§ Sandra OsborneTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures are in place to ensure that(a) UK and (b) EU (i) policies and (ii) aid to Colombia comply with the human rights recommendations of the United Nations. [121838]
§ Hilary BennDFID has one remaining government-to-government bilateral project in Colombia which is ending this year. This provides advice on improving the exchange of information between non-governmental organisations working in agriculture. The project is consistent with the UN human rights recommendations.
942WThe EU has made clear its support for adoption of the UN's human rights recommendation. The EC's €105 million Country Programme for Colombia (2001–06) contains four elements. Two directly support efforts to improve human rights, ie support to administrative and judicial reform and promotion of human rights; the other two elements (social/economic development and alternative development) seek to address the underlying causes of conflict. In designing projects under these the Commission take account of the need to avoid their funds being used in any way which would not be compliant with UN human rights recommendations.