§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the trafficking of children in Asia. [25975]
§ Mr. Tony LloydOur diplomatic posts in Asia report on human rights issues concerning children including, where appropriate, trafficking in human beings. We also value the reports of non-governmental organisations and the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the presidency of the EU to restrict the trafficking of children in Asia, with particular reference to Cambodia and Vietnam. [25969]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe and our European Union partners will continue to participate actively in discussions on the Rights of the Child in International fora, including the Untied Nations Commission on Human Rights. The EU will co-sponsor a resolution on the Rights of the Child at the 54th session of the Commission. The resolution will include a section on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to curtail the trafficking of children in Asia. [25968]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, whose mandate includes work to combat trafficking of children. We are working with Asian countries to fight child abuse. British police provided child protection training in the Philippines and Sri Lanka for delegates from several South and South East Asian countries in 1997. Similar training will be provided in Thailand in 1998.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the trafficking of children in Asia, with particular reference to Cambodia and Vietnam. [25974]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe regularly receive representations from non-governmental organisations and others concerning child welfare in Asia. We have not, however, received recent representations on the trafficking of children in Cambodia and Vietnam.