§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received regarding Her Majesty's Government's first annual human rights reports from(a) foreign Governments, (b) international aid agencies and (c) British charities and non-Governmental organisations. [42347]
§ Clare ShortI have not yet received any formal representations on the Annual Human Rights Report. We are, of course, engaged in discussion about the issues in the Report.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 in the areas of (i) human rights and (ii) democracy and good governance; in which countries; and what provision she has made for similar expenditure in 1998–99. [42467]
§ Clare ShortCommitments on human rights were not recorded as such until 1 April 1998. However, civil and political rights are related to our commitments on democracy and good governance which amounted to £72.9 million in 1996–97 and £78.5 million in 1997–98. Commitments were made in these years to the following countries
1996–97
- Albania
- Anguilla
- Bosnia
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- China
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guyana
- Hungary
- India
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
407 - Nepal
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Republic of Kazakhstan
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- Slovak Republic
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Pacific
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- West Bank/Gaza
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
1997–98
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- China
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Dominica
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Republic of Kazakhstan
- Republic of Uzbekistan
408 - Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- St. Lucia
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Vietnam
- West Bank and Gaza
- Yugoslavia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe.
In addition, many other commitments made by the Department for International Development are related to economic, social and cultural rights, for example those in education, health, water and sustainable livelihoods, and are designed to enhance the capacity of states and civil society to achieve these rights.
We have no plans to limit the financial amounts which may be committed to human rights, democracy and good governance by making a specific provision for expenditure in 1998–99.
§ Sir Alastair GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to human rights projects, and at what cost, in(a) Malawi, (b) Zambia, (c) Sierra Leone and (d) Nigeria. [42468]
§ Clare ShortExpenditure on our human rights work was not recorded as such until 1 April 1998. However, much of our work contributes to the civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights of poor and disadvantaged peoples, such as our work on good governance, support for education, health, water and rural livelihoods.
In Malawi and Zambia we support access to basic health and education for poor and disadvantaged groups (nearly £70 million in Malawi, over £60 million in Zambia). We support anti-corruption institutions in both countries, other human rights bodies (e.g. the Malawi criminal legal system, the Zambia Human Rights Commission), and provide human rights training for the Malawi police. We also support the development of civil society organisations, including civic education on women's rights and training for journalists in Zambia. These total some £3 million in Malawi and £1 million in Zambia. We plan to help both countries further to implement the international Conventions they have signed.
409WIn Nigeria we have committed £15 million to basic health projects and £2.2 million to education programmes. We have also committed £300,000 to help a range of local non-governmental organisations through workshops and in-country training to strengthen accountability and transparency (e.g. workshops for local journalists, improving access to justice), human rights (e.g. gender training), democracy, and training in conflict management. In Sierra Leone, we have contributed £2 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross, part of which supports human rights monitoring.