§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) of 4 July 2003,Official Report, column 558W, what assessment he has made of the level of protection needed for trade unionists receiving death threats from paramilitary groups. [136353]
§ Mr. RammellI regularly make clear our great concern about the extremely difficult situation faced by trades unionists in Colombia. Protection is given under the Colombian Ministry of Interior Protection Programme. We welcome the recently increased spending on this programme, and the reactivation of Inter-Institutional Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Workers' Human Rights. Deaths of trades union members have been significantly reduced this year. But there is much more to be done and the Colombian Government has acknowledged this. It822W supports and has played a large part in discussions on an EU funded project for the promotion and defence of the human rights of trades unionists. We will continue to emphasise the need for further protection of all vulnerable groups in Colombia.