Colombia (Hansard, 22 January 2002)

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to support the full implementation of the UN recommendations on human rights to the Colombian Government before the next session of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights in March; and if he will make a statement. [29225]

§ Mr. MacShane
We have a regular, continuing dialogue with the Colombian Government about the human rights situation in Colombia, including the implementation of UN recommendations. I had comprehensive discussions about human rights during my visit to Colombia in October last year. The Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain), plans to chair the regular NGO forum prior to the commission on Human Rights (CHR). NGOs will be invited to discuss FCO priorities, including Colombia, ahead of the CHR meeting in Geneva
We strongly support the work of the UN in Colombia. Since March 2000, we have already given more than £250,000 to support the work of the UN Human Rights Office (UNHRO) there, which helped the UN to open a new office in Cali at the end of last year, something which has been particularly welcomed by NGOs. I am pleased to announce today that we have committed a further £120,000 to the UNHRO in Colombia so that it can continue its good work.

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Government will ensure that aid provided through the recently agreed EU aid package in support of the Colombian peace process is not diverted to illegally armed people; and if he will make a statement. [29226]

§ Mr. MacShane
The UK, like other EU member states, has stressed to the European Commission in Brussels that EU technical assistance to Colombia must be transparent and be channelled where possible through reputable international and local NGOs working in Colombia. British embassy officials have made the same point to Commission representatives in Bogota. We particularly welcome the fact that the Commission has recently appointed a representative to Barrancabermeja to oversee the delivery of EU aid to the Magdalena Medio region.