§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the Government will support the extension of the mandate of the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia; [35069]
(2) if he will press for the appointment of more international monitors of human rights in Colombia. [35068]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe fully support an extension of the mandate of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia. We also support the proposal that the staffing complement of this office be increased to help it fulfil its mandate.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Colombian Government on human rights. [35073]
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe take every opportunity to raise with the Colombian Government our concerns about the human rights situation in Colombia. Since May last year, Ministers and senior officials have discussed human rights issues with, among others, the President of Colombia, the Vice-President, the Foreign Minister and the Defence Minister.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government intend to raise the issue of human rights in Colombia at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. [35079]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI expect the issue of human rights in Colombia to be addressed in the EU's item 10 statement, to be delivered by the UK as Presidency. I also believe that, as in previous years, the Chairman of the Commission will deliver a statement on human rights in Colombia.
769W
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation in Colombia. [35080]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe human rights situation in Colombia is serious and continues to be of concern. We are supporting the Colombian Government in their efforts to tackle the problem and in particular to end the long-running internal conflict as the most effective long-term means of improving the human rights situation.
In addition to helping to facilitate a dialogue between the Colombian military and human rights NGOs, the UK also contributed, both directly and through the EU, to the establishment of the UN Human Rights office in Bogota which is tasked with helping the Colombian Government to develop programmes for the protection and promotion of human rights. The UK also provided funding towards the visit of Organisation of American States (OAS) observers to the local and municipal elections in Colombia in October last year.