The column on the right shows the number of votes the government was beaten by. In Kenya, WFD supported local disabled persons’ organisations in lobbying for disabled people to be included in politics, leading to the creation of inclusive disability laws that we expect to be enacted in 2020. Overall, the number of journalists killed in 2019 fell to 56, a significant fall from previous years’ figures. The first strengthened the mandate of the OHCHR office in Caracas. We work closely with legal teams engaged by British nationals facing the death penalty, and are helped in this work by Reprieve and the Death Penalty Project (DPP), 2 NGOs that provide legal assistance and advice. Unit report: Braking the Law: Is There, and Should There Be, an Executive Veto Over Legislation in the UK Constitution? To require that the 4 Assembly members to sit on the Assembly Commission do not belong to the same political party. Maldives welcomed visits by 2 UN Special Rapporteurs, the first visits by UN Special Rapporteurs since 2013. The authorities initiated a near-total shutdown of the country’s internet and mobile data for more than a week during the November protests – the first time that this has occurred in Iran. The Global Disability Summit: One Year On report was published in 2019 and shows that significant and concrete progress against commitments has been made. A long-awaited media law that would decriminalise many media offences remained in draft. Although election day itself was peaceful, the government confirmed that its National Protection Unit had been supporting over 1,100 candidates deemed under threat. The UK has focused on women’s meaningful participation in peace processes. Despite an increase in interception operations by the Libyan coastguard in 2019, the situation for migrants returned to Libya remained appalling. In financial year 2018 to 2019, the UK helped 11.5 million people gain access to water and/or sanitation. To provide legal aid for children in the event of clinical negligence. At EuroPride 2019, the initiative won a jury award for best group, which was based upon originality, message, creativity, and diverse membership. According to reports by Project SOSOrinoco and Reuters, in February state security forces killed 7 people in Santa Elena de Uairén and other centres of indigenous people located near the border with Brazil. This change was an improvement in some respects, particularly the requirement for presidential assent before the army could be deployed to quell disorder. On 24 November, security officials raided and arrested a number of staff at one of Egypt’s last independent media outlets, Mada Masr. The legal regime regulating local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) remained opaque. The government introduced additional police stations, fences around the camps, and limited night-time patrols by mixed security forces. Forced labour was now the exception not the rule. We continued to work with international partners to put pressure on the DRC Government to improve political space, confirm the release of political prisoners, recognise citizens’ right to protest peacefully, and refrain from using excessive force against protestors. There was greater media freedom after the removal of Bashir, and it was clear that media reform would be vital in order to support and foster Sudan’s democratic transition. The PA drafted legislation to establish a National Preventive Mechanism against Torture, which would visit detention facilities and report on conditions. The government is introducing the legislation during 2020. We continue to support and amplify cross-government efforts to ensure that children’s rights remain central to UK decision making and programming. The UK continued to raise central human rights themes, including modern slavery, gender equality including girls’ education, the rights of LGBT people, media freedom, and freedom of religion or belief, at all relevant UN fora. All export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. To require that probation trusts make appropriate provisions for female offenders, including unpaid work and behavioural change programmes. In Libya, the CSSF continued to fund the Institute for War and Peace Reporting’s work to build the capacity of local partners across the country to advocate and promote women’s voices locally and on the national stage. Forecasts at the end of 2019 predicted continuing high global migration flows. Systematic repression of popular demonstrations resulted in large-scale loss of life and casualties, detentions, and restrictions on the media and on access to information. In the West Bank, the PA continued to restrict space for civil society and freedom of expression. Through UK Aid Connect, DFID supported a consortium of organisations led by Hivos to promote LGBT inclusion across Africa. This will lay the foundations for eventual reform of the death penalty in Indonesia. This followed the fourth annual Policy Dialogue in March between the EU and Maldives. The UK also co-sponsored side events at the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly raising concerns about the serious human rights situation in Xinjiang and calling for China to allow UN observers unfettered access to the region. Initiatives have included workshops, work with the Female Ambassadors and Women in the First Dimension, including on key recruitment questions, and tangible steps on gender parity in politico-military meetings and activities, together with the OSCE Gender Section. In Afghanistan, the UK advocated the meaningful involvement of women in all forums on peace. Media workers were frequently subjected to harassment and arrest. Slavery victims in the UK come from 130 countries. To insist to insert a clause requiring the government to ensure that new heavy goods vehicles should be fitted with retro-reflective tape but that the government should make regulations by 31st December 2007. The FCO ensures that the UK’s policy position on the expansive RoC portfolio is both reflected and protected at all stages of negotiations on relevant resolutions. We raised concerns about human rights in both formal and informal UNSC meetings, emphasising the need for accountability, and calling on Myanmar to create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees. And in Mexico the UK Embassy have regularly spoken out on numerous cases where journalists have been attacked and murdered, calling for justice for such attacks, particularly relating to the Miroslava Breach case. We are committed to maintaining the momentum for reform. According to the Global Slavery Index, 40.3 million people across the globe will be victims of modern slavery on any given day. We used the UN’s Universal Periodic Reviews to draw further attention to restrictions on FoRB, including in Iraq, where we remained committed to working with the Government of Iraq to address issues facing Christians, Yezidis, and other religious minorities. Serious human rights violations accompanied the period of protest in the first half of the year, including the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters on 3 June. At the UN General Assembly, the UK announced its support for the UN Voluntary Global Pledge, ‘Every Child, Every Right’, agreeing to enhance UK commitments to strengthen protection for children. The UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution on HRDs during its 74th Session. The Child Rights Protection Act, ratified in November, raised the age of consent for marriage to 18, and abolished the death penalty for crimes committed by those below the age of 18. To remove the clause providing for the closure of the renewables obligation (subsidies) for onshore wind generating stations. Arbitrary arrest and detention on political grounds continued. Turkey claimed that Kurdish forces had carried out a series of indiscriminate bombings with improvised explosives, in Turkish-controlled areas in northern Syria, causing civilian casualties. The then Minister for Asia, Mark Field, raised this in the House of Commons in April, stating: This government considers it appalling that in the 21st Century people anywhere are still facing potential persecution and discrimination because of who they are and who they love. The situation of religious persecution in Pakistan continued to be of concern. Following the death of Sahar Khodayari, a female football fan arrested for watching men’s matches, and FIFA’s ultimatum to allow women’s attendance, Iran responded to international pressure and permitted women to attend a game in October. However, there is widespread concern over how human rights will be safeguarded in any peace process with the Taliban. Established in 1992, WFD is an arms-length body of the FCO dedicated to supporting democracy around the world. via wikigb.com Feed https://ift.tt/3oXgwRG. In January, a day after a magistrate sentenced a 25-year-old woman to death by stoning on charges of adultery, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling. Reports continued of young Turkmen being prevented from travelling abroad by the authorities. In Afghanistan, religious and ethnic minority groups were regularly targeted by non-governmental groups, in particular in “Islamic State in Khorasan Province”. Iran continued to violate human rights during 2019, carrying out the most deadly crackdown against internal unrest since the 1979 revolution. However, productivity increases (some farmers report being able to harvest their coca bushes more than 5 times a year) mean cocaine production, and therefore illicit financing, were at historic highs. To require that committee responses to determinations by a Parliamentary Judicial Committee that countries the UK has trade agreements with have committed genocide be debated and voted on, but not insist again that the High Court make said determinations. The use of deprivation of nationality, when it renders an individual stateless, remained a concern. We have worked with the UK Private Security Companies (PSCs) through the Security in Complex Environments Group to ensure that stakeholders are engaged with the government’s policy on PSCs. There was long-standing concern about sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan, with the issue often being overlooked or denied. To delete the provision in the bill that defines exit day as 11pm on 29 March 2019, and to specify instead that exit day may be appointed through regulations. Work is underway on 74% of commitments, and 10% of commitments are reported as already completed. To insist to ask that the government, in securing best value for the NHS in purchasing medical supplies, considers supporting the UK life sciences sector, and ensuring access for patients to new medicines and treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. To require that the Information Commissioner is appointed by the crown "on the recommendation of the Secretary of State" as opposed to the Secretary of State alone. In addition, incomplete implementation of R-ARCSS meant that many schools and hospitals remained occupied by armed groups awaiting cantonment. Anecdotal reports also indicated that unofficial pressure was being placed on Imams about the content of their sermons. In 2019, we coordinated instructions for the RoC resolutions at the 42nd HRC and the 74th UNGA. We also hosted the first meeting of the WPS Chiefs of Defence Network in July, and handed over the chair to Canada and Bangladesh. In November, the FCO successfully secured UK independent participation in the Kimberley Process which will begin from the date at which EU law ceases to apply to the UK. Using legislation, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued prohibition orders against demonstrations by the opposition and by some civil society and teachers’ groups. Changes to employment law banned workplace gender discrimination, and enforced gender equality in hiring practices. The Chinese authorities continued their efforts to present the measures in Xinjiang as legitimate and necessary to combat extremism and terrorism. Continued closure of the majority of crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line raised tensions and resulted in frequent detentions and severe restrictions on freedom of movement, affecting livelihoods, education, and access to healthcare. Such engagement helps us to stay updated about their concerns and signals the UK’s support for the rights of members of religious minorities. Sustained commitment is vital. A new research project launched in 2019 promoted the integration of these Syrian girls into mainstream schooling through inclusive education practices. We also worked to strengthen provincial government support to minorities and to improve civil society advocacy skills. In 2018, the UK was one of 15 states to invoke the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism over human rights violations in Chechnya, requiring an investigation without Russian consent. The FCO also provided financial support to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Team of Experts on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Following joint UK, US, and Canadian efforts in Sudan, the Government of Sudan in January dropped restrictions on Christian school opening hours. In 2019, the International Ambassador for Human Rights undertook visits to Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal and Mozambique, where she engaged in human rights dialogue with representatives of governments, institutions, and civil society in order to assess progress and challenges, and to explore targeted UK interventions to support states’ progress on human rights, including recommendations in the Universal Periodic Reviews. The UK supported dissemination of the OECD guidance through funding a capacity-building project in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and through research to improve policy coherence between the OECD and the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative. In addition to the Global Conference in London, a wide range of other media freedom events took place. Presidency Council Decree 286 (2018) continued to limit the activity of civil society groups, prohibiting them from receiving international donations and from engaging in activity related to political, military, or security matters. Unannounced inspections of prisons by independent bodies in line with international human rights standards were still not permitted. Presidential Commissions on Murders and Enforced Disappearances and on Corruption and Asset Recovery were granted legal powers by parliament in June. This funding will reduce the risk of GBV for those in acute need by addressing the root causes of violence. We used our embassies and high commissions to monitor and raise human rights concerns and to promote the full and equal enjoyment of human rights. In response to a European Commission request, and to avoid a humanitarian crisis, the UK drew on the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) to increase the supply of emergency winter supplies. In August, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree, following recommendations in Uzbekistan’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2018, formally announcing the closure of Jaslyk prison, which had been notorious for its association with torture. To insert a clause enabling local authorities to ringfence the spending of money received from speeding fines on local road safety measures. At the end of 2019, over 500 websites remained blocked, and 26 journalists were in prison. We funded the Secretariat of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, in which women constituted 26% of its workforce. We also continued to work closely with the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), a partnership of 30 governments committed to advancing internet freedom. To exclude staffing costs from the financial restrictions placed on third parties (i.e. 2019 witnessed backsliding on political freedoms in Zimbabwe. ‘Loyalist’ areas refer to those territories that remained under the control of the Assad regime throughout the conflict ↩, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-recognises-juan-guaido-as-interim-president-of-venezuela ↩, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-statement-on-the-situation-in-venezuela ↩, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/VEReportsOHCHR.aspx ↩, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-welcomes-new-sanctions-against-maduro-regime ↩, https://www.icc-cpi.int/itemsDocuments/180925-otp-referral-venezuela_ENG.pdf ↩, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25438&LangID=E ↩, https://r4v.info/es/situations/platform ↩, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-aid-support-for-venezuelans-in-desperate-needs ↩, https://insights.careinternational.org.uk/publications/no-future-for-yemen-without-women-and-girls ↩, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2019_453.pdf ↩, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/yemen-huthi-run-court-sentences-30-political-opposition-figures-to-death-following-sham-trial/ ↩. The UK’s work on OGP priorities continued to promote transparency. After late April, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified more than 1,000 civilian casualties, hundreds of them children, and the displacement of 630,000 civilians, the vast majority being women and children. To require the government within six months to set an interim climate change target for 2030, including the role of agriculture and land use in reducing emissions, followed within 12 months by an implementation strategy. 3,020 Likes, 39 Comments - William & Mary (@william_and_mary) on Instagram: “Move-In looks a little different this year, and we know there are mixed emotions right now. 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. For example, there were reports of arbitrary arrests and detention of followers of Sufism and of attacks against religious sites. However, according to the NGO Article 19, 5.5 billion people are now living in countries that have seen an overall decline in freedom of expression over the last decade, with freedom of expression now at a 10 year low. To require that an investigation takes place into the impact (on justice) of alternative business structures. DFID is one of the founding partners of the ‘Safe to Learn’ campaign and has provided £5 million to address violence that prevents girls from attending and learning in school. Land and related social rights are addressed in the human right to own property and the entitlement to its peaceful enjoyment. To require the repayment of the 20% discount of market value applicable to starter homes, reduced by 1/20th for each year of occupation by the purchaser, for a period of 20 years. We continued to support those bereaved through murder and manslaughter overseas, and in March, HRH The Duke of Sussex unveiled a memorial in Birmingham to the 31 British people killed in terrorist attacks in Bardo and Sousse in 2015. These include more effective UN Special Political Missions, UN Country Teams, UN Policing, UN Peacekeeping, increased mediation capacity, and a strengthened Women, Peace and Security agenda. Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex highlighted the importance and urgency of tackling gender-based violence (GBV) during her 2019 visit. The UK started the year as the chair of the Governing Council of the CoD, concluding our 6-month term in March. The deterioration of the Zimbabwean economy heavily affected the delivery of basic services such as clean water, healthcare, and education. The CoI concluded there were grounds to believe that in 187 of 189 fatalities, the use of live ammunition by Israeli security forces against demonstrators was unlawful. To require the government to lay before parliament a National Food Strategy, outlining its proposed steps to improve food production sustainability, support food production and consumption, and reduce obesity. 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. Eritrea was ranked 178 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index, with all internal media operated by the state. High quality disaggregated data is essential to designing and delivering effective programmes and policies that are inclusive of older people. Children with unofficial birth certificates issued by Daesh were denied access to healthcare and education. In April, Israel introduced a one-year pilot of a new military order to fast-track demolitions with less discretion for judicial review. To insist to require that an individual "may" not "must" apply to enter onto the National Register and obtain an ID card when applying for or renewing a passport. The UK ran a major international campaign in 2019 on Media Freedom. The Community of Democracies (CoD) is an intergovernmental coalition of states that aims to support democratic rules, expand political participation, advance and protect democratic freedoms, and strengthening democratic norms and institutions around the world. The column on the right shows the number of votes the government was beaten by. SGBV perpetrated by state agents and armed groups significantly increased in 2019. Respect for media freedom continued to erode throughout 2019, with Egypt dropping 2 places in the World Press Freedom Index (163rd out of 180). The engagement provided opportunities for constructive discussions with religious leaders from all faiths represented in Bahrain, with opportunities to visit different places of worship, including a Shia husseiniya. Human rights monitors logged numerous reports of systematic abuse and torture during arrest and pre-trial detention. There were some improvements to legal access. The UK is committed to the principle of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), which places the clear onus on states to protect their populations from war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. The process for selecting a new president of Jubaland in August was deeply flawed. Countries with weak health systems are vulnerable to shocks, including outbreaks of disease. Over 1.4 million people were registered as internally displaced. Most media outlets were tightly controlled by the government, and the environment for remaining independent media outlets remained hostile. The UK continued to be committed to ending the use of child soldiers and protecting children in armed conflict.