belarus, and Independent including language on supporting long-standing human rights issues Experts on Mali, the Central African adolescent empowerment, improving during Sudan’s transition and beyond. Republic, the Kasais (in the DRC), and menstrual hygiene management, and The September HRC passed two Somalia, as well as the Commission combatting discrimination against resolutions on Yemen, after efforts to of Inquiry on Burundi. We also women and girls in service delivery. negotiate a single consensus text again supported resolutions on the human The UK delivered a joint statement[30] failed. The seriousness of the human rights situations in Nicaragua, Libya, on behalf of 71 states on the issue of rights situation made it vital that the Georgia (relating to the breakaway reprisals against civil society and human

[28] https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G19/223/89/PDF/G1922389.pdf?OpenElement [29] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/joint-statement-on-xinjiang [30] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/we-strongly-condemn-any-act-of-intimidation-and-reprisal 29 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

rights defenders. The statement enjoyed strong cross-regional support, and highlighted the crucial role played by civil society in the healthy functioning of democratic institutions, while reiterating the importance of being able to interact with the UN system without fear of reprisal or intimidation. The UK again worked successfully to help secure consensus on the two religion-related resolutions at the HRC and the UNGA Third Committee: on Freedom of Religion or Belief (led by the EU), and on Combating Intolerance (led by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). The UK continued to engage constructively in international discussions on ageing, including Human Rights Ambassador Rita French visiting International Red Cross at the annual session of the Open Volunteers in Beira, Mozambique following the cyclone in November 2019 Ended Working Group on Ageing. The UK is clear that the whole religious groups in Iran, particularly the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva, spectrum of internationally recognised the Baha’is and Christians. and is also the UK’s Deputy Permanent human rights standards apply to Representative to the United Nations. older persons, as they do to all The UK will continue to promote individuals, without distinction. best practice as the third cycle The International Ambassador continues in 2020, and will participate for Human Rights has three main in all upcoming reviews. objectives: to enhance the UK’s Universal Periodic Review profile and leadership within the In 2019, the third cycle of the Universal Treaty Monitoring Bodies multilateral system, including at the HRC; to work with other countries to Periodic Review (UPR) entered its and Special Procedures third year. The UK remains a strong support and advance human rights; supporter of the UPR process and The UK supports the work of the UN’s and to promote the UK’s priority participated in all reviews (42 in total). expert human rights mechanisms, human rights campaigns. She engages including the treaty bodies (bodies with civil society groups in Geneva, During Yemen’s review in January, of experts set up to monitor state the UK, and around the world. the UK expressed concern over the compliance with their human rights In 2019, the International Ambassador human rights abuses and violations treaty obligations), and special carried out by all parties to the for Human Rights undertook visits procedures (expert individuals or to Sierra Leone, The Gambia, conflict, which have resulted in working groups mandated by the HRC civilian casualties, persecution on Senegal and Mozambique, where to monitor and review specific country she engaged in human rights dialogue the grounds of religion or belief, or thematic issues). We encourage restrictions on freedom of expression with representatives of governments, other states that have not yet done institutions, and civil society in order and association, restricted access to so to commit to accepting all visit education for girls, and the continued to assess progress and challenges, and requests. We expect mandate holders to explore targeted UK interventions recruitment of children to fight. At the to operate within the terms of their DPRK review in May, we were clear to support states’ progress on human mandate and to respect the code of rights, including recommendations that it was unacceptable that citizens conduct set out in HRC resolution 5/2. faced surveillance, imprisonment, in the Universal Periodic Reviews. or even death for their religion or belief, and that the population was Appointment of International Security Council not allowed access to independent Human Rights Ambassador The UK is committed to supporting media or sources of information. In In May, the then Foreign Secretary, Iran’s review in November, the UK the United Nation’s work. In the UN Jeremy Hunt, appointed Rita French Security Council (UNSC) in 2019, the expressed deep concern over Iran’s to be the UK’s first International failure to uphold its international legal UK continued to lead diplomatic efforts Ambassador for Human Rights, to tackle a number of long-running obligations, including its arbitrary demonstrating the UK’s strong detention of citizens and foreign and conflicts that have had a damaging commitment to defend and advance impact on human rights. The UK dual nationals, and over discrimination human rights globally. She is based at against persons belonging to minority acted as ‘penholder’ in the UNSC on CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 30

Central Africa, Colombia, Cyprus, The UK participated actively in Peacekeeping Iraq/Kuwait, the Lake Chad international fora that advocated for Basin Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, R2P and the sharing of best practice UN peacekeeping is one of the key Sudan (together with Germany), to drive up standards and levels of tools available to the international Yemen, the Protection of Civilians, protection. We hosted an international community in holding the line on and Women Peace & Security event in April dedicated to improving global conflicts and creating the (UNSCR 1325). We have continued capacity to prevent atrocity crimes, necessary conditions for peace. The to press for discussions at the UNSC which also involved UK civil society impact of war falls primarily on civilians, on serious human rights violations groups active in this field. The UK particularly women and children. where these constitute a concern for also continued to fund the work of There are 13 UN peacekeeping missions international peace and security. both the joint UN Office on Genocide with around 100,000 military, police, Prevention and the Responsibility and civilian personnel, with six large UN Reform to Protect, and the Global Centre missions, chiefly in sub-Saharan for the Responsibility to Protect. Africa. As a permanent member of Formal implementation of Secretary- the UNSC, the UK continued to work General António Guterres’ UN reform Peacebuilding to ensure that protecting civilians and agenda began on 1 January, and reducing the threat of human rights has delivered positive changes to the Peacebuilding remains a critical tool violations and abuses formed a core UN development system, peace and in both conflict prevention and post- element of all peacekeeping operations security architecture, and management conflict environments, where building where this risk was present. In 2019, structures and processes. This stronger and more inclusive societies we conducted strategic assessment important agenda is improving the based on human rights and respect for visits to five UN peacekeeping UN’s effectiveness, and is ultimately the rule of law can prevent a relapse missions where we engaged with supporting its mission to help the into violent conflict. The UK continued staff, civil society and international world’s most vulnerable people. The to provide political and financial support partners to assess the human rights UK has been a strong supporter of to UN peacebuilding efforts and to situation on the ground and the role reform, both politically and financially, the implementation of the Secretary- of the mission in improving this. and we have continued to work with General’s Sustaining Peace agenda. The UK worked closely with the UN the UN and our other international We provided targeted support to boost and member states to reform UN partners to ensure greater focus on the UN’s conflict prevention capacity, peacekeeping, focusing on the ‘3Ps’: conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and pushed for the UN to make better better mission Planning; more and better coordination across the use of its broad range of stability better Pledges of personnel and UN system, and mainstreaming tools. These include more effective UN equipment; and stronger mission human rights considerations Special Political Missions, UN Country Performance. This supports the across the wider UN system. Teams, UN Policing, UN Peacekeeping, UN Secretary-General’s Action increased mediation capacity, and for Peacekeeping agenda. Responsibility to Protect and a strengthened Women, Peace and UK partnerships training for police and Mass Atrocity Prevention Security agenda. We have also worked troop contributing countries complies with UN Resident Coordinators and with human rights standards. We The UK is committed to the principle host country governments (including announced a £1 million contribution of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Liberia and Sudan) to assist to the Elsie Fund to increase the which places the clear onus on states government peacebuilding efforts and number of uniformed women in to protect their populations from transitions from UN peacekeeping to peacekeeping, creating a more war crimes, crimes against humanity, peacebuilding. Our support (through inclusive future for peace operations, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. R2P the UN Development Programme and and committed to undertaking is a political commitment adopted others) to strengthen national rule a gender barrier assessments by all member states at the 2005 of law and human rights institutions study to ensure the UK continues World Summit, to support states in in fragile and conflict-affected to meet UN targets on women’s this vital endeavour. Our work to situations is a critical contribution participation. Our voluntary funding promote R2P includes programmes to UN peacebuilding. Through of the Comprehensive Performance that deliver security, peacekeeping, our support to the UN Peace and Assessment System enhanced peacebuilding, and stability activity, Development Advisers programme, mission planning and decision- to help countries become safer and we have helped build human rights making, improving accountability. more secure. In 2019, we continued to metrics into national early warning work with our international partners systems for conflict prevention. to drive policy at the UN, playing a leading role on Myanmar, Libya, Syria and Yemen in the UNSC. 31 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Commonwealth in Geneva-based international human The Role of the Commonwealth rights mechanisms, the UK funded The Commonwealth continued two resident human rights advisers The then FCO Minister, Harriett Baldwin, to be an important forum for in the CSSO to provide technical and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon the protection, promotion, and assistance to Commonwealth small represented the UK at meetings of strengthening of democracy, human states in their engagement with the the Commonwealth Ministerial Action rights, good governance, and the Human Rights Council. This support Group (CMAG) in June and September rule of law. As Chair-in-Office of the has particularly helped member states’ respectively. CMAG received updates Commonwealth, the UK continued participation in the Universal Periodic from the Commonwealth Secretary- to work with the three pillars of the Review (UPR) reporting system, with General on developments in member Commonwealth—the Commonwealth countries such as Dominica and states, and recognised the important Secretariat, its member states, and Grenada receiving tailored technical work of the Commonwealth’s its organisations and networks—to assistance on their UPRs. The UK’s organisations in advancing the deliver on the commitments made International Ambassador for Human fundamental political values of the at the Commonwealth Heads of Rights, Rita French, facilitated greater Commonwealth. In November, the Government Meeting (CHOGM) which Commonwealth cooperation in Geneva Secretary-General undertook a tripartite the UK hosted in London in 2018. by hosting briefings for Commonwealth visit with the African Union (AU) and This work supports the values and member states ahead of the 42nd the Francophonie to Cameroon, in aspirations of the Commonwealth Session of the HRC in September. order to encourage ongoing national Charter, which are essential for the efforts to support peace-building development of peaceful, just, and and national cohesion. CMAG, in Social and Political Inclusion conjunction with the Good Offices inclusive Commonwealth societies. In support of effective, accountable, of the Commonwealth Secretary- and inclusive national institutions, the General, plays a fundamental role in Human Rights Institutions UK-funded Commonwealth Partnership championing the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. At CHOGM 2018, Heads of Government for Democracy (CP4D) hosted a recognised the importance of sharing panel session at the UN High Level human rights best practice and Political Forum in July to promote Europe expertise across the Commonwealth. the Commonwealth Benchmarks The UK has supported delivery of for Democratic Legislatures, a best these commitments by funding the practice tool to improve parliaments’ European Union Equality and Human Rights Commission capacity to measure performance As an EU member in 2019, the (EHRC) in its role as chair of the against Sustainable Development UK helped shape and deliver the Commonwealth Forum of National Goal indicators. The UK also provided EU’s human rights and democracy Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI), funding to enable the Commonwealth objectives within the EU, and across and by sharing best practice between Secretariat to conduct six additional several institutions including the Commonwealth National Human Rights election observation exercises, UN, Council of Europe (CoE), and Institutions (NHRIs). In partnership with to improve democratic processes the Organization for Security and the Secretariat for Pacific Communities in Commonwealth countries. Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). (SPC), the UK also provided support Bearing in mind that 34 of 53 At the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), for Pacific Commonwealth countries to Commonwealth member states the UK worked with EU partners to establish and strengthen NHRIs, and criminalise consensual same-sex influence resolutions on the most deliver on international human rights relationships, the UK has continued to egregious human rights violations. commitments. Following UK-funded offer support to any Commonwealth The UK helped develop the EU Item 4 regional dialogues, the Solomon country wishing to reform outdated statement (concerning developments Islands established a new body legislation that discriminates on the that require the HRC’s attention) within government to focus on the grounds of sex, gender identity, on several human rights situations, promotion and protection of human and/or sexual orientation. Using UK including those in Myanmar, DPRK, rights, and Kiribati and Samoa ratified funding, the Equality and Justice Iran, South Sudan, Syria and the UN Convention Against Torture. Alliance (EJA)—a consortium of Burundi, and the Item 2 Resolution Recognising the importance of ensuring civil society organisations—worked on Eritrea. The UK also worked that the voices of the smallest and across the Commonwealth to create a collaboratively and creatively to support most vulnerable countries are heard in fairer, more equal, and more inclusive EU thematic priorities, including international fora, Heads of Government Commonwealth for women and girls freedom of peaceful assembly and also agreed at CHOGM 2018 to and for LGBT people. The EJA provided association, human rights defenders, strengthen the Commonwealth Small technical assistance to six countries, violence and discrimination on the States Office (CSSO) in Geneva. To to support the reform and repeal of grounds of sexual orientation and enable Commonwealth small states to discriminatory colonial-era legislation. gender identity, freedom of religion participate effectively and constructively CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 32

or belief, rights of the child, and effective women’s participation in areas on human rights, democracy, security, women’s rights and gender equality. of conflict prevention, mediation and and the rule of law across Europe. resolution. This included preventing The UK supported EU preparations sexual violence in conflict zones for key Human Rights Dialogues Council of Europe in OSCE countries. Initiatives have with China, Colombia and Egypt; included workshops, work with the The UK is a founder member of the supported the adoption in July of an Female Ambassadors and Women in Council of Europe (CoE) and one of EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and the First Dimension, including on key five major financial contributors (€33m Security; and in October supported the recruitment questions, and tangible in 2019). The UK used its membership adoption of EU Council Conclusions steps on gender parity in politico- to pursue international human rights, on Democracy. In September, the military meetings and activities, democracy, and rule of law objectives. UK worked with other member together with the OSCE Gender Section. states to extend EU sanctions against The UK was proactive in the CoE’s Venezuela, as a response to continuing The UK continued to provide support Governance and Democracy serious human rights violations during to the OSCE’s autonomous institutions, Committee, which assisted member the unfolding crisis. The UK also worked and worked closely with the OSCE States, including Ukraine, Slovakia to develop the EU’s response to the Representative on Freedom of the and Lithuania, with governance human rights violations taking place Media at the Global Conference for reforms. On Gypsy, Roma and in Xinjiang in China, and widespread Media Freedom in London in July. Traveller policy, the UK played a threats to civil society in Russia. leading role, sharing good practice In September, the UK was active with member states, including The UK hosted a number of human during the OSCE’s annual Human on combating hate crime. rights events in Brussels on themes Dimension Implementation Meeting including human rights violations (HDIM) in Warsaw, the largest human UK expertise contributed to education in Syria, and advancing media freedom. rights meeting in Europe. The UK policies to tackle Sexual Orientation and delivered seven national statements, Gender Identity-based violence in the The UK offered expertise to help and two on behalf of the EU and its education sector. The UK is Chair of the advance and support the proposed member states. The UK and Canada CoE’s Gender Equality Commission. EU global human rights sanctions organised an event on legal safety regime. This sanctions regime Members of the UK’s delegation to of journalists, and co-organised an could lead to travel bans and asset the CoE’s Parliamentary Assembly event on digital safety of journalists freezes, and would aim to address (PACE) participated in PACE election with other members of the Group of serious human rights violations or observation missions in Ukraine and Friends on Safety of Journalists. The abuses anywhere in the world.. Belarus. Members of the UK delegation UK also delivered a statement, on to the Congress of Local and Regional behalf of the 16 invoking states, on the Authorities played a leading role in The Organisation for Security 2018 Moscow Mechanism report on local election observations in Turkey. and Cooperation in Europe human rights violations in Chechnya, as well as co-organising an event on During a visit to Strasbourg in April, The Organization for Security and this with speakers from the region. the then Attorney General, the Rt Hon Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provides Geoffrey Cox QC MP, underscored Regrettably, states were unable to agree a forum for dialogue between 57 the UK’s firm commitment to the any new human dimension decisions participating states, including on human CoE. In May, Tim Otty QC and Murray at the December Ministerial Council. rights. The UK passed the Chairmanship Hunt were appointed as the UK’s However, the UK was one of 46 states of the Human Dimension Committee independent experts on the Venice to make a joint statement on human to the Czech Republic in 2019. Commission, the CoE advisory body rights at the Ministerial Council. The UK worked with like-minded in the field of constitutional law. Following our departure from the EU, partners in the OSCE to raise human Also in May, the Committee of Ministers protecting and promoting human rights concerns, including on freedom (CM), the intergovernmental decision- rights will remain an essential aim of religion or belief. The UK was also making body of the CoE, met in Helsinki of our foreign policy. Our approach instrumental in generating a number for its annual ministerial level meeting. will be shaped by our commitment of statements on human rights at the The then Justice Minister, Edward Argar, to strengthen international human weekly OSCE Permanent Council. The reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to rights protections and the rules- UK Ambassador to the OSCE, Neil the CoE, and successfully embedded based international system. We will Bush, took over as Chairperson of an modern slavery as a CoE priority. The UK continue to champion global causes, OSCE Gender Engagement network attaches great importance to this issue. and collaborate with like-minded in July, and has worked to: promote The UK’s Permanent Representative to partners across Europe. We will use our better gender equality at all levels in the the CoE, Christopher Yvon, was Vice membership of the CoE and OSCE as OSCE; ensure a zero tolerance policy Chair of the Committee of States Parties important platforms to amplify these and approach to sexual exploitation concerned with Convention on Action principles, helping us advance our work and abuse and sexual harassment; against Trafficking in Human Beings. and raise the importance of full and The UK also has a seat on the CoE’s 33 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Group of Experts on Action Against justice is also important for forging of persecution on grounds of ethnicity Trafficking (GRETA), which monitors reconciliation, by giving a voice to the and/or religion against the Rohingya compliance with the Convention. victims of atrocities, and by helping population may have been committed. promote lasting peace and stability, In June, Russia’s delegation returned The UK also welcomed the as well as by deterring future crimes. to PACE, having been absent since the operationalisation of the Independent Assembly imposed sanctions on the The UK strongly supports the role Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar country in response to the annexation of the International Criminal Court (IIMM). By gathering and preserving of Crimea in 2014. In the CM, the (ICC), the world’s first permanent evidence of atrocities, the IIMM ensures UK’s Permanent Representative to international criminal court with that genuine accountability remains the CoE called on Russia to commit jurisdiction over the most serious crimes possible. The UK welcomed the 2019 to all CoE values, abide by its of international concern. It is a court reports of the UN Fact Finding Mission rules, and meet its obligations as a of last resort, allowing accountability on Myanmar, which found that crimes member state. By the end of 2019, when national authorities are against humanity and war crimes had Russia had paid its outstanding CoE unwilling or unable to do so. The UK been committed by the Myanmar ordinary budget contributions, with provided both practical and financial military against the Rohingya. the exception of interest owed. support to the Court, contributing The International Residual Mechanism £10.2 million and working with the In September, Marija Pej inovi for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) continued č ć Court on sentence enforcement. Burić (former Croatian Minister for with its mandate of fulfilling the residual Foreign Affairs) succeeded Thorbjørn However, the UK also believes that the functions of the International Criminal Jagland as Secretary General of the Court must improve its performance, Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia CoE. The then Minister for Europe and to that end, along with other and the International Criminal Tribunal and the Americas, Christopher parties to the Rome Statute, we for Rwanda. The tribunal concluded Pincher, affirmed the UK’s continued have been at the forefront of an the high-profile appeal case concerning commitment to this important human ambitious reform programme. This Radovan Karadzic, whose original rights institution in a call to Secretary includes establishing an Independent 40-year jail term for committing General Burić on her first day in office. Expert Review, with a remit to genocide during the Balkans conflict make recommendations to improve was extended to life imprisonment. The The CoE commemorated its 70th the governance of the Court, the IRMCT also continued to hear the retrial Anniversary throughout 2019—the working methods of the judiciary, in the case of Stanisic and Simatovic, anniversary has particular significance and the process of investigations and which the tribunal aims to complete for the UK as the Treaty establishing prosecutions. The review will publish by the end of 2020. The Mladic case the CoE was signed at St James’s its findings and recommendations is also expected to be concluded Palace in London on 5 May 1949. in September 2020. The UK has also and the appeal judgement delivered In the European Court of Human Rights nominated Judge Joanna Korner QC during 2020. The UK also continued (ECtHR), the number of cases against as a candidate for the judicial elections its support for the Extraordinary the UK which went to a judgment to be held in December 2020. Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia by the Court, and the number of (ECCC), including a contribution of A notable ICC verdict was the judgments that found violations, £225,000, and for the Residual Special conviction of Bosco Ntaganda, a remained low (five judgments, each of Court for Sierra Leone (RSCSL). rebel leader from the Democratic which found violations). The Court’s Republic of Congo, found guilty of The UK has been at the forefront ongoing caseload increased to 59,813 18 counts of war crimes and crimes of international efforts to gather cases pending at the end of 2019, against humanity. Significantly, and analyse evidence of atrocities of which ongoing cases brought this was the first ICC conviction for committed in the Middle East, against the UK fell to 111. The UK crimes that included sexual violence including contributions to the UN continued to advocate reform of the and sexual slavery. Ntaganda was International Impartial and Independent Court, to allow it to concentrate on sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment. Mechanism (IIIM) to support the the most important cases before it. However, two defendants from preparation of legal cases for serious the Ivory Coast, Gbagbo and Blé crimes committed in Syria since International Goude were acquitted; the Prosecutor March 2011. Similarly, the UK supports Criminal Justice is appealing these verdicts. the work of the UN Team for the Accountability of Daesh (UNITAD). At the end of 2019, the ICC authorised The team is collecting preserving, and Supporting international criminal the Prosecutor to proceed with storing evidence of Daesh crimes in justice continues to be a fundamental an investigation into the situation Iraq. The UK has contributed more element of the UK’s foreign policy. surrounding the Rohingya refugees in than £1 million to the operation Impunity for the most serious of Bangladesh as there is a reasonable of the team, and has announced crimes must not become the default, basis to believe crimes against humanity a further £1 million to support the and those deemed responsible should resulting from deportation across the team’s work throughout 2020. be held to account. International Myanmar/ Bangladesh border, and CHAPTER 2: Human Rights and the Multilateral System 34

Sanctions society and democratic opposition, and for those undermining democracy Sanctions, such as arms embargoes, and the rule of law in Nicaragua. No asset freezes, and travel bans, are designations were made in 2019. one of the tools the UK uses, in To demonstrate the UK’s global coordination with the UN and EU, to leadership, and to further our defend and promote human rights and commitment to the promotion and democracy. Sanctions aim to coerce protection of human rights, in July a change in unacceptable behaviour, 2019 the UK announced plans to bring constrain behaviour through limiting forward legislation to implement a access to resources, or communicate UK autonomous global human rights a clear signal of disapproval. To sanctions regime. A UK human rights ensure that sanctions are legally sanctions regime will help to deter and robust and effective in delivering our provide accountability for serious human policies, the UK promotes a ‘Smarter rights violations and abuses anywhere Sanctions’ policy, ensuring maximum in the world. The government is impact on sanctions targets while introducing the legislation during 2020. minimising unintended consequences such as humanitarian suffering. In 2019, the UK worked with EU partners to address the expropriation of land by the Assad regime in Syria, so that refugees and displaced persons would still be able to return to land that they owned. In the first set of designations of this kind under the EU Syria sanctions regime, we imposed carefully targeted sanctions on eleven businessmen and five entities who were supporting and benefiting from the Assad regime’s expropriation and development of land. These measures sent a clear signal to the Assad regime and private investors that land development had to respect Syrians’ property rights. The UK also supported EU efforts to extend sanctions under the Venezuela sanctions regime in September. The EU-wide asset freeze and travel ban was applied to a further seven individuals in response to continuing serious human rights violations, including torture, committed by elements of the Venezuelan security and intelligence forces in support of the Maduro regime. In October, the EU adopted a sanctions regime in response to the deteriorating political and social situation in Nicaragua, including the repression of political opponents, demonstrators, independent media and civil society organisations by security forces and pro-government armed groups since April 2018. These sanctions allowed for travel bans and asset freezes against people or entities responsible for human rights violations or abuses, for the repression of civil 35 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 3: Consular Assistance

Consular cases England and Wales and the All-Party Although we cannot ourselves formally Parliamentary Group on Deaths investigate torture or mistreatment Consular services are at the heart of the Abroad and Consular Services. allegations overseas, with the FCO’s objective to ‘Protect our People’. individual’s permission we can raise Our commitment to assist British them with the local authorities, people, living, travelling, and working Death penalty demanding an end to the mistreatment around the world, includes standing up As of December 2019, 14 British and investigation of the incident, in for British citizens overseas by providing nationals faced the death penalty line with international standards. In high quality, accessible consular services worldwide. Over 40 more were addition, we hold periodic reviews globally, focused on those most in need. detained on charges which could of all such cases to identify regional trends, and develop strategies to In 2019, the UK provided professional, attract the death penalty if the engage and lobby the local authorities. non-judgmental assistance in 22,421 defendants were found guilty. In December, we reviewed a total of new, and 7,225 ongoing cases, The UK opposes the use of the 124 open cases. Between January and irrespective of gender, race, age, sexual death penalty, and judicial corporal December, British nationals reported orientation, gender identity, marital punishment, in all circumstances. If a 119 new allegations of torture or status, disability, and religion or belief. British national is sentenced to death, or mistreatment overseas to consular staff. We lobbied against the imposition of is facing a charge that carries the death the death penalty and judicial corporal penalty, we will normally intervene, We also considered how we could punishment, raised allegations of torture with their consent, at whatever stage help improve countries’ compliance and mistreatment, and intervened to and level is deemed most effective with their obligations to prevent and support those facing discrimination to prevent their execution. We work combat torture and mistreatment. or other human rights violations. We closely with legal teams engaged For example, in Pakistan we supported over 5,300 people detained by British nationals facing the death worked to influence decision- overseas, and provided information and penalty, and are helped in this work makers and public opinion against advice in over 1,350 potential cases by Reprieve and the Death Penalty torture and mistreatment, through of forced marriage. We continued Project (DPP), two NGOs that provide engagement with local government to support those bereaved through legal assistance and advice. and civil society organisations. murder and manslaughter overseas, and in March, HRH The Duke of Sussex unveiled a memorial in Birmingham to Torture and Overseas detainees the 31 British people killed in terrorist mistreatment In addition to taking action on attacks in Bardo and Sousse in 2015. specific human rights violations, we The UK takes all allegations of torture As part of our commitment to aim to support the welfare of all and mistreatment affecting British continuous improvement, we reviewed British nationals in detention overseas nationals extremely seriously. In 2019, our support in complex consular cases; who request consular assistance, we continued to train and advise to victims of forced marriage; and to particularly where there may be our staff on relevant international victims of murder and manslaughter. concerns about local conditions obligations, and on the appropriate As a result of the review, we increased or the standard of trials. As of action to take when receiving an training for FCO staff on fair trial December, the FCO was supporting allegation of torture or mistreatment. issues; ensured no forced marriage 2,193 British nationals in detention Our overriding priority in such cases victim had to take a loan to pay overseas (including those in police is to ensure the safety of the person for repatriation; and increased our custody, in immigration detention, on involved: consular staff will avoid any funding for victim support services, remand, and sentenced prisoners). action that might increase the risk to including for those bereaved overseas the person concerned, or to any other In March, the then Foreign Secretary, in suspicious circumstances. person who may be affected. If the Jeremy Hunt, exercised his right In 2020, we will continue to focus person is detained or in hospital, our to grant diplomatic protection to on the most vulnerable. This will support could include increasing the Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, detained include considering how we can frequency of our visits, assisting the in Iran since April 2016. This raised further improve support for those individual to gain access to medical the case to a state-to-state issue and bereaved overseas, following treatment, or considering support for was an important diplomatic step to recommendations made in October a transfer to another wing or facility. draw attention to the internationally by the Victims’ Commissioner for wrongful acts of the Government CHAPTER 3: Consular Assistance 36

of Iran. We continued to lobby the home and abroad. In 2019, the FMU UNICEF. The UK shared information on Iranian authorities to grant consular provided advice or support related to a our training programmes for police and access to all British citizens detained possible forced marriage in over 1,350 social care leads, our communication in Iran, and hosted an event on 25 cases relating to over 60 countries. campaign at UK airports and social September at the UN General Assembly media campaigns, and the use of forced The FMU also delivered outreach examining Iran’s judicial practices. marriage protection orders and FGM and training events in the UK to a protection orders. FMU staff have also We work in close partnership with, wide range of agencies, schools, and attended and hosted outreach events and part fund, Prisoners Abroad, communities, including a series of in Pakistan and Norway, working an NGO that offers practical and workshops developed for frontline with civil society actors, journalists, emotional support to British detainees police officers. Through these events, and local authorities, to share best overseas and to their families in the we aimed to raise awareness, and practice and raise awareness. UK. In 2019, we worked together on to help professionals recognise the over 1,000 cases, particularly those warning signs and take the right The UK continued to fund NGOs, involving vulnerable detainees. The action to protect children and based both overseas and in the UK, to then Minister for Consular Services, adults. FMU staff also took part in provide refuge for those at risk abroad Andrew Stephenson MP, hosted ‘Operation Limelight’, a joint Border and to support repatriated victims the annual FCO—Prisoners Abroad Force and police operation, to raise of forced marriage. In 2019, we also reception in November, to recognise all awareness at UK ports and airports initiated prevention workshops across those who support this work, including of the risks of forced marriage. three different districts in Pakistan, volunteers, donors, staff, as well as helping to encourage dialogue in In terms of international work, in former service users and their families. communities around the issue of March the UK co-hosted a consular forced marriage and consent. cooperative initiative in Kenya to Forced marriage share best practice on cases linked to Somalia. This brought together a range The UK remains a world leader in the of countries including the Netherlands, fight to tackle forced marriage, with Canada, Norway, the US, Denmark, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint Sweden, Hungary, Austria, and Ireland, FCO and Home Office Unit, leading as well as international organisations efforts to combat the practice at and NGOs such as the UNHCR and 37 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries

Afghanistan curtailed the political rights of many marginalised girls access primary and and contributed to the lowest ever secondary education and skills training. There remain fundamental challenges turnout for an Afghan election. Sexual abuse against children remains to the protection of human rights The Afghan Government took a critical problem and social taboo in Afghanistan. Legal provisions positive steps to address torture and makes remedying this challenging. and government commitments to ill-treatment in places of detention, Laws exist to ban cultural practices protect human rights exist, but as was recognised in a UNAMA such as bacha bazi, a practice implementation and further progress report in April, which documented a whereby men exploit boys for social is constrained by: ongoing conflict, reduction in torture for conflict-related and sexual entertainment, but so far lack of institutional capacity, Taliban detainees[2]. But the report did find there have been no prosecutions. A control over large parts of the continuing high rates—with almost recent scandal involving the large- country, and societal conservatism. one in three conflict-related detainees scale sexual abuse of boys at school Afghanistan endures as the most lethal providing credible accounts of being brought the question of child sexual ongoing conflict in the world, with subject to torture and ill treatment— abuse into the spotlight. Parliament more civilian casualties than any other highlighting that further action is is trying to pass laws to prevent girls country. The United Nations Assistance needed to eliminate the practice. under 18 from marrying, but changing Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) societal attitudes may be far harder. Afghanistan is ranked the second worst recorded 10,392 civilian casualties in country in the world for women’s The rights of all religious groups the first nine months of 2019[1]. Anti- well-being[3]. Gender-based violence are legally protected in the Afghan government elements—predominantly remains widespread and victims’ access Constitution, and the government has the Taliban and Islamic State Khorosan to justice is limited. The UK funds a attempted to ensure their inclusion Province (ISKP)—caused the majority programme focused on improving the in policy-making processes. Many (62%) of civilian casualties. Women health sector response to gender-based religious and ethnic minorities—such and children represented 42% of all violence, to ensure that victims have as Sikhs, Hindus, and Hazara Shia civilian casualties during this period, access to adequate services. In the Muslims—continue to face widespread with the number of child casualties second half of 2019, this programme discrimination and insecurity. The 11% higher than last year. The UK provided services to over 3,000 women, insecurity faced by the Hazara continues to advocate for a reduction and trained over 200 gender-based community was made stark in August in current levels of violence, and urges violence psychosocial counsellors and when Islamic State Khorasan Province all sides to abide by international over 200 health service providers. conducted an attack against a Shia humanitarian law. Our contribution to wedding, leading to 92 civilian deaths, the non-combat NATO mission includes The widening of girls’ access to and over 180 people injured. The British training to increase professionalisation education in Afghanistan is a major Embassy in Kabul maintains strong and prevent conflict-related human success of the past 18 years, but a large relationships with representatives rights violations within the Afghan gap persists between the experience of these communities and engages National Defence and Security Forces. of boys and girls. This disparity affects with them regularly. For example, the female employment; women make On 28 September, Afghans voted British Ambassador to Afghanistan up only a fifth of Afghanistan’s labour in presidential elections against a met the sole Sikh MP in Afghanistan force, though attitudes towards difficult security backdrop. Attacks and a range of young leaders within women’s workforce inclusion are in the period around the presidential the Hazara community, to mark changing, with 76% of Afghans elections led to 458 civilian casualties, International Religious Freedom Day. supporting women working outside with 277 civilians killed or injured Such engagement helps us to stay the home, compared with 29% of on polling day itself. There was also updated about their concerns and Afghans ten years ago[4]. Since 2013, a notable pattern of abductions, signals the UK’s support for the rights the UK’s Girls’ Education Challenge intimidation, and harassment carried of members of religious minorities. has helped over 300,000 Afghan girls out by the Taliban against civilians attend primary school, with a second The Afghan media remained diverse before and during the elections, that phase in 2019 supporting 70,297 and notably independent in 2019.

[1] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/unama_protection_of_civilians_in_armed_conflict_-_3rd_quarter_update_2019.pdf [2] https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/afghanistan_-_report_on_the_treatment_of_conflict-related_detainees_-_17_april_2019.pdf [3] https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WPS-Index-2019-20-Report.pdf [4] https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019_Afghan_Survey_Full-Report.pdf CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 38

However, Afghanistan still ranks extremely low at only 121 on the World Press Freedom Index[5], largely because of the insecurity faced by journalists operating in the country. Supporting media freedom in Afghanistan was a priority for the UK in 2019; we committed £250,000 to projects enhancing journalist safety, supporting female journalists, and widening access to information. Given that the ongoing conflict remains the greatest barrier to improving human rights in Afghanistan, steps taken to move closer to a peace process in 2019 represented positive developments. However, there is widespread concern over how human rights will be safeguarded in any peace process with the Taliban. The UK UK Ambassador to Bahrain Roddy Drummond celebrates the 10th continues to emphasise the importance anniversary of Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights of protecting the progress made on human rights in any peace settlement, (out of 180), as restrictions on freedom firm opposition to the death penalty and has been actively pressing for of expression remained, and self- and long-standing policy to oppose the views of women and minorities censorship by the media, particularly capital sentences in all circumstances. on social media, continued. We to be represented in all stages of a Allegations of human rights violations are monitoring draft amendments negotiation. We funded the Secretariat of detainees, forced confessions, to the existing press law, which of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, in and unfair trials continued. During should offer greater protection for which women constituted 26% of its 2019, the UK worked with Bahrain’s journalists, although the law may not workforce. The UK’s Gender Strategy independent human rights oversight cover social media content. The UK for Afghanistan prioritises women’s bodies, the first such organisations to will continue to raise specific cases inclusion and participation across all be established in the region, to develop of concern, including that of activist our work, and as active members effective mechanisms to safeguard Nabeel Rajab, urging Bahrain to of the Women Peace and Security human rights in these and other uphold its international commitments (WPS) working group (a group of cases. While the UK recognises that including the protection of freedom donors, governments, civil society and challenges remain, notable progress of expression and its obligations development agencies), we are working was made during 2019. The oversight under the UN Convention Against to provide technical assistance towards bodies investigated all allegations put Torture. The first female Chairperson the implementation of Afghanistan’s to them, and made their findings public of the Bahrain Journalist Association, National Action Plan on WPS. where possible, including through Ahdeya Ahmed, attended the Global the annual Ombudsman report. Conference for Media Freedom in Investigations into allegations of abuse Bahrain London, an encouraging sign for also resulted in the prosecution of future NGO engagement in 2020. The main human rights concerns in over 90 police officers, with at least six 2019 were restrictions on freedom The death penalty remained a convictions. We continued to encourage of expression, the application punishment for certain crimes. In and welcome swift and thorough of the death penalty, and the July, three people were executed, investigations. An investigation revocation of citizenship. However, including two for the murder of a jointly conducted by the Ministry there was progress in other areas, police officer. These were the first of Interior Ombudsman and Special notably active investigations by the executions carried out since 2017. Investigations Unit, resulted in retrials human rights oversight bodies into The Minister for Human Rights, of the capital cases of Muhammad allegations of violations, continued Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon Ramadan and Hussein Moosa. made representations to the Bahraini respect for freedom of religion The use of deprivation of nationality, authorities’ prior to the executions; or belief, and action on modern when it renders an individual stateless, released a statement on 27 July; and slavery and human trafficking. remained a concern. While recognising raised the matter at the UN Human that Bahrain is not a signatory to the Bahrain dropped one place in the Rights Council, reiterating the UK’s World Press Freedom Index, to 167 1954 and 1961 UN Conventions on

[5] https://rsf.org/en/afghanistan 39 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Statelessness, and so is not bound by UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group in In July, Bangladesh submitted its initial their provisions, the UK nevertheless London in October, which reiterated a country report to the UN Committee continued to make its concerns clear. commitment to the continued provision Against Torture on measures it had The UK welcomed HM King Hamad’s of UK expertise in support of Bahraini- taken to uphold its commitments under decision in April to restore the Bahraini led reform initiatives. Working together the Convention against Torture and nationality of 551 individuals. in this way offers the best opportunity other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading to see the positive and constructive Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). For the second year in a row, Bahrain changes that the Government of Bangladesh’s engagement with the was the only country in its region Bahrain has committed to implement. Committee, the first time since its to achieve Tier 1 status in the US accession to UNCAT in 1998, was Department of State Trafficking in welcomed. The Committee raised Persons Report. Building on this Bangladesh a number of concerns, including success, Bahrain presented its approach allegations of the widespread and to modern slavery with regional There was no improvement in the routine commission of torture and ill- partners by hosting in October the overall human rights situation in treatment by law enforcement officials, first Government Forum to Combat Bangladesh in 2019. The ruling Awami and the absence of statistical data on Trafficking in Persons in the Middle League and its allies returned to the implementation of the Torture and East—a forum, which plans to power in December 2018, winning Custodial Death (Prevention) Act. reconvene elsewhere in the region. 96% of parliamentary seats. The elections were marred by reports During the UN Committee Against Bahrain maintained a positive record of intimidation and vote rigging. In Torture’s review, the Government on freedom of religion or belief. The January, the EU called on the authorities of Bangladesh stressed that it had creation of the King Hamad Centre to ensure a proper examination of promoted the gradual replacement for Peaceful Co-existence and the allegations of election irregularities. of the death penalty by other forms work, which the centre undertook of punishment, although had not continued to give prominence to Reports of extrajudicial killings, taken any steps to abolish the death Bahrain’s approach, both regionally enforced disappearances, and penalty. Two executions were carried and further afield. Bahrain welcomed attacks on journalists and others out, one for the murder of a Saudi visits by the Bishop of Truro’s office continued during the year. The diplomat. In 2019, 327 death sentences and by the Prime Minister’s Special number of death sentences issued were issued in Bangladesh (compared Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, increased, and at least two executions to 319 in 2018). In November, six Rehman Chishti MP. The engagement were carried out. Throughout the of the seven people convicted over provided opportunities for constructive year, UK ministers met opposition the Holey Bakery terrorist attack in discussions with religious leaders from politicians, media representatives, 2016 received death sentences. all faiths represented in Bahrain, with and indigenous leaders, and in April opportunities to visit different places of the then Minister for Asia, Mark Violence by organisations associated worship, including a Shia husseiniya. Field, raised human rights concerns with political parties continued with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. throughout 2019. In October, a student Bahrain successfully implemented new from the Bangladesh University of legislation allowing for alternatives to According to Amnesty International[6], Engineering and Technology was detention for some criminal offences. former Prime Minister and leader of the beaten to death by members of the Over 1,500 individuals benefitted from opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, student wing of the Awami League, this change. Further advances to the Khaleda Zia, imprisoned since February allegedly for posting material online judicial system are underway, with 2018 on corruption charges, was not which was critical of the government. the newly proposed ‘Child Restorative receiving adequate health care[7]. Justice and Protection from Abuse Under the 2018 Digital Security Act Gender based violence remained a Law’ in process. This positive step (DSA), 42 people were arrested, concern, highlighted by the murder was reinforced by a decree issued often on charges of hurting religious of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a female by HM King Hamad to release 80 sentiment, or undermining law and madrassah student who complained convicted juveniles from rehabilitation order. The provisions of the DSA to the police about harassment by centres, replacing their remaining jail were criticised as empowering the her principal. Women habitually are terms with non-custodial penalties. government to arrest and detain harassed in public, making travelling on foot or public transport difficult. Bahrain continued to welcome UK journalists, human rights activists, and support to help advance its reform political opponents. In April, Bangladesh Bangladesh continued to play a vital agenda. The then Minister of State dropped four places to 150 (out of 180) role in hosting a significant number of for the Middle East, Dr Andrew in the Reporters Without Borders Press the Rohingya people, the world’s largest Murrison, co-chaired the biannual Freedom Index; its lowest ever position. population of stateless people displaced

[6] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa13/1444/2019/en [7] Khaleda Zia was released from jail on 25 March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh, following a government decision to stay her conviction for six months. CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 40

by the actions of the Tatmadaw Burundi systematically targeted by state (the Myanmar army). Bangladesh authorities and the Imbonerakure. maintained its commitment to the The main human rights violations in Arbitrary arrest and detention on voluntary, safe, and dignified return Burundi in 2019 concerned enforced political grounds continued. One high- of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. There disappearances and extra-judicial profile case was the arrest, detention, were reports of significant criminality killings, sexual violence, and restrictions and permanent expulsion from in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, on media freedom, democratic school of two schoolgirls for drawing where approximately 855,000 Rohingya space, and freedom of expression. on the late President Nkurunziza’s refugees are living. These included Members of the ruling party’s youth portrait in their school books. Arrests murder (around 30 cases), gender- league, the Imbonerakure, were and detentions were carried out by based violence, abduction, illegal drug identified by international observers, security forces and the Imbonerakure, trading, and human trafficking. The including the UN and NGOs, as being working in conjunction with the government introduced additional the main perpetrators of violations police and SNR. Torture while in police stations, fences around the and abuses. The Burundian National detention in Burundi occurred regularly camps, and limited night-time patrols Intelligence Service (SNR) and the and included sexual violence.[9] by mixed security forces. In September, police also frequently perpetrated the government introduced restrictions In 2017, the ruling party announced human rights violations.[8] on access to the internet in the camps, a voluntary levy to be paid by citizens citing security concerns following The Government of Burundi did not to help fund the 2020 election. In a peaceful rally in the Kutupalong tolerate any criticism of the ruling 2019, the levy continued to be used camp on 25 August, a number party, creating an environment where as a justification by local authorities of violent incidents and increased freedom of expression was absent. and Imbonerakure to extort, threaten, tension with host communities. The SNR and Imbonerakure conducted punish, and coerce individuals into widespread surveillance of citizens. handing over currency, goods, or To help manage the protracted Individuals expressing an opinion at services. Receipts were often not Rohingya crisis, the UK committed variance with that of the ruling party provided, resulting in individuals having an additional £117 million, delivered were frequently harassed, attacked, to pay the levy multiple times over, through UN agencies and NGOs, and sometimes killed. Women and sometimes up to 25 times the original prioritising the protection of rights, girls whose family members had levy.[10] There was no record of how including essential documentation, child not joined the ruling party, or who much had been collected or how the protection, anti-trafficking measures, opposed it, were subjected to sexual levy was being spent, raising concerns case management for survivors of abuse violence; the most common form over corruption and misuse.[11] and exploitation, and legal assistance being gang rape. This often occurred services. The total UK commitment Respect for media freedom in in front of family members, who since August 2017 stood at £256 Burundi deteriorated in 2019. Media were then subject to death threats million. The UK supported Bangladesh workers were frequently subjected to if they reported the rape. With the and other partners to enable the harassment and arrest. In October, four judiciary’s lack of independence and presence of Rohingya refugees at journalists were arrested for reporting an absence of accountability for the the International Court of Justice on a security incident[12] and held by perpetrators, violations and abuses hearings on Myanmar in December. the security agencies in conditions, continued unchecked. This contributed that constituted cruel, inhuman, and ore broadly in Bangladesh, UK to a general climate of fear, and degrading treatment.[13] The operating programme funds supported projects resulted in increased self-censorship. environment for the media was further addressing human rights priorities Although some opposition parties constrained by additional restrictions including: modern slavery (female were able to register in advance of the introduced by the National Independent migrant workers’ rights); democratic 2020 elections in 2019, democratic Electoral Commission ahead of the governance (indigenous people’s space remained tightly controlled. May 2020 presidential elections, which inclusion); freedom of expression The National Congress for Freedom, banned any reporting on provisional (research on the DSA and digital the main opposition party, had election results and on opinion polls. advocacy); and media freedom. at least ten of their offices burnt Same-sex relationships remain illegal in down by Imbonerakure in politically Burundi under Article 567 of the 2009 motivated attacks. Political opposition figures and civil society critics were

[8] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundiReportHRC42.aspx [9] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundiReportHRC42.aspx [10] https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/12/06/we-let-our-children-go-hungry-pay/abuses-related-2020-election-levy-burundi [11] https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/12/06/we-let-our-children-go-hungry-pay/abuses-related-2020-election-levy-burundi [12] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr16/1349/2019/en [13] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundiReportHRC42.aspx UN Commission of Enquiry on Burundi, 'Report Of The Commission On Inquiry On Burundi' (United Nations 2019) 41 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Penal Code and are punishable with a arbitrary arrests and executions, looting the launch of the consultations of fine and up to two years’ imprisonment. and destruction of property, denial of the Truth, Justice, Compensation and humanitarian access, female genital Reconciliation Commission. The UK and In 2019, the UK provided funding for mutilation, and the recruitment and international partners urged the CAR human rights projects in Burundi. This use of children by armed groups. government to continue to prioritise included: training and educating police efforts to strengthen the judicial system officers on appropriate investigation CAR once again ranked second from in order to hold perpetrators of human and interrogation techniques; support the bottom on the United Nations rights abuses and violations to account. for the country’s independent Development Programme (UNDP) newspaper IWACU; and assistance to 2019 Human Development Index[14]. build local human rights networks. According to the UN Office for the China Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs The UK raised the human rights (OCHA), CAR is also one of the most The human rights situation in China has situation in Burundi in multilateral dangerous countries in the world for continued to deteriorate significantly fora. We called on the UN Security humanitarian agencies to operate and consistently since 2018. China Council (UNSC) to remain focussed in[15]. While the UK welcomed the continued to place restrictions on on solving the crisis in Burundi and to inclusion of children and armed conflict expression of religious belief, ethnic ensure that the situation remained on issues in the peace agreement, we minorities, the media and wider the agenda. The UK supported the remained concerned by the continued freedom of expression, as well as extension of the mandate of the UN recruitment of children by armed groups detaining and harassing human rights Commission of Inquiry on Burundi at in CAR. During a UN Security Council defenders, and restricting the space for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), consultation, the UK called for CAR to civil society to operate. The authorities’ ensuring continued in-depth monitoring adhere to all child protection provisions use of arbitrary detention continued, of human rights violations in the in the peace agreement, including those as did a lack of judicial transparency country. Given the worsening human related to the release and reintegration and due process, particularly in cases rights environment in Burundi, the of children from armed groups. deemed ‘politically sensitive’. European Union countries and the UK did not provide direct financial support On 30 July, the Special Representative In Xinjiang, credible estimates indicate to the Government of Burundi under of the Secretary-General for Sexual that over 1 million Uyghurs and other Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Violence in Conflict (SRSG SVC), Pramila ethnic minorities have been extra- Patten, highlighted that there had judicially detained in internment camps been almost total impunity for sexual across the region. Uyghur Muslims in Central African Republic violence in CAR since 2016. Women Xinjiang continued to suffer systematic restrictions on their culture, language, The human rights situation in the and girls were often raped, gang and religious activity. An invasive and Central African Republic (CAR) raped, or forced into sexual slavery or indiscriminate surveillance apparatus fluctuated throughout 2019. The UN marriage. SRSG Patten stressed that also remained in place. Credible reports Independent Expert on human rights accountability for sexual violence must of forced labour increased, especially in the CAR noted that a decrease in not be negotiated away as the price of in the cotton industry. In November, human rights violations and abuses peace. In November, Médecins Sans high-profile leaks provided further during the first half of the year was Frontières (MSF) released a report on evidence of the coercive nature of the likely to be due in part to the signing the challenges faced by sexual violence ‘political re-education’ programme. of a peace agreement on 6 February survivors in accessing services in Bangui, The Chinese authorities continued 2019 between the Government of the capital city. MSF’s recommendations their efforts to present the measures CAR and 14 armed groups. This included ensuring that access to in Xinjiang as legitimate and necessary led to a reduction in the number of urgent treatment and care for survivors to combat extremism and terrorism. violent confrontations between rival extended beyond the prefectures [16] groups and consequently of attacks considered ‘crisis zones’ , including In October, the UK read a joint on the civilian population. Despite for the high number of internally statement on behalf of 23 countries this, CAR remained one of the most displaced individuals situated in Bangui at the UN General Assembly Third lawless countries in central Africa who require urgent assistance. Committee drawing attention to the and its poor human rights record In September, during the 42nd session human rights violations in Xinjiang, was exacerbated by armed groups of the Human Rights Council, the UK and calling on China to uphold its operating with impunity. Serious participated in an Interactive Dialogue obligations to respect human rights. human rights violations and abuses with the UN Independent Expert. The The UK also co-sponsored side events continued, including conflict-related UK welcomed the establishment of at the UN Human Rights Council and sexual violence, cruel, inhuman or transitional justice institutions and General Assembly raising concerns degrading treatment or punishment, about the serious human rights situation

[14] http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2019.pdf [15] https://www.unocha.org/story/humanitarian-crisis-central-african-republic-%E2%80%9Ccontinues-deteriorate%E2%80%9D-asg-ursula-mueller [16] https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2020915/WEB-MSF-RCA-Bangui-2019-EN.pdf CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 42

in Xinjiang and calling for China to allow Media Freedom, where he highlighted regularly raised human rights concerns UN observers unfettered access to the the case of citizen journalist and rights with the Chinese authorities. The region. The UK also raised concerns activist Huang Qi, who was sentenced Chinese authorities’ suspension of about the situation in China at all three to twelve years in prison for ‘leaking the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue sessions of the Human Rights Council. state secrets’. Increasing numbers of (last held in 2017) continued. In July, the UK and 24 other countries international media outlets were subject The Chinese authorities continued registered their concerns about Xinjiang to blocking and censorship. Academic to detain Chinese and foreign in a public letter to the President of the freedoms were further restricted, nationals arbitrarily, often with UN Human Rights Council and the UN with academics losing their positions political motivation. Widespread High Commissioner for Human Rights. because of comments deemed critical reports of torture (including deaths of the authorities. Internationally, There continued to be major restrictions in detention) and lack of due process the Chinese authorities continued to on the ability to practise religion freely or access to legal counsel in cases attempt to prevent critical discussion throughout China, and the UK remained deemed ‘politically sensitive’ remained of issues it deemed ‘sensitive’. deeply concerned about the persecution concerning. A former worker in the of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Civil society and human rights British Consulate General Hong Kong, Gong practitioners, and others. In defenders continued to come under Simon Cheng, was detained and Xinjiang, British diplomats saw evidence pressure. Many activists were detained, subjected to mistreatment, which of mosques being demolished and particularly in the run-up to the 30th amounted to torture, while on a permanently closed as well as of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square business trip to mainland China. China removal of Islamic architectural features, protests and the 70th anniversary of is estimated to continue to execute such as domes and crescents, in an the founding of the People’s Republic of more people every year than the rest effort to “sinicise” Islam. There were China. These included activists working of the world combined, although the credible reports of the closure and across a range of issues, including actual figure remains a state secret. demolishing of unregistered churches human rights, gender, labour, and The police response to widespread across China. In December, Pastor Wang freedom of expression. Four years on protests in Hong Kong was concerning. Yi of the Early Rain Covenant Church in from the ‘709 Crackdown’, lawyers Aggressive tactics were used, including Chengdu—one of China’s largest house remained under pressure: human frequent use of tear gas, rubber bullets churches until it was forcibly closed in rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was and occasional live rounds. The Office December 2018—was tried in secret sentenced to four and a half years of the UN High Commissioner for and sentenced to nine years in prison in prison in January for ‘subverting Human Rights expressed concerns over on charges of inciting subversion. state power’ and there were reports the firing of tear gas in enclosed areas that lawyer Yu Wensheng was tried Restrictions targeted at ethnic minorities and at individual protesters, and urged in secret in May. The UK raised both continued in the Tibet Autonomous the authorities to investigate these cases with Chinese authorities in Region and other Tibetan areas. British incidents immediately. A hard-core 2019. The whereabouts and status diplomats visited Tibet in July—the minority of protesters used violence, of dual Swedish-Chinese national first time a request to visit has been which included the launching of Gui Minhai remained unknown after accepted since the British Ambassador projectiles and petrol bombs at police, his detention and disappearance visited in 2017. They raised concerns and vandalising property. A detailed in 2018 (which followed his earlier about religious freedom in Tibet and analysis on Hong Kong is published detention and disappearance in the case of Gedhun Choekyui Nyima, separately in the UK government’s 2015). NGOs focused on LGBT rights the Dalai Lama’s choice of Panchen six-monthly reports to Parliament[17]. and freedoms in China continued to Lama, who remains missing. face pressure, and LGBT content in The UK used public statements to There was no improvement with regard media continued to be censored. call for a robust, independent inquiry to freedom of expression in 2019. into events in Hong Kong. The UK British diplomats maintained regular China is the world’s biggest jailer of supports the right to peaceful and contact with human rights defenders journalists, with at least 60 currently lawful protests. The Foreign Secretary, and continued to attempt to attend imprisoned. Reporters without Borders Dominic Raab, made clear that the their trials, but were denied access ranked China 177th out of 180 countries police response to protests needed and subjected to harassment. We in their 2019 Press Freedom Ranking. In to be proportionate, whilst also worked to promote human rights in July, the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy consistently stating that violence China through our project work, and Hunt, hosted the Global Conference for by protesters was unacceptable.

[17] On 30 June 2020, China imposed national security legislation on Hong Kong. As the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 1 July, the enactment of this legislation, imposed by the authorities in Beijing on the people of Hong Kong, constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The legislation violates the high degree of autonomy of executive and legislative powers and independent judicial authority, provided for in the Joint Declaration. The UK Government is particularly concerned by the potentially wide-ranging ability of the mainland authorities to take jurisdiction over certain cases in Hong Kong, without any independent oversight, and to try those cases in the Chinese courts. This measure violates the Joint Declaration, and directly threatens the rights contained in the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which under the Joint Declaration are to be protected in Hong Kong. For the latest six-monthly report visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly- report-on-hong-kong-july-to-december-2019 43 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Colombia Unit had been supporting over 1,100 Media Freedom Index, with the main candidates deemed under threat. threats being violence and self- In 2019, the protection of human censorship. During nationwide protests The UK directly supported around 450 rights in Colombia was hampered that followed the 21 November national at-risk HRDs in 2019, through training by the country’s continued struggle strike, the Colombian Press Freedom to improve protection and security, as to ensure peace, three years after Foundation reported 27 attacks on well as legal support to fight impunity the government signed an historic members of the press. They included in cases of attacks. More widely, as agreement with the Revolutionary 22 by security forces, amid widespread part of our package of support to the Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). criticism from civil society organisations peace deal, the UK helped strengthen The situation of the country’s human of excessive use of force. In 2019, the capacity of the Attorney General’s rights defenders (HRDs) remained a the UK provided financial support Office, including the special unit that particular concern, and despite minor to the Press Freedom Foundation, deals specifically with attacks on improvements in the conviction rate, supporting efforts to train journalists HRDs. We have also provided support the level of violence against HRDs in self-protection mechanisms. In to environmental and land-rights continued to be worryingly high. the run-up to October’s regional defenders, and helped strengthen the elections, we helped broker a pact in The UN High Commissioner for Human Ombudsman’s early warning system which nine political parties undertook Rights reported that 107 HRDs were and institutional follow-up mechanisms. publicly not to spread disinformation. killed in 2019, compared to 110 in The full implementation of the peace 2018. While each attack was a product deal with the FARC remains the of its local context, the violence was country’s best hope for improving the Democratic People’s particularly concentrated in areas security of social leaders, including Republic of Korea (DPRK) with high levels of multidimensional HRDs, especially the formally poverty, where organised criminal established pillars 1 (integrated rural There was no improvement in the armed groups were fighting for control reform) and 4 (substitution of illicit dire human rights situation in the of illicit economies following the crops) of the agreement. Despite the Democratic People’s Republic of withdrawal of the FARC, and where government’s overall commitment to Korea (DPRK) in 2019. The regime the state has little presence. The Cauca the peace deal, it is in these two areas continued to exert control over nearly region saw the most HRDs killed, where implementation is the slowest, every aspect of citizens’ lives: they approximately 30. A disproportionate because of budget constraints, vested were told what to believe, what to number of indigenous leaders were interests, and the reality on the ground. consume, and where they could travel. caught up in the violence, as different The latest UNODC figures indicate that Those who defied the state could armed groups disputed local coca coca cultivation fell slightly in 2018, face imprisonment or even death. cultivation and drug trafficking routes. according to the UNODC. However, The DPRK Constitution guarantees The Colombian government reiterated productivity increases (some farmers freedom of religion, expression, its commitment to protecting HRDs, report being able to harvest their coca speech, the press, demonstration, and there were some advances. bushes more than five times a year) and association. In reality, DPRK Impunity fell, albeit from a high level, mean cocaine production, and therefore citizens did not enjoy any of these helped by the improved capacity of illicit financing, were at historic highs. freedoms. The DPRK remained top of the Attorney General’s special unit that In 2019, the UK continued to provide Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 investigates violent attacks against support to help Colombia address countries where Christians experience HRDs. It reported convictions in 20% the legacy of sexual violence from its extreme persecution, and came 179th of the cases it investigated in 2018, 53-year internal conflict. Over the past out of 180 in the Reporters without up from 14% in 2016. However, the three years, UK support to La Red de Borders World Press Freedom Index. overwhelming majority of convictions Mujeres Víctimas y Profesionales, a are of those who carried out the attacks The DPRK authorities continued to deny network of survivors of sexual violence, (usually hired hitmen), rather than of allegations of human rights violations has helped document 1,200 new cases, those who ordered them, making it and to refuse human rights practitioners which are now before the transitional difficult to break the cycle of violence. access to the country. They continued justice system. Gender-based violence to refuse to cooperate with the UN October’s regional elections were the remains a serious problem in Colombian Office of the High Commissioner for most violent for at least ten years, with society. The UK funded work to train Human Rights or with the UN Special 22 candidates killed[18]. The murder rural medical professionals in how Rapporteur on the situation of Human of Karina Garcia—a candidate for to attend cases of sexual violence, Rights in North Korea, Tomás Ojea mayor of Suárez in Cauca—along with including with a view to preserving Quintana. The regime continued five others on 1 September shocked evidence to encourage convictions. to refuse to act on the 2014 UN the country. Although election day In 2019, Colombia ranked 129th out of Commission of Inquiry report, which itself was peaceful, the government 180 in the Reporters without Borders confirmed that its National Protection

[18] According to the fourth “Electoral violence report” of the Colombian civil society organisation Fundación Paz y Reconciliación CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 44

had highlighted wide ranging and states were required to repatriate all MONUSCO (approximately £50 million ongoing ‘’crimes against humanity’’. North Korean nationals earning income in FY 2019/20) and the provision of in their jurisdiction by 22 December. staff officers. The UK used its UN In May, Korea Future Initiative released Such workers were forced overseas to Security Council role to ensure that a report entitled ‘Sex Slaves: The earn money for the regime, and often the protection of civilians was central Prostitution, Cybersex and Forced worked in conditions tantamount to to the 2019 MONUSCO mandate Marriage of North Korean Women and slavery in their host country. The UK renewal, alongside a renewed focus Girls in China’. The report gave detailed was at the forefront of international on disarmament, demobilisation, accounts of women and girls being lobbying on this issue, and urged all and reintegration efforts. In 2019 trafficked from the DPRK to China for member states to take seriously their UK Aid continued to contribute to prostitution and forced marriage, and obligation to repatriate DPRK overseas the DRC Stabilisation Coherence the misery and suffering they endured. workers so that this exploitation could Fund as part of the UK’s six-year In October, the UN Special Rapporteur come to an end. We also played £70 million programme focussed on reported to the UNGA Human a prominent role in examining the building stability in the east, together Rights Committee, focusing on implementation reports submitted to with other international partners, food insecurity and on the ongoing the UN as part of this obligation. including through mediation for local suppression of basic freedoms. The communities affected by violence. The UK continued to use its bilateral UN estimates that 10.9 million people relationship to engage with the DPRK SGBV perpetrated by state agents in North Korea are undernourished. government on its human rights record. and armed groups significantly Throughout 2019, the UK continued Throughout 2019, the Ambassador increased in 2019. UNJHRO reported to raise and challenge the DPRK’s and other Embassy officials raised 1,054 adult victims of conflict-related human rights record in multilateral human rights in meetings with DPRK sexual violence in 2019, compared fora. The UK was a main sponsor, officials in Pyongyang, while FCO with 650 in 2018. Members of armed through the EU, of resolutions on the officials used meetings in London groups were responsible for 69% of situation of human rights in the DPRK with DPRK embassy officials to do the the abuses during the year. The UK adopted by the UN Human Rights same. Officials encouraged incremental welcomed the International Criminal Council and UN Third Committee in change where they saw opportunities. Court’s unanimous conviction in July of March and November respectively. militia leader Bosco Ntaganda for war Both resolutions recalled the DPRK’s crimes and crimes against humanity, responsibility to protect its population Democratic Republic including crimes of sexual violence. from crimes against humanity, and of Congo The UK worked with international urged the DPRK to cooperate fully partners to secure stronger reference with the UN Special Rapporteur by The UN Joint Human Rights Office to gender issues and the prevention giving him unrestricted access to the (UNJHRO), which monitors human rights of sexual violence in conflict in the country. At the UN General Assembly in violations in DRC, reported a worsening 2019 MONUSCO mandate renewal. October, we called on the Government of the human rights situation in conflict The UK also funded a military Gender of the DPRK to show the world that affected areas in 2019. Human rights Advisor to MONUSCO. The UK funded freedoms supposedly enshrined in violations and abuses included sexual Trial International to secure greater its Constitution were not a mirage. and gender based violence (SGBV), accountability for cases of sexual arbitrary arrest and detention, and violence, to build local capacity to The DPRK’s third Universal Periodic extrajudicial killings. UNJHRO reported document, investigate, and litigate in Review took place in May. The UK that the number of abuses attributed sexual violence cases effectively. In used the session as an opportunity to members of armed groups and one of the cases in question, support to call on the DPRK to end its use militias had increased; whilst those resulted in the conviction of two armed of forced labour; accede to the committed by state agents had reduced. group combatants for war crimes, Convention against Torture; and However, state agents remained enabling more than 100 victims to end all surveillance and censorship the main perpetrators, committing received compensation. The UK also contrary to international human rights 54% of documented violations. funded a project for young filmmakers laws and standards. The DPRK did to raise awareness of sexual violence in not, however, respond specifically Armed groups and militias continued conflict and combat social stigma. Other to the UK’s advance questions or to target and attack civilians UK-funded programmes supported statement during the session, and indiscriminately. UNJHRO reported an gender-based violence survivors, confirmed to the UN Human Rights increase in violations and abuses in including providing free legal assistance Council in September that it did not conflict-affected areas in 2019, including to 269 victims of international crimes. support our recommendations but a 32% increase in extrajudicial killings Education and health programmes had taken note of them instead. committed by members of armed groups. The UK has supported long- funded by the UK continued to support We played a prominent role in enforcing term stability and peacebuilding in 820 schools to respond to incidents of UN Security Council sanctions on the eastern DRC through our contributions gender-based violence, and to provide DPRK in 2019. Under UN Security to the UN peacekeeping mission post-exposure prophylaxis kits to Council Resolution 2397, all UN member 45 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

survivors of sexual violence. The UK also Egypt Freedom of expression was also severely supported the Mukwege Foundation in constrained. Space to voice opposition setting up a survivors’ assistance fund. The general trajectory of human rights to constitutional changes passed in in Egypt continued to decline in 2019, April was extremely restricted, and on There were some improvements though there was some progress in 25 June at least eight individuals were to civil and political rights in 2019. certain areas. Space for freedom of arrested on terrorism charges after UNJHRO reported 778 violations (a expression and civil society continued planning to launch a new, moderate 26% decrease compared to 2018), to shrink. Media freedom and political political coalition. Scattered protests including arbitrary detention and opposition came under particular across Egypt on 20 September were freedom of opinion and expression. The pressure: protests and attempts to followed by mass arrests, including reduction has largely been associated organise politically resulted in the arrest of human rights lawyers, activists, with President Tshisekedi’s focus on and detention of activists, lawyers, academics, and journalists. Egyptian improving political space, respect for journalists, and human rights defenders lawyers recorded over 4,000 arrests freedom of speech, announcements (HRDs), often on charges of terrorism following the protests. Many of those of the release of 700 political prisoners or spreading false news. There was arrested remain in pre-trial detention. (although poor records make this some progress on freedom of religion difficult to verify), and permission for There were some positive developments or belief (FoRB) and gender equality. senior opposition figures to return to on FoRB, starting in January with DRC. Despite these improvements, Respect for media freedom continued President Sisi opening the largest concerns remained, including the to erode throughout 2019, with Egypt cathedral in the Middle East, and ending harassment of political opponents, dropping two places in the World Press with preparations to reopen a newly journalists, and human rights defenders. Freedom Index (163rd out of 180). restored synagogue in Alexandria. Several local opposition radio stations According to the Committee to Protect The number of licences issued under the had their licences suspended in 2019. Journalists, 26 journalists were in 2016 Church Building Law continued The UK funded a programme with the prison at the end of the year, the third to increase, with over 1,222 church Westminster Foundation for Democracy highest total in the world. Over half buildings receiving licences since the to build the capacity of the DRC were detained in 2019. More than 500 middle of 2018. Dr Murrison visited parliament and to improve evidence- websites remained blocked, including Cairo in September, meeting the Coptic based law making and democratic those of independent media outlets Pope and reaffirming our mutual accountability. The UK also funded a and human rights organisations. New commitment to FoRB. However, the local NGO to improve the monitoring media regulations passed in March gave arrest of Coptic activist Ramy Kamel of violations of press freedom. We regulators additional powers to block for alleged terrorism offences on 23 continued to work with international websites, impose fines, and terminate November gave cause for concern. partners to put pressure on the DRC licences for a range of vaguely-defined Government to improve political offences. On 2 October, BBC Arabic On gender equality, Egypt made space, confirm the release of political became the latest media outlet strong progress in some areas, prisoners, recognise citizens’ right to to be blocked. On 24 November, including girls education and protest peacefully, and refrain from security officials raided and arrested expanding social protection. There using excessive force against protestors. a number of staff at one of Egypt’s was also progress on the broader last independent media outlets, Mada Women, Peace and Security agenda, In May, the UK pushed for improved Masr. The UK was the first country to and the National Council of Women DRC engagement in multilateral human comment publicly, through a statement continued to push for progressive rights institutions, in particular as the by the then Minister for the Middle policy formulation. However, the DRC was a member of the Human East and North Africa, Dr Murrison. prevalence of female genital mutilation Rights Council. During the DRC’s All staff were released later that day. (FGM) remained very high. Despite Universal Periodic Review the UK made a strong legal framework on FGM, recommendations on media freedom, There remained little space for civil prosecutions were rare. According to improving justice, and the Forced society to operate in Egypt in 2019. the World Bank, female labour force Labour Convention. Following UK HRDs linked to the Foreign Funding participation fell to its lowest level lobbying, the DRC accepted 239 of 267 Case continued to face asset freezes in two decades, standing at 23%. recommendations, including all of the and travel bans. The UK raised this UK’s recommendations. In December, issue in its advance questions ahead of There was no evidence of an the UK supported the rollover of EU Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) improvement in respect for the sanctions against twelve individuals on 13 November. Following concerted rights of LGBT people. Individuals accused of being involved in planning, lobbying, a new NGO law was passed continued to be subject to arrest and directing, or committing acts in the DRC which removed some of the restrictions detention on charges of ‘debauchery’ that constitute serious human rights imposed by the controversial 2017 law. or ‘inciting debauchery’. Forced anal violations or abuses. Under the terms of It remains to be seen whether the law examinations also continued to be the EU withdrawal agreement, the UK will enable civil society organisations reported. In January, after conducting continues to implement these sanctions. to operate more freely in practice. an interview with an LGBT individual, TV host Mohamed Al-Ghaity was CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 46

sentenced to a year in prison for recommendations, concerning reform The Government of Eritrea permits and contempt of religion, incitement of national service; action on political regulates the practice of four religions— to debauchery, and immorality. and religious detainees; and greater Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, transparency of places of detention. We Lutheran Christianity, and Sunni Islam— Egypt retained the death penalty were disappointed that Eritrea did not whose adherents enjoy freedom of during 2019. At least 470 deaths accept any of the UK recommendations, worship. Activity by adherents of other sentences were issued, including 36 but were encouraged by their support religions is suppressed, and there are from military courts. According to for recommendations from other frequent reports of groups of peaceful the Egyptian Initiative for Personal States, covering the right to liberty and worshippers being detained. This was Rights, 38 executions were estimated security of the person; the right to a highlighted in the Bishop of Truro’s to have been carried out. During fair trial for detainees; efforts aimed to Report[20] released in July. In May, our Egypt’s UPR in November the UK improve the penitentiary system; and Ambassador raised concerns that the called on Egypt to reduce the number protection of the rights of detainees. leaders of the Pentecostal church had of crimes punishable by the death been in jail for over 15 years without penalty, and to end the use of mass At the Human Rights Council in July, trial. That same month there were trials to issue death sentences. the UK co-sponsored a successful Item reports that more members of the 2 resolution to renew the mandate Prison conditions remained an area Pentecostal church had been arrested. of the UN Special Rapporteur on of focus for the UK, with numerous In July, the FCO issued a tweet[21] the situation of human rights in reports of family visits and medical following reports that the Patriarch Eritrea. Eritrea continued to refuse to care being denied. Credible allegations of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, cooperate with the Special Rapporteur of torture and mistreatment in Abune Antonios, deposed in 2006 or any thematic rapporteurs. detention continued to be reported. and held under house arrest, had been Unannounced inspections of prisons Eritrea still operates a system of excommunicated for ‘heresy’. In June, in by independent bodies in line with universal and compulsory national a measure to enforce a 1995 declaration international human rights standards service, with few exemptions, that for to bring the provision of health services were still not permitted. Concerns many is open-ended. Roles are both under state control, the government over specific cases were regularly military and civilian. The justification took over all the clinics managed by raised with the Egyptian authorities, in for such service had been the frozen the Catholic Church. The government London and in Cairo. During Egypt’s conflict—‘no war, no peace’ – which also continued its programme of UPR, the UK publicly raised its concerns had existed between Eritrea and transferring the management of regarding extended pre-trial detention, Ethiopia for 16 years. Following the religious schools to the state. solitary confinement, blocked prison signing of the peace agreement with Eritrea was ranked 178 out of 180 in inspections, and restricted access Ethiopia in July 2018, the terms of the the World Press Freedom Index, with all to medical care and family visits. agreement had not been implemented internal media operated by the state. 16 by either side by the end of 2019, and journalists, arbitrarily detained without indefinite national service remained. trial during the 2000s, remained Eritrea In July, the Eritrean government said incarcerated. In May, Eritrea’s limited that it would undertake a review The main human rights concerns in internet availability was reduced further of national service, but it gave no Eritrea were the continued use of when many of the internet cafes were deadline for the review’s completion. arbitrary detention as a means of closed down. A small number were suppression, the indefinite nature Eritrea has no constitutional subsequently reopened. There was, of the national service system, and government or elections. 2019 saw however, no attempt to block access violations of freedom of expression a continued poor record on arbitrary to foreign satellite broadcasters. and of freedom of religion or belief. detention, with the authorities in In July, the Ministry of Justice agreed particular targeting political opponents In January, Eritrea became a member of a comprehensive framework with and adherents to unapproved religions. the Human Rights Council. Following the UN Office on Drugs and Crime The government does not allow access the peace agreement with Ethiopia to reduce crime, including: reform of to places of detention and shares in July 2018, Eritrea signalled that it the prison system bringing Eritrea in no information on detainees. There wanted to renew its engagement with line with international standards and are, however, consistent reports that the UN through the Universal Periodic human rights norms; judicial reform numerous high profile political figures Review (UPR) process, and underwent including training for judges and remain in detention with no access examination in January[19], accepting 131 prosecutors focusing on human rights to justice, some of whom have been of the 261 recommendations tabled. and alternatives to imprisonment; law detained for over 18 years following The UK welcomed Eritrea’s engagement enforcement reform; and combatting their criticism of the government. in the UPR process and tabled three transnational organised crime. This

[19] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/ERIndex.aspx [20] https://christianpersecutionreview.org.uk/report [21] https://twitter.com/FCOHumanRights/status/1154323014919643136 47 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

was part of the justice minister’s of age at the time of their deaths[22]. during 2019. Several major social plans to transform her ministry, Such actions violated Iran’s obligations media websites, including Facebook, including increasing capacity and under the International Covenant on Twitter, and YouTube, remain banned. the professionalisation of staff. Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and The Iranian authorities continued the Convention on the Rights of the Eritrea continued to make to violate the right to freedom of Child, both of which Iran has ratified. improvements against the Sustainable religion or belief and discriminated Development Goals. In November, at At least 32 executions for drug-related against ethnic minorities. Members of the UN Population Fund’s International crimes took place in 2019, according religious minorities faced restrictions Conference on Population Development to international estimates—an increase for peacefully manifesting their beliefs. in Nairobi, the Eritrean government of more than 50% compared to 2018. The authorities continued to persecute committed to its goals on gender This figure was particularly concerning Baha’is, including through shop closures equality, including: the elimination given that the 2017 Anti-Narcotics and the denial of mainstream education. of all forms of discrimination against Law, which applies retroactively, More than 30 followers were reportedly women and girls; ending sexual and allowed the judiciary to review most arrested during 2019, often on unclear gender based violence, female genital sentences and reduce punishment charges. While Christians notionally mutilation, and early or forced marriage; to imprisonment if appropriate. The benefit from constitutional recognition the provision of sex education for all death penalty still applied to the and protection, they continued to young people, especially girls; the production and distribution of large be persecuted in a systemic and elimination of preventable maternal amounts of opium, heroin, and institutionalised manner. In September, mortality and morbidities by 2022; methamphetamine, as well as for armed the Iranian authorities sentenced a and the reformulation of how Eritrea smugglers, ringleaders, and financiers. pastor and eight converts to Christianity addresses sexual and reproductive to five years in prison, despite Iran’s The Iranian authorities’ response to health interventions. During the year, international obligation under the the unrest in November, which was Eritrea also made significant progress ICCPR to recognise an individual’s triggered by a sudden raise in petrol on its vaccination programme. freedom to choose their religion. prices, was a serious and violent crackdown. There were credible Women in Iran continued to be Iran reports of live fire against protesters denied the same rights and privileges and of mass arrests. Amnesty as men, and to face discrimination, Iran continued to violate human rights International stated that over 300 including unequal rights in marriage, during 2019, carrying out the most people died, and the Iranian media divorce, and child custody. Protests deadly crackdown against internal reported that Iran’s Interior Minister against the compulsory wearing of unrest since the 1979 revolution. The told the country’s parliament that an the hijab continued, resulting in the UK’s main concerns were: the continued estimated 7,000 people had been arrest and imprisonment of several lack of fair trials; restricted access to arrested. European Union member women. Following the death of legal representation, and due legal states unanimously declared the Sahar Khodayari, a female football process, including for dual nationals widespread and disproportionate fan arrested for watching men’s (Chapter Three: Consular Assistance use of force as unacceptable, and matches, and FIFA’s ultimatum to allow gives more detail); the widespread called for the freedoms of assembly women’s attendance, Iran responded use of the death penalty; violations and of expression to be respected. to international pressure and permitted of the right to freedom of expression The UN High Commissioner for women to attend a game in October. and to freedom of religion or belief; Human Rights urged the release However, this appeared to be a and the limitations on the right of from detention of all protestors who one-off concession, demonstrating women to participate fully in society. had been arbitrarily detained, and to the scale of the challenge to It is difficult to monitor accurately how ensure their right to due process. secure equal rights for women. many executions take place each year There were serious concerns about Iran continued to deny consular in Iran, since not all are made public. restrictions on freedom of expression in access to dual nationals in detention. Credible estimates suggested there Iran. The authorities initiated a near- In November, the Foreign Secretary, were 235 executions in 2019. While total shutdown of the country’s internet Dominic Raab, raised with the Iranian this was a small reduction compared and mobile data for more than a week Foreign Minister the cases of a number with the previous year, Iran still ranked during the November protests—the of British-Iranians detained in Iran, as one of the most prolific users of first time that this has occurred in Iran. including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. the death penalty globally. This figure Several foreign-based media outlets that We will continue to raise all of our included at least ten public executions, reported on the unrest received threats dual national detainee cases with a practice which usually involves death to their staff, or to relatives in Iran, and Iran, including making requests for by hanging in an open square, and some had assets frozen in retaliation. them to receive appropriate medical two known executions of juvenile At least 15 journalists, bloggers, or treatment and due process. offenders who were under 18 years social media activists were arrested

[22] https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/05/01/iran-2-child-offenders-executed CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 48

In September, the UK brought the Respect for media freedom also the UK announced an additional £1 international community together deteriorated in 2019. NGOs raised million for the UN Investigative Team at a UK-hosted event at the UN concerns over a draft ‘Law on IT Crimes’ for the Accountability of Daesh. General Assembly to shine a spotlight proposing imprisonment and fines for Although Iraq’s Constitution requires on Iran’s human rights abuses. those seen as undermining national 25% of MPs to be female, women interests. A number of journalists continued to be marginalised by covering the protests at the end of 2019 conservative social, religious, and tribal Iraq were murdered, while others faced norms. Despite extensive lobbying by intimidation, and a number of media The human rights situation in the UK and partners, the Iraqi cabinet offices were ransacked. In November, Iraq deteriorated sharply in 2019, had only one female minister. In the the National Communications and particularly in the last quarter of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) both Media Commission closed nine media year. Systematic repression of popular the Parliamentary Speaker and Deputy companies for covering the protests, demonstrations resulted in large-scale Speaker were female and there were imposing severe restrictions on loss of life and casualties, detentions, three female ministers in the Kurdistan media freedom. The UK supported and restrictions on the media and Regional Government. ‘Honour’ killings journalists and civil society activists on access to information. Women against women, girls, and LGBT people through our International Programme, and members of minorities remained continued, often unreported. The Iraqi including on best practice, editorial marginalised, including from decision- parliament failed to pass a draft bill standards, and advocacy. making. The continued use of the death to criminalise domestic violence. Our penalty, and forced returns of internally Over 1.4 million people remain International Programme projects in FY displaced persons (IDPs), remained displaced across Iraq because of security 2019/20 include raising awareness of concerns. Overall, the implementation concerns and a lack of access to services gender-based violence and protection of human rights protections and and jobs in their places of origin. Since services for girls and women in KRI; and accountability remained weak. 2014, the UK has committed £261 legal/psychosocial support for female Popular protests in Baghdad and million in humanitarian support and IDPs in Anbar and Baghdad provinces. £110 million in stabilisation funding, southern Iraq towards the end of Widespread use of the death penalty including £28 million to the UN’s 2019, calling for reforms and the continued against those convicted of Funding Facility for Stabilisation to help resignation of the government, were membership of Daesh. Information from rebuild communities in liberated areas. harshly repressed by elements of the Iraqi Ministry of Justice indicated the Iraqi Security Forces and other Human rights defenders highlighted that over 100 executions took place armed groups. Since protests began in concerns about the mistreatment of between January and August, while October, the Iraqi High Commission for some IDPs, including all households over 8,000 detainees were on death Human Rights (IHCHR) recorded 555 headed by women still perceived as row; however, accurate official data people killed, 24,000 injured (including affiliated with Daesh. Children with remained difficult to obtain. Human Iraqi Security Forces), and 2,807 unofficial birth certificates issued by rights monitors logged numerous arrested, including 33 assassinations Daesh were denied access to healthcare reports of systematic abuse and and 77 kidnappings of civil activists; and education. In September, the torture during arrest and pre-trial with 98 still detained, and 53 abducted UN and NGOs raised concerns over detention. The UK continued to lobby over the course of the protests. The forced returns of IDPs to Anbar, Kirkuk, against the use of the death penalty, UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and Salahuddin provinces, despite for better conditions in prisons, concluded that numerous human security fears. The UK continued and for consistent due process and rights violations and abuses had to monitor and raise concerns over transparency in investigations and trials. been committed, including the use restrictions of rights to freedom of of lethal force against demonstrators, movement, education, and services. the unnecessary, disproportionate, The State of Israel The societal effects of Daesh atrocities and/or improper use of tear gas and and the Occupied remained unresolved, in particular stun grenades, abductions, multiple the stigma experienced by survivors Palestinian Territories arrests, and continued efforts to limit and children born of sexual violence, media coverage of demonstrations. 2019 saw continued violations by the and by those with perceived Daesh Security force personnel responsible Government of Israel (GoI) of human affiliation. In early 2019, the Yezidi for violations evaded justice. The UK rights and international humanitarian Spiritual Council announced that raised concerns at these developments, law in the context of Israel’s occupation children born of Daesh rape could condemned the excessive use of of the West Bank, including East not return to their communities. In force by security forces, and called Jerusalem, and Gaza (Occupied April, the UK supported widening for accountability with the Iraqi Prime Palestinian Territories, or OPTs). Human President Salih’s draft legislation Minister, Foreign Minister, and Chief rights abuses by the Palestinian proposing rehabilitation services and Justice, and in the United Nations Authority (PA), and by Hamas, the de reparations for female Yezidis to include Security Council on 3 December. facto administration in Gaza, continued. all female survivors of Daesh. In July, 49 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza was July, Israeli authorities demolished In Gaza, Hamas continued to exacerbated by protests and escalations ten Palestinian homes in areas where exercise strict control over civil of violence between Israel and planning powers nominally reside with society. In March, it violently Palestinian armed groups. According the PA. The UK continued to fund cracked down on a protest against to the Coordinator of Government legal aid for Palestinians contesting socioeconomic conditions, beating Activities in the Territories (COGAT), eviction and demolition cases. and detaining many demonstrators. a unit within the Israeli Ministry of UN OCHA reported that 27 Palestinians Hamas issued two death sentences Defence, 2,656 rockets and mortars, were killed by Israeli forces and settlers in 2019. While the UK maintains a and 887 incendiary devices, were in the West Bank in 2019. The Israeli no-contact policy with Hamas, we launched during 2019 into Israeli Security Agency (ISA) reported that in made clear publicly our objections territory, causing 286 fires. In total, five 2019 four Israeli civilians were killed to its use of the death penalty. Israeli civilians were killed. According in the West Bank, as well one Israeli to the UN Office for the Coordination Despite commitments from the soldier. According to UN OCHA, of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 107 PA on the protection of women, the number of acts of violence and Palestinians were killed, including 36 by significant work continued to be vandalism perpetrated by settlers live ammunition fired by Israeli forces. required to improve access to against Palestinians increased for the justice and financial capital. Positive In March, a UN Commission of Inquiry third year running. ISA recorded 1,132 steps would include adopting the (CoI) issued its report into alleged violent attacks by Palestinians in the Convention on the Elimination of violations during the demonstrations West Bank. In January, Israel did not all Forms of Discrimination Against in Gaza in 2018. The CoI concluded renew the mandate of the Temporary Women in full, and enshrining the there were grounds to believe that in International Presence in Hebron. The Family Protection Bill in law. 187 of 189 fatalities, the use of live UK expressed its concern over the ammunition by Israeli security forces development through a statement Israel remained a robust open against demonstrators was unlawful. by the then Minister for the Middle democracy with a vibrant civil society. It did not investigate Hamas abuses, East and North Africa, Alistair Burt. However, pressure continued on stating there was little information those criticising Israel’s conduct in the The number of Palestinian minors available. Israel referred eleven incidents OPTs, including rhetorical attacks by in Israeli detention decreased, with of lethal force to the Military Attorney politicians, and visa delays and denials 186 detained at the end of 2019. We General for further investigation. for activists working in the OPTs. In continued to seek improvements in In one case, one Israeli soldier November, Israel expelled Human their treatment. There were some was convicted. The UK continued Rights Watch Country Director Omar improvements to legal access. The to call for investigations into, and Shakir, citing his alleged support Fourth Geneva Convention provides accountability for, excessive use of for boycott actions against Israel. that protected persons accused of force in Gaza and the West Bank. offences shall be detained in the The UK continued to fund projects occupied territory. According to the Libya to help address Israeli restrictions UN Secretary-General, most Palestinian on movement and access to and prisoners continued to be held in Israel. In 2019, the human rights situation from Gaza, including legal advocacy in Libya deteriorated further, as a We continued to urge the PA to to facilitate exit permits for traders result of the armed conflict which respect human rights, ensure that and for Gazans seeking professional re-ignited in April. The situation was complaints of ill treatment were and educational opportunities. exacerbated by multiple breaches of properly investigated, and improve the UN arms embargo. It was clear that Israel continued its systemic policy the security sector’s compliance with Libya was enduring a proxy war, with of settlement expansion, a breach international human rights standards. a range of countries providing external of international humanitarian law, The PA drafted legislation to establish a military support to different sides. which the UK continued to oppose. National Preventive Mechanism against Reported human rights violations or During 2019, Israel advanced Torture, which would visit detention abuses included: loss of life, including 9,865 units in the West Bank. facilities and report on conditions. attacks on civilians and refugees; Israeli demolitions of Palestinian In the West Bank, the PA continued discrimination against women and girls; structures increased. According to to restrict space for civil society and and limits to freedom of expression the UN OCHA, 621 structures were freedom of expression. In October, a and of religion or belief. The UK demolished or seized in 2019, including PA court ordered the shutdown of 59 worked to address these through a 203 in East Jerusalem; the highest news websites. However, the number range of activities, supporting UN-led number of demolitions there since of Palestinians detained in cases related efforts towards a sustainable political 2000. 914 Palestinians were displaced to freedom of expression decreased. settlement, and programme work during 2019. In April, Israel introduced The UK called for the strengthening of addressing the most acute challenges. a one-year pilot of a new military respect for media freedom, including After the fighting began in April, order to fast-track demolitions with through legislative amendments. neighbourhoods were subject to less discretion for judicial review. In indiscriminate shelling, with over CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 50

100,000 people displaced. During working closely with both the Libyan project ‘Ante Raeda’ supported local 2019, the UN documented at least government and NGO partners. civil society organisations (CSOs) which 284 civilian deaths and 363 injuries as focused on empowering women, The situation for migrants and refugees a result of the conflict—an increase and helping them to understand their remained serious. As of September[29], of more than 25% compared with rights, in order to promote political, there were around 636,000 migrants 2018[23]. Special Representative of economic, and social change. in Libya, with over 100,000 living in the UN Secretary-General, Ghassan Tripoli. Conditions for those detained Widespread restrictions on freedom Salamé, noted 60 attacks against in official detention centres (some of expression, association, assembly, medical facilities or personnel between 4,200[30]) were often dire. Human rights and religion or belief continued. January and November[24]. Human rights groups documented sexual violence, For example, there were reports of groups reported violations or abuses forced labour, torture, deprivation of arbitrary arrests and detention of of human rights or of international food and water, physical violence, and followers of Sufism and of attacks humanitarian law (IHL) across the the murder of detainees. Despite UK against religious sites. In March, before conflict. Alleged abuses by forces warnings, no realistic alternatives to the increased levels of violence, the aligned with the Libya National Army detention were developed. The UK GNA suspended issuing licences for (LNA) included destruction of civilian contributed to the humanitarian effort public demonstrations, citing ‘security property, and indiscriminate killings and continued to engage with Libyan threats’. Space for civil society in and executions. LNA-aligned militia parties and the international community Libya decreased. While there has commander, Mahmoud al-Werfalli, to address the challenge. Despite an been no proof of implementation was promoted, despite remaining increase in interception operations or enforcement, Presidency Council subject to a war crimes indictment by by the Libyan coastguard in 2019, Decree 286 (2018) limited the activity the International Criminal Court[25]. the situation for migrants returned to of civil society groups, prohibiting The 2019 UN Panel of Experts report Libya remained appalling. An airstrike international donations and political, listed reported violations or abuses by LNA-aligned forces which hit a military, or security engagement. of human rights or IHL by both LNA- migrant detention centre in Tajoura Civilians expressing minority political aligned forces and by forces aligned in July killed at least 53 people[31]. views in both Tripoli and Benghazi with the UN-recognised Government were reportedly intimidated. As of of National Accord (GNA). The report Discrimination against women, and December, the fate of politician and noted that indiscriminate explosive sexual and gender-based violence LNA critic Siham Sergewa, abducted ordnance strikes were widespread and continued. The possibility for equal in Benghazi on 17 July, remained were attributable to both sides. Some participation was already limited, and unknown. Members of CSOs have reported abuses were attributed to the political and security vacuum after reported interrogations on returning Daesh[26]. The UK emphasised publicly April heightened the vulnerability of to Libya from UK-sponsored events. the need for all parties to respect women and girls. Libya remained a IHL,[27] and highlighted reported human focus country of the UK’s National Restrictions to media freedom rights violations and abuses and the Action Plan on Women, Peace and remained concerning. As of 2 May, importance of accountability[28]. Security (WPS). Libya was ranked the UN Support Mission in Libya 158th of 167 countries on the had reviewed at least 23 cases of The security and justice sector remained Georgetown Institute for WPS Index threats, intimidation, and violence areas of concern, with continuing (2019). The UK’s priorities continue against journalists since 2018[32]. As reports of arbitrary detentions. The to be the promotion of political of December 2019, CSSF funding had death penalty remained part of Libyan inclusion, economic opportunities trained over 200 Libyan journalists on law, though no sentences were carried and governance, and tackling social impartial media standards. The UK co- out during 2019. At an operational inequalities. The UK is providing £2.75 sponsored a human rights workshop level, the UK embarked on an ambitious million of Conflict Stability and Security for journalists to raise awareness of five-year project (2018-22) to develop Fund (CSSF) funding (2017-20) to the importance of media freedom. a human rights-compliant detention build the capacity of local civil society pathway from arrest to imprisonment, partners across Libya. Our gender

[23] https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25445&LangID=E UN [24] https://dppa.un.org/en/srsg-ghassan-salame-briefing-to-security-council-18-november-2019 [25] https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=191106-stat-icc-otp-UNSC-libya [26] https://undocs.org/S/2019/914 [27] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-and-foreign-secretary-meeting-with-libyan-prime-minister-serraj-9-may-2019 [28] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/un-human-rights-council-42-item-4-general-debate [29] https://www.globaldtm.info/libya-migrant-report-27-aug-sep-2019 [30] https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/68528 [31] https://unsmil.unmissions.org/un-report-urges-accountability-libya-airstrike-deaths [32] https://unsmil.unmissions.org/world-celebrates-world-press-freedom-day-libyan-journalists-face-rising-threats-and-violence 51 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

Republic of Maldives were, according to a Commonwealth Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading observation mission, peaceful, credible, Treatment or Punishment, Nils The human rights situation in Maldives transparent, and inclusive. However, Melzer, visited Maldives in November improved in 2019 as President women remained underrepresented and highlighted deplorable prison Solih’s new government took steps in Parliament, winning only four of conditions, the lack of accountability for to consolidate democracy, improve 87 seats. While women made up half torture or ill-treatment, and the need governance, and promote respect for of the civil service, they were under- to end impunity for past violations. human rights. Discriminatory laws represented in senior positions. In The Special Rapporteur also expressed were reviewed, political prisoners September, parliament approved the concern about the treatment of migrant were released, and exiled politicians appointment of the first two female workers, noting reports of impounded began to return to the country. Supreme Court justices. In December, passports and a failure to honour Freedom of expression improved the government reserved one third contracts. The government undertook generally, with a more permissive of council seats for women in the to address these concerns, working environment for civil society, media, local elections due in April 2020. with the International Organization and the opposition. Parliament passed for Migration. In December, President Parliament took steps to reform a number of legislative reforms Solih announced that Maldives has the judiciary and established an that further embedded democratic signed the declaration in relation to independent Bar association. The principles. During 2019, Maldives Article 22 of the UN Convention Against Judicial Service Commission began hosted several Commonwealth Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or to address corruption in the judiciary, delegations following their application Degrading Treatment or Punishment. dismissing a number of judges for to rejoin the organisation[33]. The UN Committee Against Torture incompetence and misconduct. In now has the authority to receive In 2019, citizens enjoyed greater October, the government introduced a and consider complaints of torture freedom of expression and assembly. transitional justice bill, which will create and inhuman acts from those within Some public gatherings and protests an ombudsman to investigate human the jurisdiction of the Maldives. were permitted, while members of the rights violations committed by state opposition were free to demonstrate officials and ensure justice for victims. Maldives demonstrated greater in support of former President Yameen international commitment to human Presidential Commissions on Murders during the criminal investigation rights and actively contributed to and Enforced Disappearances and on against him, and against his detention. the Human Rights Council session Corruption and Asset Recovery were While this trend was encouraging, the held in February and March, co- granted legal powers by parliament closure in November of the civil society sponsoring several resolutions, in June. The Commission on Murders organisation Maldivian Democracy including on environmental human reported on several cases of violence, Network following its 2016 report on rights defenders and on the rights of including the abduction and murder extremism, which was found to be the child. Maldives welcomed visits of journalist Ahmed Rilwan in 2014. In disrespectful of Islam (and therefore by two UN Special Rapporteurs, the December, the Commission announced unlawful according to the Maldivian first visits by UN Special Rapporteurs that it would seek charges against two Constitution), raised some concerns since 2013. The Special Rapporteur local suspects for three murders of a around freedom of expression and the on Torture and Other Cruel, politician, journalist, and blogger. space in which civil society can operate. Inhuman and Degrading Treatment Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) also In July, Maldives became a signatory to or Punishment visited in November, remained a concern with continued the Global Pledge on Media Freedom. and by the Special Rapporteur in the constraints on the freedom to worship. In November Maldives joined the Field of Cultural Rights in June. Executive Group of the Media Freedom In January, a day after a magistrate In June, the Council of the EU revoked Coalition. Maldives rose 22 places to sentenced a 25-year-old woman its sanctions framework against rank 98 in the annual Reporters Without to death by stoning on charges of Maldives in light of the improved Borders World Press Freedom Index. adultery, the Supreme Court reversed political and human rights situation. the ruling. While Maldives retains The government sought to reform This followed the fourth annual Policy the death penalty, it has not been prisons in Maldives and vowed to Dialogue in March between the EU and enforced in over 65 years. The Child end torture and inhumane treatment, Maldives. In December, Maldives was Rights Protection Act, ratified in following the reported abuse of six invited to make a formal application November, raised the age of consent inmates at Maafushi prison in June. The to rejoin the Commonwealth, for marriage to 18, and abolished the Human Rights Commission submitted its having welcomed two assessment death penalty for crimes committed findings on the death in custody in 2017 missions as well as the election by those below the age of 18. of protestor Abdulla Rasheed, who observer mission referred to above. was jailed for assaulting a police officer Parliamentary elections in April, in In 2019, the first UK resident during the 2015 May Day protest. The which President Solih’s Maldivian Ambassador arrived in Maldives. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Democratic Party won a clear majority,

[33] Maldives formally rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020. CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 52

Myanmar HALO Trust, which provided mine risk in the UK’s National Action Plan on education and surveys to citizens. Women, Peace and Security 2018-22. 2019 saw a deterioration in the human The British Embassy supported work The UK applied targeted EU sanctions rights situation in some parts of the to improve women’s participation in on 14 individuals and an arms embargo. country. The situation as a whole politics, peace efforts, and civil society, In August, the UN Fact Finding Mission remained poor. Human rights violations including in preparation for the 2020 released its final reports, and the and abuses were committed by the election. The UK continued to lobby Independent Investigative Mechanism Myanmar security forces and ethnic the Myanmar government on conflict- for Myanmar became operational. The armed organisations (EAOs) across the related sexual violence, gender-based UK has been a longstanding supporter country. There was no demonstrable violence, and to meet international of both bodies in the UN Human Rights progress on accountability for standards on gender issues. Council and UN Security Council. these violations and abuses. In May, the Myanmar President Myanmar’s Independent Commission Of the 500,000 to 600,000 Rohingya pardoned two Reuters journalists, of Enquiry (ICOE) continued its remaining in Rakhine State, most imprisoned for over 500 days for investigations into alleged violations continued to have their freedom investigating a massacre by the military and abuses in Rakhine. We continued of movement restricted and were in Inn Din village. The journalists served to push for publication of a final confined to their homes with little longer sentences than the soldiers report. The UK urged Myanmar access to markets and livelihoods. who carried out the massacre. The UK to ensure that the final report was The Rohingya continued to fear for worked hard to secure the journalists’ credible, transparent, and adhered their security, lacking protection release, and welcomed the President’s to international standards. against vigilante attacks and theft decision. Nevertheless, the space for of property. The UK continued to In November, The Gambia brought free expression in Myanmar continued urge the Myanmar government to a case against Myanmar at the to shrink in 2019. Hundreds of social implement the Rakhine Advisory International Court of Justice in The and political activists faced prosecution, Commission’s recommendations, Hague, on the basis that Myanmar including through the increased use which would be a clear step towards had allegedly breached its obligations of repressive laws, for exercising free improving the human rights situation under the Genocide Convention. speech. The UK continued to speak out in the state. The UK remained at Separately, the International in defence of freedom of expression. the forefront of the humanitarian Criminal Court commenced an response for over a million refugees in investigation into alleged crimes Bangladesh, funding £256 million to against humanity committed, at Pakistan least in part, on the territory of address the crisis since August 2017. There remained serious human rights Bangladesh, against the Rohingya. During 2019, civilians were severely concerns and violations in Pakistan in affected by a sharp escalation in In 2019, gender inequality remained 2019, including restrictions on civic fighting between the Arakan Army a serious problem in Myanmar. The space and freedom of expression, and the Myanmar security forces in country’s global ranking on the intolerance, and direct and open Rakhine State. As of December, it was Women, Peace and Security (WPS) discrimination towards some estimated that between 48,000 and Index fell from 119th in 2018 to 150th minorities. Concerns continued about 100,000 people had been displaced by in 2019. Myanmar’s Technical Working the prevalence of bonded and child this conflict. Human rights violations Group on WPS, part of its National labour, and the failure to uphold and abuses were also documented in Strategic Plan for the Advancement of the rights of women and children. Shan, Chin, and Kachin states, where Women, struggled to make progress. The imposition and use of the death the decades-long conflicts between penalty continued. There was some Women continued to be seriously EAOs and the military continued to progress on death penalty reform. underrepresented in Myanmar’s political displace thousands of civilians. By the The UK welcomed establishment of a processes. Only 10% of national MPs end of 2019, the total population of Parliamentary Committee on Forced were women and only State Counsellor concern to UNHCR at some 866,000, Conversions and the opening of the (and de facto leader) Aung San Suu including 238,000 internally displaced Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims. Kyi held a national ministerial position. persons in Kachin, northern Shan, In August, the UN Fact Finding The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and south-eastern Myanmar. Mission reported[34] that the Myanmar government came into power in 2018 Myanmar security forces continued security forces, and ethnic armed with a commitment to guarantee to deploy anti-personnel mines organisations to a lesser extent, used the protection of minorities, tackle (landmines) in 2019. Anti-personnel sexual violence as a weapon of war. inequality, and protect child rights. mines were also used by EAOs. There The Ministry of Human Rights began Human trafficking, especially of women, was evidence of casualties in previously work on a range of new legislation. remained a serious issue throughout uncontaminated areas. The UK funded This covered protection from torture, Myanmar. Myanmar is a focus country the Mine Action Group and the enforced disappearances, the safety

[34] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/MyanmarFFM/Pages/sexualviolence.aspx 53 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

of journalists, Christian marriage and Muslims, including Hazaras. The slavery in Pakistan. FCO International divorce, and child protection. At the use of blasphemy laws remained a Programme activity raised awareness, end of the year, progress on human concern, with many detained awaiting and encouraged community debate rights legislation was at varying stages court hearings. Ahmadiyya Muslims on issues such as early or forced and none had yet been written into and non-Muslim religious minorities marriages, child trafficking, and bonded law. In January, a bill to amend the remain unable to hold presidential or labour. A UK -funded project sought Child Marriage and Restraint Act, to prime ministerial office after a bill to to develop a better understanding bring the marriageable age of girls to allow this was blocked in the National of the forms of modern slavery in 18 years, was passed by the Senate. Assembly in November. Reports of Pakistan to inform future work. However, reservations by conservative Hindu and Christian women being In December, a UK-funded case study parliamentarians meant that by the forced to convert to Islam, or to marry on The Transgender Persons (Protection end of 2019 it had not proceeded for Muslim men, continued. In January, the of Rights) Act 2018 was launched. This discussion by the National Assembly. acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman aimed to analyse the passage of this bill The Zainab Alert, Recovery and sentenced to death for blasphemy in and suggest lessons for the future. More Response Bill 2019, to improve response 2010, was upheld by the Supreme remained to be done to ensure effective to the kidnapping of children, was sent Court. In November, a Parliamentary implementation, with LGBT persons to the National Assembly Standing Committee to Protect Minorities from continuing to face discrimination. Committee on Human Rights in April Forced Conversions was formed to and presented to the house. It was work on relevant legislation. A positive Pakistan retained the death penalty still pending in December. The UK development was the Kartarpur for 27 separate offences. Particular continued to urge Pakistan to improve Corridor opening, allowing Sikh pilgrims concerns remained over death row the human rights situation for all its visa-free access to shrines in India and prisoners with mental and physical citizens. In February, the Minister for Pakistan. The UK supported efforts to illnesses. In October, the Minister for Human Rights Lord (Tariq) Ahmad identify barriers to religious freedom for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, of Wimbledon, visited Pakistan and members of minorities. We engaged announced plans to streamline the discussed the full range of human rights youth and community discussion on presidential pardon process. Our issues. In July, the Minister of Foreign this issue through digital media and work supported a study of death Affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, community outreach projects. We penalty cases through the lower court attended the Global Conference also worked to strengthen provincial system to improve understanding for Media Freedom in London. government support to minorities of the operation of this system. and to improve civil society advocacy Civic space and freedom of expression The legal basis which allowed skills. The Bishop of Truro’s report of faced growing restrictions. The media military courts to try civilians facing FCO Support for Persecuted Christians came under increased pressure and terrorism charges lapsed in March highlighted issues faced by Christians censorship, including threats and and was not subsequently renewed. and other minorities in Pakistan. intimidation towards journalists, and It remained difficult to assess the state interference. Pakistan fell to 142nd Discrimination and violence against compliance of these courts with of 180 countries in the Reporter’s women and girls remained prevalent. international standards because of a Without Borders 2019 World Press Pakistan ranked 151st of 153 countries lack of transparency and independent Freedom Index. Opposition leaders in the World Economic Forum 2020 scrutiny. Special anti-terrorism courts and other critics of the authorities Gender Gap Index. The female literacy continued to operate with long delays faced increasing difficulties in rate was just 46.5%. The Child Marriage and low prosecution rates. Reports expressing their opinions, including Restraint (Amendment) Bill was passed of the detention of prisoners without through social media. Reports of by the Senate in April, but was later trial and of extrajudicial killings by enforced disappearances of human rejected by the National Assembly the security forces continued. rights defenders, journalists, and Standing Committee on Law and others continued. The legal regime Justice. Despite stronger laws to protect regulating local and international non- women from violence, enforcement Russia governmental organisations (NGOs) remained weak. The DFID AAWAZ II The human rights situation in Russia remained opaque. The UK supported Accountability, Inclusion and Reducing deteriorated further in 2019. Space efforts to raise the profile of the issues Modern Slavery Programme worked for civil society reduced, as the faced by NGOs among government with communities in Pakistan to government cracked down on dissent. figures, parliamentarians, civil society promote the rights of women, protect However, Russian civil society showed representatives, and journalists. them from exploitation, and prevent increasing willingness to mobilise to discrimination and intolerance. Discrimination and violence against challenge human rights violations. members of Muslim minorities, Modern slavery, especially bonded Democratic processes were increasingly religious minorities and minority ethnic and child labour, continued to be a controlled, and electoral filters communities continued, especially major problem. The Global Slavery prevented many opposition candidates against Ahmadiyya Muslims and Index 2018 estimated that over three from standing. In Moscow, the Christians, but also Hindus and Shia million people were living in modern authorities prevented all genuine CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 54

opposition candidates from standing Ustinov, the authorities dropped or detentions and severe restrictions in the September municipal elections, reduced charges in the face of public on freedom of movement, affecting often on spurious grounds. This outcry, many charges widely reported livelihoods, education, and access sparked a summer of protests, as false resulted in lengthy detention. to healthcare. Discrimination against with one demonstration attracting ethnic Georgians and intimidation of The persecution of religious minorities 50,000 participants (the largest since members of civil society continued. The including Jehovah’s Witnesses 2012). In response, the authorities UK supported Georgian resolutions intensified, with 489 house searches violently blocked protests and at the UN General Assembly on in 2019 and over 300 Jehovah’s arrested around 2,500 of protesters. internally displaced persons and at the Witnesses facing criminal charges by Ten protesters received lengthy UN Human Rights Council requesting the end of the year, according to The prison sentences, despite the largely access for the Office of the UN High European Association of Jehovah’s peaceful nature of the protests. Representative for Human Rights. Witnesses. In 2019 18 Jehovah’s While 2019 saw an increase in Witnesses received jail sentences, The Government of Russia also grassroots activism, Russia remained a with Denis Christensen receiving a six committed human rights violations in hostile environment for many NGOs, year term for practicing his faith. illegally annexed Crimea and, through especially those working on human its support to separatists, in eastern Domestic abuse continued to be rights issues. The authorities continued Ukraine. The Russian Federation a major problem in Russia, and to use the ‘Foreign Agents’ and ignored calls by the UN General while figures remained unreliable, ‘Undesirable Foreign Organisations’ Assembly to allow international NGOs believed levels had increased laws to fine or close critical NGOs. monitoring organisations access to since domestic abuse was partially Opposition activists were systematically Crimea, preventing a full independent decriminalised in 2017. fined or imprisoned, to prevent them assessment of the human rights from participating in political life. LGBT people in Russia faced an situation. The de facto authorities The authorities repeatedly raided the increasingly hostile environment, continued to restrict freedom of offices of opposition activist Alexei including laws against the ‘promotion assembly, expression, association, Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. of non-traditional relationships’. While religion or belief, and movement, polling suggested that public attitudes using arbitrary arrest and detentions Most media outlets were tightly might be shifting in some big cities, in an attempt to suppress criticism controlled by the government, and the in Chechnya LGBT people continued and dissent on the peninsula. Crimean environment for remaining independent to face systematic persecution, Tatars continued to be persecuted, media outlets remained hostile. The including arrest, torture, and murder, with reports of weekly raids on their Foreign Agents Law was extended according to the Lavada-Center. In homes. In contravention of the 2017 to restrict the distribution of items 2018, the UK was one of 15 states to International Court of Justice order, originating in foreign media sources. invoke the Organization for Security which stated that the activities of the Continued impunity for the murder and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Mejlis, a traditional organisation of of journalists (including of Nikolay Moscow Mechanism over human rights the Crimean Tatar people, should be Andrushchenko in 2017) exerted a violations in Chechnya, requiring an allowed to resume, the organisation chilling effect, especially in the North investigation without Russian consent. remained banned in Crimea. Caucasus. The authorities attempted The resulting December 2018 report to reduce online dissent, including by Despite the long overdue release in documented a culture of impunity banning web-users from ‘insulting’ September of 11 political prisoners, in Chechnya. The authorities did not officials or the government. Moves to including Oleg Sentsov, at least 89 respond to the OSCE’s request for a full isolate the Russian internet had the Ukrainian political prisoners remained investigation, and reports indicated that potential to restrict online space further, in detention in Crimea and Russia. persecution intensified in January, with and followed the earlier banning of We remained concerned at UN at least two gay men dying in custody LinkedIn and attempt to block Telegram. and NGO reports of the torture, having been subjected to torture. The ill-treatment, and denial of medical The Russian justice system continued UK publicly condemned these abuses. care to persons unlawfully detained to be characterised by very high In March, the UK and 31 other countries in Crimea and Russia, and continued prosecution rates, with over 99% of delivered a statement to the UN Human to call for their immediate release. defendants found guilty. Many trials Rights Council on the persecution involve periods of lengthy pre-trial of LGBT people in Chechnya. In eastern Ukraine, the UN Monitoring detention or house-arrest, especially for Mission on Human Rights estimated In Georgia’s breakaway regions of prominent activists, including Roman that the Russian-backed conflict had Abkhazia and South Ossetia, increased Udot and Yuri Dmitriev. There are cost over 13,000 lives, with almost Russian interference led to a sharp examples of individuals, such as Oyub 30,000 injured. Over 1.4 million people deterioration in the human rights Titiev, being convicted on the basis of were registered as internally displaced. situation. Continued closure of the fabricated and politically motivated Arbitrary arrests and incommunicado majority of crossing points along the charges. Although in rare cases, such detention, torture, ill-treatment, and Administrative Boundary Line raised as those of Ivan Golunov and Pavel restrictions on freedom of movement tensions and resulted in frequent 55 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

were carried out with impunity repeatedly called for access to legal work of Agnes Callamard, the UN by Russian-backed separatists. representation for these women, raised Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, concerns about the use of solitary Summary or Arbitrary Executions, confinement, and pressed for due for her detailed report into the killing Saudi Arabia process. The then Foreign Secretary, of Jamal Khashoggi in a national Social reform in Saudi Arabia continued Jeremy Hunt, raised our concerns with statement delivered at the HRC in June. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in in 2019. Greater legal rights for women With the exception of the trial for March. Minister for Human Rights, Lord in family and employment law, and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised the removal of most guardianship diplomats were not permitted to these cases with the Saudi authorities requirements, moderately improved observe trials in 2019. In September, during his visit focused on human women’s rights. However, the overall Lord Ahmad raised our concerns in this rights at the invitation of the Kingdom clampdown on civil and political space respect with the Saudi authorities. continued. A number of activists, of Saudi Arabia in September, the first Freedom of religion or belief remained clerics, and academics were tried in such invitation to a UK Human Rights restricted and it continued to be illegal terrorist courts. Diplomats were not Minister. Foreign Secretary, Dominic to publicly practise a religion other allowed to observe these trials. The Raab, raised concerns with Saudi than Islam. In his 2019 Ramadan use of the death penalty increased Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, message, King Salman bin Abdulaziz in 2019, and included the execution Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir in October. called for tolerance and moderation of 37 men on a single day. In March, the UK was signatory to the in Islam. Private worship of religions joint statement published at the UN The Vision 2030 economic other than Islam was tolerated. diversification programme continued Human Rights Council (HRC) which During 2019, the Saudi government to offer increased opportunities for expressed significant concerns over the introduced a system to ensure that women’s economic participation. arrests of women’s rights defenders. In migrant workers know their rights Female labour force participation September, the UK was signatory to the and to help resolve complaints, remained low, but increased from joint statement published at the HRC and launched a ‘wages protection 21.9% in 2018 to 26.0% in the last expressing concern over the detention system’. Nevertheless, migrant workers three months of 2019, exceeding the and reported torture of political remained vulnerable to abuse and target of 25% for 2019. Changes to activists, the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, exploitation. In July and September, employment law banned workplace and the use of the death penalty. Lord Ahmad raised modern slavery gender discrimination, and enforced According to statistics issued by the with the Saudi authorities. gender equality in hiring practices. Saudi Press Agency, 184 people were In August, the requirement for executed in 2019 (compared with women over 21 to have a guardian’s 149 people in 2018), including the Somalia permission to apply for a passport or execution of 37 men on a single day. Despite progress in recent years, to leave the country was abolished. Five were minors at the time of their Somalia remained a fragile, conflict- At the same time, the Saudi offences, despite the passage of a law affected country. Al-Shabaab, the government reformed family law, in 2018 excluding juveniles from death main terrorist and insurgent group in granting women greater rights for sentences. In April, the then Foreign the country, continued to threaten divorce and child custody cases. Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, raised concerns with Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. We the general population. Human Freedom of expression and of the continued to make clear to the Saudi development indicators were poor, press remained highly restricted. Saudi authorities our strong opposition to governance was often weak, and Arabia was ranked 172nd out of 180 the death penalty in all circumstances. many security forces and judicial in the World Press Freedom Index, institutions lacked training or capacity. down from 169th in 2018. There were The trial sessions of those accused of The UK worked through a range of further arrests throughout the year killing Jamal Khashoggi concluded in international fora to promote greater of writers and academics. Despite December. British diplomats attended respect for human rights in Somalia. some releases, many arrested in the as part of a group of international For example, at the 42nd session of political clampdown since September observers. The UK repeatedly called the UN Human Rights Council the UK 2017 remained in detention. UK for a transparent, credible judicial and Somalia co-sponsored a resolution ministers raised concerns in this process, full accountability for all those in which the Somali Government regard with the Saudi authorities found responsible, and steps to ensure committed to continuing their on a number of occasions. that this type of incident could never happen again. Following the trial, cooperation with the UN Independent Of the women’s rights defenders Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued Expert on the situation of human arrested in 2018, at least 12 women a statement reiterating the importance rights in Somalia. Human rights also remained on trial at the end of 2019, of justice, accountability, and ensuring featured prominently in the EU’s Article in Riyadh’s Criminal Court and the that such an atrocity could not be VIII Dialogue with Somalia and at the Specialised Criminal Court. Seven repeated. The UK acknowledged the Somalia Partnership Forum (SPF), a of them were released on bail. We high level platform for international CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 56

engagement on development in and political opportunities, and girls sitting MP, and further concern was Somalia, held in Mogadishu in October. starting school late and dropping out raised by the week-long detention of early. Child, early and forced marriages two opposition politicians without 2019 was a challenging year for were common; and female genital charge. The Somaliland Journalists freedom of expression. Somali mutilation (FGM) remained pervasive. Association recorded 31 instances journalists faced a dangerous operating Parliament was due to consider a of violations against journalists, in environment, including threats from sexual offences bill during 2019 but did addition to the forced closure of two Al-Shabaab and powerful private not do so. The UK supported work in TV stations, one newspaper, and one interests, as well as unfair treatment communities to reduce and eradicate news website. A long-awaited media by local authorities. According to the FGM, child, early and forced marriage, law that would decriminalise many main Somali journalist associations, and intimate partner violence. DFID’s media offences remained in draft. arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and Girls Education Challenge programme intimidation of journalists continued Nevertheless, there were a number of worked to provide access to education to be rampant. On 2 November, steps to improve the functioning and for marginalised girls, including those the President’s office pledged to accountability of the Somaliland police who had been internally displaced. ‘serve justice’ on anyone infringing and judiciary. The UK-supported Judicial the rights of journalists; the Somali The UK also promoted human rights Monitoring and Inspection Committee Foreign Minister also attended through its support to the Somali became fully operational, processing the Global Conference for Media security sector. For example, during disciplinary complaints from the public, Freedom in London in July. The UK 2019 the UK helped to provide human which led the constitutionally mandated remained a strong advocate on media rights training to 2,270 soldiers from High Judicial Commission to dismiss freedom issues, lobbying to resolve the Somali National Army, as well two judges on corruption charges. individual cases and for a revised as training for ‘female engagement The UK also began a programme to Media Law. The British Ambassador teams’ from the African Union Mission improve working relations between issued a public statement expressing to Somalia, to help ensure that the law enforcement agencies and solidarity with journalists in Somalia, mission is sensitive to women and journalists, with the goal of reducing and questioning the arrests of the girls’ issues in its area of operations. the number of arbitrary arrests. journalists Abdulkadir Barre Moallim Somalia, including Somaliland, and Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed. retained the use of the death South Sudan Somalia is due to hold parliamentary penalty. The UK registered with and presidential elections in late Somali and Somaliland authorities its Grave human rights violations and 2020 and early 2021. In December, longstanding policy of opposing the abuses remained prevalent during the Lower House of the Somali death penalty in all circumstances. 2019 despite reductions in armed Parliament began considering a draft conflict. Where fighting continued, UN Humanitarian crises again affected Electoral Law and amendments to reporting suggested that all parties many Somalis. Late spring rains led the Political Parties Law. The UK to the conflict targeted and killed to serious food security issues for pressed for timely, constitutional, civilians, committed sexual violence, over two million people. In addition, and direct elections in which all recruited children, and forcibly intense autumn rains displaced around communities are fairly represented, as displaced communities with impunity. 370,000 people, as well as damaging well as for the Federal Government In addition, arbitrary restrictions on crops, shelter, and vital infrastructure. to honour a pledge that at least 30% freedom of expression threatened DFID supported approximately 125,000 of seats would be held by women. to undermine the peace process. people with drinking water, food, The process for selecting a new hygiene, health, and nutrition, and The top human rights concern remained president of Jubaland in August was the Conflict Stability and Security conflict-related violations and abuses. deeply flawed. The state’s electoral Fund (CSSF) provided shelter, flood The revitalised peace agreement law excluded a number of potential defence, and recovery tools for (R-ARCSS) signed in September 2018 candidates from standing for the an additional 30,000 people. reduced levels of armed conflict and presidency, and left the final choice associated human rights violations It was a challenging year for democratic of state MPs up to the Jubaland and abuses, but fighting continued, rights and freedoms in Somaliland. A Electoral Commission. The process particularly in the southern equatorial further postponement of parliamentary was also marred by violence and by region. All sides continued to target and local council elections extended intimidation of political opponents and civilians deliberately: raids on villages, the Lower and Upper House terms journalists covering the election. In public executions, and sexual violence to 17 and 25 years respectively, far Jubaland and Puntland, political parties were used to displace people, or to beyond their five-year constitutional faced difficulties opening offices. punish them for allegedly supporting limit, and left councils operating rival groups. Between September Somalia, including Somaliland, remained without a mandate. In addition, the 2018 and April 2019, the violence one of the most difficult places in the National Human Rights Commission caused the internal displacement of world to be a woman, with women raised concern over arbitrary 56,000 people, and nearly 20,000 excluded from many economic, social, detention following the arrest of a fled as refugees . Abduction and 57 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

forced recruitment, including the South Sudan continued to apply the three International Organisation for recruitment and use of children, death penalty. In October, Amnesty Migration volunteers were killed in was a persistent problem across International reported that 11 people crossfire, and in December there the country. In addition, incomplete had been executed in 2019, the highest were multiple armed attacks on implementation of R-ARCSS meant that since independence in 2011[37]. This humanitarian compounds in Maban in many schools and hospitals remained included the execution of a minor, who which five aid workers were assaulted. occupied by armed groups awaiting was 15 at the time of the alleged crime. cantonment. Many child soldiers were Lack of access to justice, and political still members of armed groups. Democratic Socialist interference in the judicial system, were Republic of Sri Lanka UN reporting continued to show major problems, as highlighted in an high levels of conflict-related sexual Amnesty International report released There was a deterioration in the overall violence, including rape, and abduction in October[38]. Recent initiatives, such human rights situation in Sri Lanka in of women and girls for sexual slavery. as UN-supported mobile courts, had 2019, with increased intercommunal According to the UN, sexual violence a positive impact, but were dwarfed tensions, violence against minority was also used as a form of torture by by the scale of the problem. Parties groups, and intimidation of human government forces against men as “a failing to implement commitments rights defenders. While Sri Lanka favoured method of interrogation”[35]. on transitional justice and continued reaffirmed its commitment to post- Government armed forces, the main lack of accountability for conflict- conflict reconciliation and accountability opposition forces, and the state police related crimes increased the risk of through its co-sponsorship of UN all adopted action plans against conflict- perpetuating the problem. After years Human Rights Council Resolution 40/1, related sexual violence, with support of conflict, South Sudan continued to delivery on this remained too slow. from the UN. This was positive, but the be in urgent need of a comprehensive Controversial senior appointments called plans remained to be implemented, transitional justice process reflecting into question Sri Lanka’s commitment including through deterrent action the interests of survivors. to human rights and reconciliation. against those committing sexual Media censorship was entrenched and Towards the end of 2019, there were violence and commanders who journalists self-censored their work. In reports of increased surveillance and encouraged or failed to prevent it. 2019, journalists faced physical threats intimidation of civil society groups More broadly, sexual and gender-based and intimidation, as well as seemingly and human rights defenders. violence (SGBV), including domestic arbitrary bureaucratic impediments. violence, continued to undermine At the UN Human Rights Council The UK supported media freedom in the rights of women and girls. UK (HRC) in March, Sri Lanka co- South Sudan, working with media and programmes helped prevent or respond sponsored Resolution 40/1, which civil society representatives, and with to SGBV, as well as support livelihood gave Sri Lanka a further two years the UN. In July, we hosted the Global activities for women. During 2019, DFID in which to implement in full the Conference for Media Freedom in provided £16.8 million for this work, as outstanding measures identified by London, in which South Sudanese civil well as £2 million in funding for mental the HRC in Resolution 30/1. The UK society representatives participated. health and psychosocial support. welcomed this and the progress made Food insecurity and malnutrition rates to date, including the establishment The arbitrary arrest and detention of showed a deteriorating humanitarian of an Office of Missing Persons and individuals alleged to have criticised the situation with 1.7 million on the edge the ratification of the Convention government or key figures continued of famine by August.[39] Unusually on Enforced Disappearances. unabated. On the high-profile cases heavy rainfall and flooding affecting However, more progress was of Dong Samuel Luak, a human rights 908,000 people put already vulnerable needed on constitutional reform, the lawyer, and Aggrey Idri, a writer, communities at increased risk of establishment of transitional justice who disappeared from Nairobi in famine in 2020.[40] The UK worked mechanisms, and the replacement 2017, the UN concluded it “highly with partners to provide vital support of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. probable” that they had been abducted to those affected. Bureaucratic and extra-judicially executed by the On Easter Sunday in April, six bomb impediments to humanitarian access South Sudanese authorities[36]. The attacks targeted churches and hotels continued. South Sudan remained South Sudanese government failed across Sri Lanka. The attacks marked one of the most dangerous operating to conduct a credible investigation. the largest number of deaths from environments for humanitarian terrorism in a single day in Sri Lanka’s workers in the world. In October, long history of conflict. Those who

[35] https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/SS/report_on_central_equatoria_-_3_july_2019.pdf [36] https://www.undocs.org/S/2019/301 [37] https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/AFR6511792019ENGLISH.pdf [38] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr65/1105/2019/en [39] http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/resources/resources-details/en/c/1152136 [40] https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/12/1053321 CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 58

suffered losses during the Easter Sunday increasing it to 18. But there was no concluded in its interim report that the attacks were paid compensation. There further legislative progress on the 2019 presidential elections were free, were reports that, given the scale of issue of child marriage in 2019. fair, and largely trouble free. However, the attacks, a large number of people unregulated campaign spending, abuse In August, President Sirisena appointed were arrested for alleged involvement of state resources, and media bias Major General Shavendra Silva as the in extremism. Although most were affected the level playing field. The new army commander. The UK and released on bail, a number remained media and information environment other international partners expressed on remand. Sri Lanka has a history of in the lead-up to the elections was concern about the appointment given using open-ended periods of detention, characterised by misinformation, the allegations of serious human largely against minority groups. partisan media, and online hate- rights violations made against the speech. Some journalists were The aftermath of the attacks saw division which Major General Silve had subjected to searches, interrogation, several incidents of violence against the commanded at the end of the civil war. and intimidation after the elections. Muslim community, including riots in This appointment called into question which one man was killed and several Sri Lanka’s commitments made to the In November, the new government mosques, homes and businesses were HRC on justice and accountability. reassigned key police officers who damaged, as well as further reports In response to the appointment, the had been investigating alleged human of intimidation and discrimination UN Department of Peace Operations rights violations and abuses, and related against Muslims, refugees, and asylum announced in September that it crimes. It announced its intention seekers. In May, the then President, would suspend future deployments to establish a Special Presidential Maithripala Sirisena, ordered the pardon of Sri Lankan peacekeepers, except Commission to investigate the activities of extremist monk Ven Galagodaaththe where suspension would expose UN of the police. Towards the end of Gnanasara, the de facto leader of operations to serious operational risk. 2019, there were multiple reports of the extreme Buddhist Nationalist increased surveillance and intimidation In October, Minister for South Asia movement Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist of activists, particularly those working and Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad Power Force), despite him being found on legal and transitional justice issues. of Wimbledon, visited Sri Lanka. He in contempt of court. UK ministers underlined the importance of freedom raised the issue of minority rights with of religion or belief, and reconciliation their Sri Lankan counterparts. The UK Sudan and accountability in his engagement continued to support inter-religious with ministers and the then President. 2019 was a year of significant change dialogue and reconciliation through Lord Ahmad met faith leaders and civil in Sudan. A mass protest movement led the Conflict, Stability and Security society groups working on reconciliation to the end of President Bashir’s 30- Fund (CSSF) programme, including and inter-communal relations. year rule and to the establishment of working with local organisations to a civilian-led transitional government, In November’s presidential elections, encourage dialogue and the monitoring whose objective was to pave the way former Defence Secretary, Gotabaya of incidents of violence and intimidation for democracy. The human rights Rajapaksa won 52% of the vote on an against members of religious minorities. situation was mixed. Serious human 83% turnout. An EU observer mission In June, the then President repeated rights violations accompanied the his intention to end the country’s moratorium on the death penalty, and signed the warrants for four executions specifically for death row inmates who the state believed had been engaged in continued drug trafficking from within prison. On 5 July the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting executions until 30 October, following a number of petitions challenging President Sirisena’s decision. The interim order was extended to 10 December. The UK urged Sri Lanka to maintain the moratorium in an FCO statement in June, at the HRC, and through direct engagement. In August, Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. The proposal included amendments Youth leaders celebrate the first anniversary of the start of the revolution to the legal age for Muslim marriage, which over turned 30 years of autocracy—Atbara, Sudan, December 2019 59 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

period of protest in the first half with the issue often being overlooked issues remained. The UK funded a of the year, including the violent or denied. Through project funding the project to build capacity for journalists dispersal of peaceful protesters on 3 UK worked on preventing such violence, and to develop a media reform roadmap June. After the appointment of the along with the promotion of women’s to feed into the National Action Plan. transitional government in August, rights, tackling stigma and improving The human rights situation in Sudan’s some positive initial steps were taken, the support available to victims. conflict areas remained of particular but long-standing human rights issues There were positive developments with concern, with preventing sexual and concerns remained, including regard to freedom of religion or belief violence a key UK focus. The UK restrictions on the media, freedom (FoRB) in Sudan, with a UK co-hosted worked with partners to strengthen the of religion or belief, and women’s event in Khartoum leading to the lifting prevention and response to conflict- rights. The most notable changes in of restrictions on the opening hours related sexual violence, as well as the Government of Sudan’s approach of Christian schools in January. Later to eliminate the stigma suffered by were the commitment to open an in the year, the new Sudanese Prime survivors in highly impacted areas in Office of the High Commissioner of Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, issued a Darfur. The UK welcomed the signing Human Rights (with field offices) in decree allowing employees of public of declarations in Juba to resume the country, the establishment of a institutions to leave work on Sundays to peace talks, and continued to urge commission of inquiry into violence attend church, and declaring Christmas the Sudanese Government and armed against protestors, and the decision Day a national holiday for the first time groups to engage productively in these to repeal public order laws. in a decade. However, there were still discussions to encourage progress. UK project funding in 2019 included causes for concern, with legislative capacity building to improve the hurdles for the operation of non-Muslim Sudanese parliament’s legislative religious buildings, which resulted in Syria scrutiny with regard to human rights. the prosecution of members of minority The human rights situation in Syria We also worked with the Government groups, including of eight church continued to be appalling in 2019. of Sudan to agree a constructive leaders who faced charges of trespass Arbitrary detention, enforced resolution on Sudan at the UN Human during 2019. At the end of the year, disappearances, torture, sexual Rights Council in September. the UK was concerned by reports that violence, and severe restrictions on civil three churches in Blue Nile State had Freedom of expression and the right to and political rights, including media been burned down. Through project peaceful assembly were key concerns in freedoms, remained widespread. The work, the UK worked to strengthen the the first half of 2019, with the security Syrian regime was the main perpetrator effectiveness of the National Assembly services using lethal force to disperse of these violations, but abuses in developing policies that better those peacefully protesting in favour of were also committed by proscribed serve minority religious groups, and political change. There were reports of terrorist organisations and by other to ensure that Sudanese policies and over 100 deaths[41], numerous casualties, armed groups. The UN Independent legislation regarding FoRB are brought arbitrary detentions, the use of torture, International Commission of Inquiry in line with international standards. attacks on medical professionals, on the Syrian Arab Republic (COI) and sexual assaults throughout this During the period of popular protests stated in September that “gender roles, period. The UK lobbied extensively, in 2019, there were particularly harsh and the inequalities that underpin sending strong public messages and restrictions on the media, including them, have fuelled and amplified appealing directly to the Sudanese newspaper seizures, incidents of the impact of these violations.” government to condemn the use of harassment towards journalists, and In April, the Syrian regime, backed by brutal force. After the crackdown disruption to internet access across Russia, launched an offensive on areas on protestors on 3 June, the then Khartoum. The British Ambassador and in north-west Syria held by armed Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, the then Minister for Africa, Harriett opposition and extremist groups. summoned the Sudanese Ambassador Baldwin, raised the latter directly After late April, the UN Office of the to register the strength of UK concern. with the Sudanese authorities. There High Commissioner for Human Rights was greater media freedom after the Women played a significant role in the (OHCHR) verified more than 1,000 removal of Bashir, and it was clear that protest movement, and the civilian civilian casualties, hundreds of them media reform would be vital in order to government made commitments to children, and the displacement of support and foster Sudan’s democratic ensure their continued role during the 630,000 civilians, the vast majority transition. The UK welcomed the transition period. The UK welcomed being women and children. Following agreement to restore the BBC’s the decision to repeal public order numerous and repeated attacks on broadcasting licence and Prime Minister laws, which had long been used by medical facilities, the COI stated that Hamdok’s commitments during the the authorities to violate human rights, such attacks might amount to war UK-hosted Media Freedom event in the specifically those of women. There was crimes. After lobbying from the UK margins of the UN General Assembly long-standing concern about sexual and other countries, the UN Secretary- in September. However, long-standing and gender-based violence in Sudan, General announced the establishment

[41] https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/sudan-protests-sunday-mark-30-years-bashir-seized-power CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 60

of a Board of Inquiry to investigate Violations of housing, land, and placed on the UN regular budget to these attacks against UN-supported property rights have increased, guarantee that the IIIM has continued facilities not involved in the conflict. undermining prospects for the safe, sustainable funding to fulfil its mandate The Board subsequently found it ‘highly voluntary, and dignified return of of investigating the most serious human probable’ that the Assad regime and its refugees and internally displaced rights violations and abuses committed allies had attacked a school and multiple people. According to the COI, state during the conflict. In 2019, the UK hospitals. The COI also documented institutions unlawfully confiscated and provided £775,000 to the IIIM to indiscriminate attacks by proscribed destroyed the property of residents of continue its work. The UK also sustained terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and former opposition areas and families of diplomatic pressure including through armed opposition group Jaysh al-‘Izza, suspected ‘terrorists’ in what appears our leadership on the Syria resolution at which had killed and maimed dozens of to amount to collective punishment. the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). civilians in rural Aleppo and Hama. The Turkey’s incursion into north-east COI stated that there were reasonable Syria in October resulted in the grounds to believe that these two Turkmenistan displacement of over 200,000 people, groups had committed war crimes. and significantly worsened the The human rights situation in In regime-controlled areas, human humanitarian situation across the area. Turkmenistan in 2019 remained a cause rights violations remain widespread. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and for concern. The principal issues were Arbitrary detention, torture of the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, continuing allegations of torture and detainees, and enforced disappearances raised concerns with their Turkish poor prison conditions, restrictions were pervasive in both ‘reconciled’ counterparts and called for a ceasefire. on freedom of expression and on and ‘loyalist’ areas[42]. Over 1,700 cases Human rights organisations raised a freedom of religion or belief, gender of arbitrary arrests were documented number of abuses reportedly carried discrimination, and restrictions on in the first half of 2019 by the Syrian out by the Turkish-backed Syrian LGBT rights. There was little evidence Network for Human Rights. In its National Army militia group, including of progress on the range of Universal September report, the COI stated that indiscriminate shelling of civilians in Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations sexual violence continued to occur residential areas, the seizure of homes that Turkmenistan accepted in 2018, and that it was investigating alleged of local Kurds, and summary executions, although Turkmenistan worked with the reports of attacks against civilians. for example of the Kurdish politician, UN on a partnership agreement, which Human rights organisations have Hevrin Khalaf. The Defence Ministry of includes a rule of law and human rights conveyed consistent assertions of the Turkish-supported Syrian Interim element. Most human rights defenders mass executions of political prisoners Government established a committee still worked outside the country. at Saydnaya prison. In August, the UK to investigate alleged abuses. Turkey The EU expressed concerns over reports raised these issues in a UN Security claimed that Kurdish forces had of the continuing incommunicado Council session on detainees and carried out a series of indiscriminate detention of victims of enforced missing persons in Syria. Although some bombings with improvised explosives, disappearances, including those prisoner exchanges were facilitated in Turkish-controlled areas in northern detained since the attempted coup by the Astana Working Group, these Syria, causing civilian casualties. against former President Niyazov were of a small scale compared with The OHCHR and COI began an in 2002. In response, Turkmenistan the number of political detainees. investigation into the claims. stated that it was cooperating with Freedom of expression was severely The UK continued to support the relevant UN bodies and the EU, curtailed. According to the Committee accountability efforts towards had provided information on several to Protect Journalists (CPJ), seven prosecuting perpetrators of human cases, and expressed its readiness journalists were killed in 2019. Since the rights and international humanitarian to continue dialogue. Turkmenistan start of the conflict, CPJ estimate that law violations. We funded training for accepted the UK’s 2018 UPR 134 journalists have been killed, with 22 doctors to produce forensic medical recommendation to sign the Optional cases remaining unresolved since 2012. reports, which could act as court- Protocol to the Convention against standard evidence of sexual violence. Torture (OPCAT), but took no action There was no substantive progress We supported work by the International to put this commitment into effect. on the rights of women and girls. To Commission on Missing Persons to help mitigate the significant impact Media freedom remained severely identify remains in mass graves in of the conflict on women and girls, curtailed. The media in Turkmenistan north-east Syria to provide closure to in 2019 the UK supported female-run remained under state control, and families of the deceased, and support centres providing basic medical and foreign publications were prohibited. accountability for Daesh crimes. At the psychological care to women and Most social media and many internet UN we have supported efforts to ensure girls in Idlib, reaching around 36,000. sites remained blocked. Reporters that the UN International, Impartial We also supported education services Without Borders ranked Turkmenistan and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) is for at least 201,000 Syrian girls. last of the 180 countries in its coverage,

[42] ‘Reconciled’ refers to areas retaken by the Syrian regime from the opposition through negotiated surrender agreements. ‘Loyalist’ areas refer to those territories that remained under the control of the Assad regime throughout the conflict. 61 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

while Freedom House ranked it capacity of the Ombudsperson’s Office; Uzbekistan’s Universal Periodic Review joint 198th (with DPRK) out of 199 fund a UNFPA project to conduct (UPR) in May 2018, formally announcing countries. The lack of independent the first national survey of domestic the closure of Jaslyk prison, which had media within Turkmenistan, the violence; and support the Organization been notorious for its association with blocking of social media, and the fact for Security and Co-operation in torture. The positive trend from 2018 that any protests or demonstrations Europe in helping to promote gender of judges dismissing cases which lacked were not tolerated by the authorities mainstreaming in the security sectors. evidence, or which included evidence meant that freedom of expression In August, the then FCO Minister from or of torture, continued. However, continued to be severely restricted. for Europe, Christopher Pincher, the implementation of presidential raised the importance of respect for decrees, in general, remained an issue, In 2019, there were fewer reports human rights in a letter to Turkmen with reports that authorities, particularly compared with previous years of state Foreign Minister, Rasit Meredov. at the local level, did not adhere to employees being forced to pick cotton these decrees effectively or evenly. to meet quotas set by the state. In a Loopholes and weaknesses still allowed positive move, Turkmenistan agreed Uzbekistan corrupt individuals to exert influence to the 2018 UPR recommendation at the local level. The UN Committee to work in partnership with the Uzbekistan continued to take positive against Torture noted in November International Labour Organisation steps to improve the human rights that, despite an increase in reports of to eliminate the use of forced labour situation, particularly in the area of torture, the number of investigations in the cotton harvest. Turkmenistan media freedom, with the President into such reports remained low and that began to mechanise its cotton harvest, calling publicly for further progress. The the number of prosecutions for the use investing in a contract with an overseas government engaged with international of torture had decreased in 2018 and supplier to purchase a large number human rights organisations, including 2019. The General Prosecutor’s Office of harvesters, which could lead to a Human Rights Watch, and the (GPO) continued to hold significant reduction in the use of forced labour. UN. The main concerns remained restrictions on civil society, constraints power and influence in court cases, In 2019, there were further reports that on the independence of the judiciary, and there were continued reports that Turkmenistan had imprisoned a number discrimination against LGBT people, and the judiciary was subject to pressure of conscientious objectors to military increasing control over religious activity. from local authorities. There were service, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, also reports of cases where individuals with no alternative to military service Uzbekistan has made significant, had been denied due process, access available. The prison sentences are positive reforms with regard to free to lawyers, or medical treatment. generally for two years. It continued to speech and freedom of the press. Uzbekistan allowed the practice of all prove difficult to register, or re-register, Websites such as Facebook and major religions, which are protected a religious organisation in Turkmenistan. YouTube are no longer blocked. The BBC and other international by law. 2019 did not see the raids and Restrictions on freedom of movement media outlets were granted formal arrests reported in 2018, but there remained a concern. A new law accreditation in June. Foreign Minister were an increasing number of instances drastically reduced the number of Abdulaziz Kamilov led a large of anti-religious rhetoric, focused state-approved foreign universities, delegation to London for the Global particularly on Islamic practise. Some meaning that Turkmen students Conference for Media Freedom in July. men had their beards forcibly shaved, studying in non-approved universities However, Uzbekistan has not signed and some women were removed from would no longer be able to receive the Global Media Freedom Pledge. higher education classes and told to financial support for study from their Self-censorship among journalists remove their headscarves. Anecdotal families, and might face problems with and unofficial pressure at the local reports also indicated that unofficial immigration authorities on return to level remained widespread. While pressure was being placed on Imams Turkmenistan. Reports continued of the authorities improved the process about the content of their sermons. young Turkmen being prevented from for NGO registration by making Uzbekistan made further progress travelling abroad by the authorities. registration forms mostly available in 2019 in reducing forced labour In 2019, the Embassy used project online, registration remained difficult, during the cotton harvest. Forced funding to: support an International with concerns including the high cost labour was now the exception not the Organization for Migration project to and lack of transparent decision making. rule. Wages for cotton pickers were raise the capacity of Turkmen media to The government continued to reform increased and exempted from tax, and cover counter human-trafficking issues the judiciary and the criminal justice the fines for those using forced labour fund a United Nations Development sector, engaging with and supported by were raised again. The government Programme (UNDP) project to promote international partners. The UN Special announced plans to make using forced employment opportunities for people Rapporteur on the Independence of labour a criminal, as opposed to with disabilities; support the UNDP in Judges and Lawyers, Diego García- civil, offence. In addition, Uzbekistan assisting Turkmenistan to implement Sayán, visited in September. In August, announced long-term plans for some its National Human Rights Action Plan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a mechanisation of the harvest, and the (2016-20), including enhancing the decree, following recommendations in CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 62

removal of cotton quotas, to reduce Detention particularly highlighted the second established an independent the need for any forced labour. case of the MP, Juan Requesens, who international fact-finding mission (FFM) continued to be detained arbitrarily to investigate extrajudicial executions, Same sex relationships remained illegal, after 16 months without trial. arbitrary detentions, and torture since and two individuals were arrested early 2014. The Maduro regime refused to in 2019 with few details given about On 5 July, after she visited Venezuela, cooperate with the FFM; consequently, their cases. Uzbekistan rejected the the UN High Commissioner for it set up its base in Panama. Also in relevant recommendations on LGBT Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, September, the UK[46] joined France rights contained in the UPR in May issued a comprehensive report[45] that and Germany in supporting the 2018, and LGBT people continued documented 6,000 alleged extrajudicial referral by Argentina, Canada, Chile, to face significant discrimination killings between January 2018 and Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay of and ill-treatment during 2019. May 2019 by police death squads, and the situation in Venezuela to the recommended that the Special Action During 2019, the UK supported training International Criminal Court (ICC)[47]. Forces of the Bolivarian National Police relating to the work of journalists, (FAES) be dissolved. In July alone, Media freedom continued to be press freedom, and wider governance FAES was responsible for killing 57 suppressed by Maduro’s regime. On and rule of law reforms. This included people. In an update by the OHCHR 19 November, military forces raided a project on enhancing the capacity in September, FAES was reported still the headquarters of an online media of state bodies to strengthen the to be receiving high-level support. outlet and arrested the operations compliance of national legislation manager[48]. The Venezuelan Press and law enforcement practices In September, an OHCHR office was Workers’ Union reported that over 115 with international human rights established in Caracas with the UK’s media outlets had closed since 2013. treaties, and to ensure fulfilment of support, to document human rights international human rights obligations. violations and engage the authorities in The humanitarian emergency for monitoring human rights commitments, which the regime in Venezuela was including within the Orinoco Mining responsible continued to worsen. Venezuela region where serious human rights The UN estimated that seven million Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for violations and abuses had occurred. people urgently needed humanitarian assistance in a country where the a new presidential term in January According to reports by Project economy had more than halved in following elections, which the UK SOSOrinoco and Reuters, in February size since 2013. The FAO reported described as deeply flawed, as did state security forces killed seven an increase in undernourishment to the EU, the regional Lima Group, people in Santa Elena de Uairén and 21%, equivalent to 6.8 million people. and other international partners. other centres of indigenous people In UNICEF screenings in 13 states, Throughout the year, democracy located near the border with Brazil. 5.3% of children under five presented and the independence of democratic In September, an Inter-American global acute malnutrition. Instances institutions was further eroded. Commission of Human Rights report of treatable and vector-borne diseases President of the National Assembly Juan documented indigenous communities increased. The Pan American Health Guaidó assumed the interim presidency affected by mercury poisoning, Organization (PAHO) reported more of Venezuela in accordance with the displacement, and violence due to than 200,000 malaria cases (as of June), Venezuelan Constitution and was illegal mining and organised crime. recognised by the UK[43] and over 50 an ongoing measles outbreak, and a In September, the UN Human Rights international partners until the staging rise in diphtheria deaths and sickness. Council issued two resolutions on of credible presidential elections. The number of Venezuelans fleeing Venezuela. The first strengthened the humanitarian, political, and Throughout 2019, the Maduro regime the mandate of the OHCHR office in economic crisis reached an estimated used the Venezuelan state apparatus to Caracas through a Memorandum of 4.8 million[49]. The UN estimated coerce, repress, intimidate, detain, and Understanding (MoU) signed between that the total number of refugees torture, as reported by the UN Office the OHCHR and the Maduro regime. fleeing Venezuela would increase of the High Commissioner for Human The MoU established a framework to as many as 6.5 million in 2020. Rights (OHCHR). Maduro’s regime for future discussion and cooperation, stripped 29 parliamentarians of their and provided for an ongoing presence In September, DFID announced a new immunity without due process[44]. in the country through a team of £30 million aid commitment, bringing The UN Working Group on Arbitrary two UN human rights officers. The the total UK contribution to £44.5

[43] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-recognises-juan-guaido-as-interim-president-of-venezuela [44] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-statement-on-the-situation-in-venezuela [45] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/VEReportsOHCHR.aspx [46] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-welcomes-new-sanctions-against-maduro-regime [47] https://www.icc-cpi.int/itemsDocuments/180925-otp-referral-venezuela_ENG.pdf [48] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25438&LangID=E [49] https://r4v.info/es/situations/platform 63 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

million[50]. The UN’s Humanitarian There were widespread reports of conflict-related gender-based violence. Response Plan for 2019, which set out human rights violations and abuses by Following the National Commission’s assistance required for Venezuela, raised all parties to the conflict during 2019. publication of their sixth biannual only 33% of the $223 million goal; the These included continued attacks on report, the UK is pressing the UK was the fifth biggest donor. For freedom of religion or belief, freedom of Government of Yemen to implement 2020, the United Nations has launched expression, and women’s rights, sexual its conclusions, such as re-establishing a $750 million call for Venezuela, and a violence, impediments to humanitarian the Ministry of Human Rights. $1.35 billion call to manage the impact access and to the enjoyment of social Yemen ranked last out of 144 of the crisis on the wider region. and economic rights, as well as the countries on the World Economic recruitment of child soldiers, arbitrary The UK remained committed to the Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index. detention, torture, and ill-treatment. restoration of democracy in Venezuela The incidence of gender-based The UK continued to take allegations of and throughout 2019 encouraged violence had risen by 70%[51] since violations of international humanitarian negotiations that would lead to credible, the start of the conflict in 2015. law relating to Coalition airstrikes in free, and fair elections. In a shrinking Women and girls continued to bear a Yemen extremely seriously, and to democratic space, the UK supported disproportionate share of the hardship monitor incidents of concern closely. projects designed to help create caused by protracted displacement. opportunities for MPs to work with The UK worked with all parties The UK provided emergency cash civil society and to remove institutional to find a political solution to the assistance for vulnerable displaced and political barriers to the delivery conflict. A political settlement women and female-headed- of aid. Most international NGOs were remained indispensable for creating households, to enable them to access prevented from working in Venezuela, the conditions for the legitimate sexual and gender-based violence and national NGOs had little experience Government to improve its capacity services, medical assistance, and of working with international partners. to protect human rights, and for the psychosocial support. The UK also During 2019, the UK supported humanitarian crisis to be addressed recognised the important role women journalists and human rights defenders properly. The UK directly supported the must play in ending the conflict, and by providing access to international UN-led peace process by embedding continued to support the Yemeni protection mechanisms and delivering technical experts within the UN Special Women’s Pact for Peace and Security training to document rights violations. Envoy’s Office, and by contributing through UN Women to promote the The UK supported civil society efforts towards the implementation of participation of women in the peace to tackle corruption, and projects the outcomes of the process. process. Through contributions to the to educate girls, reduce teenage The UK provided £200 million in UN’s Peace Support Project, the UK pregnancy, and tackle modern slavery. response to the humanitarian crisis in also funded a gender adviser within Yemen for the financial year 2019/20, the Special Envoy’s office, ensuring that Yemen bringing our total commitment to £770 gender perspectives were reflected million since the conflict began. Our in agreements reached between the The human rights situation in Yemen support provided vital food assistance conflict parties. The UK’s commitment remained dire, in the fifth year of the to those most at risk of dying from to the Women, Peace and Security conflict. Despite some reductions in starvation and disease, meeting the agenda in Yemen extended down to the hostilities, conflict continued and caused immediate food needs of more than grassroots level, where we supported widespread hardship for civilians. The one million people each month, and local women civil society organisations UN Civilian Impact Monitoring Project providing over one million people with to engage in peacebuilding and recorded over 2,700 civilian casualties improved water supply and sanitation. promote gender equality. by the end of October, while The Armed The UK also supports the UN Group Consensual sexual relations between Conflict Location and Event Data Project of Eminent Experts on Yemen, and people of the same sex remained reported that over 100,000 people voted in favour of the renewal of the illegal in Yemen, and were subject to had been killed since 2014, including Group’s mandate in the UN Human the death penalty in some cases. 12,000 civilians. The UN also reported Rights Council in September. In early widespread damage to infrastructure The UK continued to be committed to 2019, the UK worked with Office of including hospitals, schools, and ending the use of child soldiers and the High Commissioner for Human water systems. The International protecting children in armed conflict. Rights (OHCHR) to increase the Organization for Migration estimated We condemned in the strongest terms technical expertise of field monitors that more than 3.6 million people have the abuses committed against children from the independent Yemeni been forced to flee their homes since in Yemen, and urged all parties to the National Commission of Inquiry to 2014, including 385,600 in 2019. conflict to uphold international law. In identify breaches of international June the UN Secretary-General released human rights law, with a focus on

[50] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-aid-support-for-venezuelans-in-desperate-needs [51] https://insights.careinternational.org.uk/publications/no-future-for-yemen-without-women-and-girls CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 64

a report[52] on children and armed in a meaningful way the Commission Access to Information and Protection conflict in Yemen, which showed that of Inquiry’s recommendations of Privacy Act and Broadcasting 3,034 children had been recruited into following the violence on 1 August Services Act was welcome, but armed forces between 1 April 2013 and 2018, when members of the with the degree of improvement 31 December 2018. This was in addition Zimbabwean Armed Forces opened it would engender dependant on to the children who had been killed, fire on protesters killing six and its detail, and implementation. detained, injured, or abused, been injuring many more. The Commission The deterioration of the Zimbabwean subjected to sexual violence or forced made 24 recommendations, including economy heavily affected the delivery marriage, or who had suffered from a that the police urgently complete of basic services such as clean water, lack of healthcare, food, and education. their investigations to enable the healthcare, and education. According prosecution of those responsible Freedom of religion or belief was to the UN World Food Programme, it for all alleged crimes committed. widely denied in 2019. The Baha’i was expected that half the population religious minority were the most 2019 witnessed backsliding on would require food assistance in the visibly persecuted. There were cases political freedoms in Zimbabwe. Using first three months of 2020. In response, of arbitrary detentions and the abuse legislation, the Zimbabwe Republic DFID committed £49 million to the of Baha’i detainees, including of Police (ZRP) issued prohibition orders humanitarian response to provide Hamed bin Haydara, who was given a against demonstrations by the urgent cash and food assistance, death sentence in 2018. We worked opposition and by some civil society and £5 million to UNICEF for cholera closely with our partners to raise these and teachers’ groups. Where protests prevention and emergency response. concerns directly with the Houthi went ahead, the ZRP responded heavy- School attendance continued to authorities, and urged the release of handedly, including with beatings. The deteriorate in Zimbabwe as the detained individuals. We continued Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum economic situation impacted on school to follow the treatment of the Baha’is reported 67 abductions, including of feeding programs, parents’ ability to in Yemen closely, including through doctors, artists and civil society activists, pay fees, and the value of teachers’ meeting their representatives in the UK. and 21 civil society and opposition salaries. Access to safe drinking water activists were charged with subversion and sanitation was not fully met. In July, Amnesty International on unclear grounds. None of the trials The health sector struggled with the reported[53] that the Houthis had of the arrested activists had begun by withdrawal of labour by doctors in the sentenced 30 people to death—a mix the end of the year. In November, the face of rapidly diminishing salaries, and of academics, students, and politicians, Zimbabwean government replaced the the failure of government to secure including linguistics professor, Youssef repressive ‘Public Order and Security sufficient imports of essential drugs. al-Bawab, who had been detained since Act’ with the ‘Maintenance of Peace late 2016. An appeal was launched Zimbabwe experienced high rates of and Order Bill’. This change was against the sentences. The UK will gender-based violence. There were an improvement in some respects, continue to work with international reports of physical and sexual violence particularly the requirement for partners to put an end to arbitrary against women perpetrated by the presidential assent before the army detentions and use of the death penalty. security forces, particularly during could be deployed to quell disorder. the protests in January, and when However, we had yet to see meaningful the security forces were deployed in implementation of the new legislation. Zimbabwe response to Cyclone Idai in March. To The human rights situation in Zimbabwe Media freedom in Zimbabwe remained help prevent and respond to the most deteriorated in 2019. The human rights severely limited. While citizens severe types of gender-based violence, monitoring group, Zimbabwe Peace expressed their opinions openly in a DFID launched a new £12 million Project, recorded 2,761 human rights vibrant social media space, TV and Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation violations in the course of the year. This radio remained tightly controlled by the Programme in Zimbabwe in April. state and biased in favour of the ruling was more than a 10% increase on their Some LGBT groups in Zimbabwe party. There continued to be reports figures for 2018. The majority of these reported feeling less persecuted of journalists being targeted by the violations were associated with the than they had been when Robert state, especially those covering political response by the security services to fuel Mugabe was in power. However, demonstrations. The Media Institute of protests in January. The crackdown and LGBT individuals continued to face Southern Africa reported 18 incidences aftermath resulted in the deaths of 17 discrimination, family disownment, of violence against journalists by state people, 17 reports of rape, 586 reports and displacement from lodgings, unfair actors in 2019. Following the January of assault, and 81 reported injuries by labour practices, blackmail, and bullying. gunfire, violence for which no one has protests, in an unprecedented move, The UK remained at the forefront of been held accountable. In addition, the Zimbabwean government shut engagement with the Zimbabwean the Zimbabwean government had yet down the internet for six days. Proposed government on advancing citizens’ to fulfil its commitment to implement legislation to replace the restrictive

[52] https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2019_453.pdf [53] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/yemen-huthi-run-court-sentences-30-political-opposition-figures-to-death-following-sham-trial 65 Human Rights and Democracy: The 2019 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report

access to their rights. We continued to meet persecuted activists, pro-democracy campaigners, parliamentarians, and political leaders from across the political spectrum to encourage engagement, dialogue, and a more open society, with the rights of all Zimbabweans respected. In 2019, the UK continued to support a multi-donor programme to improve access to justice, promote media freedom, support education for the most marginalised children, including girls and children with disabilities, and improve access to civil and political rights, including through public education. We welcomed the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, at the Global Conference for Media Freedom in London in July, and urged Zimbabwe to enact policies in compliance with the Global Pledge on Media Freedom. CHAPTER 4: Human Rights Priority Countries 66 Communications Team, Room WH1.165, Foreign and Commonwealth CCS0320406130 Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH 978-1-5286-2051-2