[{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44227","proposer":"10383","edm":"95","session":"2012-13","title":"Detention Of Torture Survivors","text":"That this House welcomes Medical Justice's new report, The Second Torture: The Immigration Detention of Torture Survivors, which demonstrates how the UK Border Agency is failing to fulfil its statutory duty to safeguard torture survivors, as outlined in Rule 35 (3) of the Detention Centre Rules 2001; notes with concern that the poor implementation of Rule 35 has been raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and non-governmental organisations for nine years, highlighting the continued failure to identify and release torture victims from immigration detention; urges the Government to take the necessary steps to safeguard this group; calls for an independent audit of the Rule 35 process to assess its effectiveness; and calls on the Government to launch an independent inquiry if the results of such an audit do not adequately demonstrate that Rule 35 is functioning effectively.","date":"2012-05-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44210","proposer":"10133","edm":"78","session":"2012-13","title":"Belarus","text":"That this House supports the protests by Equity, the trade union for professional performers, and others at the recent visit by the Belarus National Theatre; believes that the government of Belarus denies freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and engages in repression of artists; congratulates Equity and the Belarus Free Theatre in their efforts to highlight the governmental abuses in Belarus; and calls on the Government to press the Belarus authorities to respect freedom of expression, assembly and to end the repression and victimisation of artists.","date":"2012-05-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44170","proposer":"10258","edm":"38","session":"2012-13","title":"Continuation Of Violence Against The Nuba People","text":"That this House condemns the continued violence on the people of the Nuba Mountains by the Sudanese government; is concerned over the continuation of military offensives in the region, the denial of access for humanitarian aid and journalists and the killing of citizens directly through bombing campaigns; considers the death of many others because of lack of access to medical care, malnutrition, dehydration and displacement as deplorable; and urges the Government to act urgently to increase pressure on the Sudanese government to halt the violence on its own people, and to allow the access of foreign aid to bring an end to these gross violations of human rights.","date":"2012-05-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44093","proposer":"10095","edm":"2985","session":"2010-12","title":"Brighton Conference: The Case Of Abu Qatada And The Rule Of Law","text":"That this House insists, in relation to the Brighton conference on the European Convention of Human Rights, that legislation enacted in the UK Parliament is the ultimate source of the rule of law in the UK and on which judicial interpretation and judgement is based, that the case of Abu Qatada demonstrates the urgent need for the enactment of a Bill of Rights at Westminster including reasserting these traditional principles and replacing the European Convention together with the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and that the Bill of Rights, as enacted by the UK Parliament, shall be the sole source of that sphere of the rule of law in the UK.","date":"2012-04-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44078","proposer":"10133","edm":"2970","session":"2010-12","title":"Bahrain Grand Prix And Human Rights","text":"That this House is astonished that the Bahrain Formula 1 race is going ahead despite huge concerns over abuse of human rights expressed by Amnesty International and others; notes that a trial is continuing of 52 medical professionals who tried to help victims of the suppression of protests; believes that the Formula 1 race will be used by the Bahrain government as an endorsement of its policies of suppression of dissent; and accordingly calls for its cancellation.","date":"2012-04-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44059","proposer":"10383","edm":"2951","session":"2010-12","title":"Greenwash Gold 2012","text":"That this House welcomes the launch by Bhopal Medical Appeal, London Mining Network and UK Tar Sands Network of the Greenwash Gold 2012 awards exposing the record of environmental destruction and human rights abuses of the companies BP, Rio Tinto and Dow, which are major sponsors of the 2012 Olympics; and urges the Olympic authorities to bring forward reforms of the process by which Olympic sponsors are selected so that known polluters and human rights abusers are never allowed to tarnish the image of the Olympics again.","date":"2012-04-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44063","proposer":"10383","edm":"2955","session":"2010-12","title":"Shaker Aamer","text":"That this House welcomes the demonstration in Parliament Square held on 16 April 2012 by the Save Shaker Aamer campaign to highlight the fact that British resident Shaker Aamer has been imprisoned without trial or charge for over 10 yearsin Guantanamo; and calls for a new initiative by the Government to secure his release and his return to his British family in the UK, given the worrying concern that his health is now seriously deteriorating to the point that his lawyers havestated that he is gradually dying in Guantanamo.","date":"2012-04-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44009","proposer":"10383","edm":"2904","session":"2010-12","title":"Cuts To The Equalities And Human Rights Commission","text":"That this House notes that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is going to be dismantled by the Government when it cuts 63 per cent. from the budget and 72 per cent. from staffing, compared to levels at its creation; strongly objects to the axing of frontline services like the helpline and grants to regional outreach work and the end of free legal representation for victims of discrimination; further notes the risk that advice deserts may spread across the country as a result of the cuts and its UN accreditation as an A status national human rights institution may be at risk as a result of the cuts to budget and remit; is concerned that over 200 experienced regional casework and advice staff may be axed, while the commission retains highly paid management consultants to implement a change programme; understands that PCS members at EHRC offices have taken industrial action in protest against job cuts, closures and privatisation; further understands that staff are anticipating deeper and faster cuts resulting in even more job losses and outsourcing this year; and calls on the Government to put a halt to spending more taxpayers' money on another costly restructuring exercise, and to instead fund the body so that it maintains its remit and staffing levels to help victims of discrimination and promote a culture where all are equal and the human rights of all are respected.","date":"2012-03-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"44011","proposer":"10383","edm":"2906","session":"2010-12","title":"Mr Balwant Singh","text":"That this House notes with extreme concern that the Indian authorities have decided to end the country's moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty and are planning to execute Mr Balwant Singh by hanging on 31 March 2012; and calls on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as a matter of urgency to make representations to the Indian government urging that this execution is not proceeded with and that capital punishment is abolished in India.","date":"2012-03-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43982","proposer":"13864","edm":"2877","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights Of Christian Workers","text":"That this House calls on the Equalities Minister to support the human rights of Christian workers to wear the symbol of their faith at work.","date":"2012-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43959","proposer":"10197","edm":"2855","session":"2010-12","title":"Syria And The International Criminal Court","text":"That this House, believing that the International Criminal Courts prosecutor should begin investigations into the Syrian regime's crimes against humanity, requests the Government to work through the UN Security Council to achieve this end as quickly as is possible.","date":"2012-03-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43953","proposer":"11963","edm":"2849","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Bahrain (No. 2)","text":"That this House expresses its concern at reports of increased violence by the Bahraini security services in the run up to and aftermath of the anniversary of pro-democracy protests in 2011; notes with deep regret the death of over 50 people during protests since last February as highlighted by Amnesty International; supports the calls in December by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights for the release of political prisoners in Bahrain and reinstatement of all those who lost their jobs as a result of participating in protests; urges the Government to put every diplomatic pressure possible on the government of Bahrain to bring about an immediate end to violence and repression against its own people; and believes the UK should not allow arms, crowd control or surveillance technology to be exported to Bahrain.","date":"2012-03-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43815","proposer":"10256","edm":"2715","session":"2010-12","title":"Deteriorating Human Rights In Tibet","text":"That this House strongly condemns the Chinese security forces' unwarranted use of force including opening fire on unarmed demonstrators to quash peaceful protests in Tibet; is greatly saddened by the loss of life both of Tibetans who were shot and killed whilst protesting and the instances where Tibetans have resorted to self-immolation in an effort to draw attention to the ongoing repression by the Chinese authorities; is alarmed by the imposition of de facto martial law in Tibetan regions, the restriction of movement for Tibetans and the complete ban on foreign media; calls on the Prime Minister to make a public statement of concern on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet; further calls on the Government to urge the Chinese government to ease tensions by withdrawing its armed forces from Tibetan areas, to release full details of all incidents involving its forces opening fire upon civilians and to give foreign journalists, humanitarian agencies and independent observers full and unfettered access to Tibetan areas to ascertain the current situation; and further calls on the Government to work with other governments to safeguard Tibetans' rights and interests and instigate a multilateral approach whereby international governments together urge the Chinese government to enter into immediate and unconditional negotiations with representatives of the Tibetan people in order to resolve the Tibetans' underlying grievances.","date":"2012-02-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43746","proposer":"24910","edm":"2649","session":"2010-12","title":"International Women's Day","text":"That this House supports International Women's Day on 8 March 2012; celebrates the political, social and economic advancement of women while recognising the urgent need for further movement; applauds the work of millions of people across the world in raising the issues facing women; commends the PCS campaign `speaking out, not cut out', encouraging women and men to raise their voices against attacks on jobs, pensions and pay; highlights the impact of service and benefit cuts that will take women's equality in the UK back by generations; and encourages hon. Members to raise their voices and speak out in Parliament for International Women's Day.","date":"2012-01-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43679","proposer":"11489","edm":"2583","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Iran (No. 2)","text":"That this House is concerned by the practice of execution by stoning in Iran; notes that stoning is a particularly repugnant and cruel form of execution; is concerned that stoning is mandatory under the Iranian Penal Code for the offence of `adultery while married' for both men and women; is alarmed that since 2002 six people that Amnesty International is aware of have been executed by stoning and at least14 people are presently at risk of execution by stoning; commends Amnesty International's campaign which seeks to end this appalling practice; is encouraged that the Iranian authorities are currently undertaking a review of whether stoning should be included in the penal code; and calls on the Government to do all it can to ensure that stoning is removed from Iran's penal code.","date":"2012-01-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43653","proposer":"24910","edm":"2558","session":"2010-12","title":"Guant\u00e1namo Bay","text":"That this House notes that on 11 January 2012 it will be a decade since the first detainees were incarcerated at Guantnamo Bay naval base; believes that Guantnamo detainees should either be charged and prosecuted in fair trials or released to countries that will respect their human rights, including the USA if that is the only available option; further believes that US military commissions, which do not meet international fair trial standards, should be abandoned, as should any pursuit of the death penalty; considers that victims of human rights violations must be provided genuine access to effective remedy; calls for former or current US officials responsible for human rights violations to be held to account and brought to justice, including in respect of crimes under international law such as torture and enforced disappearance; further calls on the USA to recognise the applicability of, and fully respect, international human rights law when conducting counter-terrorism operations, and at detention facilities in Guantnamo, Bagram in Afghanistan and elsewhere; and urges the Government publicly to insist that President Obama address the detentions at Guantnamo Bay as a human rights issue that requires urgent attention.","date":"2011-12-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43654","proposer":"10133","edm":"2559","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Kazakhstan","text":"That this House is deeply concerned at reports of the killing of oil workers in Kazakhstan who have been protesting about their living conditions and the poverty of their region; condemns the actions of the government of Kazakhstan in using troops, mass arrests and isolation tactics; calls on that government to adhere to international human rights conventions and International Labour Organisation statutes; and calls on the Government to make robust protest toits Kazakh counterparts to prevent further loss of life.","date":"2011-12-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43647","proposer":"10133","edm":"2552","session":"2010-12","title":"The Case Of Ali Aarrass","text":"That this House recognises the deep concern amongst human rights lawyers and experts ontorture across Europe about the 15-year sentence handed down by the Rabat court sitting at Sal to the dual Belgian-Moroccan national Ali Aarrass after a trial that appears to have ignored all due process, relied solely on torture evidence, and which took place a year after the Spanish authorities ignored an instruction by the UN Human Rights Committee not to extradite him to Morocco while the Committee was considering his case; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to follow the lead of the Bar Human Rights Committee, Freedom From Torture and a number of distinguished Queen's Counsel to make urgent representations to the Moroccan government to secure justice for Mr Aarrass and his family.","date":"2011-12-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43612","proposer":"10383","edm":"2517","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights Abuses In Ogaden","text":"That this House expresses its deep concern at the continuing human rights abuses perpetrated against the people of Ogaden by Ethiopian government forces and militias previously evidenced by Human Rights Watch; and urges the UK Government to work with the African Union and United Nations to enable the access of independent human rights observers and journalists to Ogaden to press for the release of the Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson and to seek a negotiated settlement of the conflict between the Ethiopian regime and the Ogaden National Liberation Front.","date":"2011-12-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43548","proposer":"11963","edm":"2456","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Colombia (No. 2)","text":"That this House welcomes the positive change under President Santos' administration in trying to address the needs of the many victims created by the Colombian conflict, with the introduction of the Victims Law 1448; is concerned, however, that the killings and attacks against community leaders and human rights defenders working on land and victims issues continue to increase; notes that Colombia continues to be the most dangerous country in the world for human rights defenders and trade unionists; also notes that sexual violence against women in the Colombian confict is a hidden crime and the perpetrators are very rarely held to account; recognises the commitment of the British Embassy in Colombia to supporting human rights and human rights defenders; calls on the Government to ask President Santos, during his forthcoming visit to the UK, for further concrete commitments to improve the human rights situation in his country and the protection provided to defenders, trade unionists and community and church leaders; and urges all parties in the Colombian conflict to enter into dialogue to resolve the conflict peacefully.","date":"2011-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43530","proposer":"11707","edm":"2438","session":"2010-12","title":"Child Sacrifice In Uganda","text":"That this House condemns the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice in Uganda; notes with concern that between 2006 and 2010 only one person was found guilty despite 83 criminal cases and an estimated 900 murders of young people through child sacrifice; and urges the Ugandan government to implement the terms of both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which it has signed andto implement the recommendations of the Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries' Child Sacrifice in Uganda report.","date":"2011-11-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43533","proposer":"11963","edm":"2441","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Egypt","text":"That this House strongly condemns the continuing human rights abuses by the military rulers in Egypt; notes with serious concern that on 9 October 2011, 26 people were killed after the army targeted a peaceful protest marching to Egypt's state television buildings at Maspero; is concerned that the ruling military's account of the events seems contradictory to eye-witness reports and video footage; is deeply worried by reports that the prominent blogger and activist Alaa Abdelfattah is being detained, accused of a number of serious crimes in relation to the 9 October march; is deeply alarmed that the Egyptian authorities allegedly tortured the 24-year-old prisoner Essam Ali Atta to death; further condemns the Egyptian government's increasing violence towards protestors and the use of military tribunals instead of civilian courts; is furtherconcerned to hear accounts that the campaign of harassment and intimidation against journalists is escalating; and calls on the Government to put diplomatic pressure on the military rulers of Egypt to respect human rights, stop using military trials for citizens and end their crackdown on protestors and journalists.","date":"2011-11-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43512","proposer":"11817","edm":"2422","session":"2010-12","title":"Fifth Anniversary Of Al Jazeera English","text":"That this House congratulates the award-winning Al Jazeera English on its fifth anniversary on 15 November 2011; recognises Al Jazeera's important role in developing freedom of speech throughout the Middle East and beyond; and wishes Al Jazeera every success in continuing to provide a voice to the voiceless, and putting grassroots journalism at the centre of the news agenda.","date":"2011-11-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43498","proposer":"11892","edm":"2408","session":"2010-12","title":"Re-Introduction Of The Death Penalty","text":"That this House notes recent public calls for the re-introduction of the death penalty in the UK; further notes that Parliament last debated the subject in 1998; and calls on the Government to set aside time to enable hon. Members to debate its re-introduction.","date":"2011-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43500","proposer":"10383","edm":"2410","session":"2010-12","title":"British Journalist Held By Israel","text":"That this House expresses its extreme concern at the illegal detention by Israel since 4 November 2011 of Hassan Ghani, a British journalist, who was on board the Tahrir which, along with the Soairse, was delivering aid to Gaza; and calls on the UK Government to seek the immediate release of Hassan Ghani by Israel.","date":"2011-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43504","proposer":"10128","edm":"2414","session":"2010-12","title":"Ragip Zarakolu And Human Rights In Turkey","text":"That this House calls on the Turkish government to release Ragip Zarakolu immediately from detention as well as the many other scholars, academics, researchers, writers, journalists and human rights activists who are imprisoned in Turkey for expressing their thoughts; and believes that these detentions undermine the Turkish state's claims of democratic progress and respect for human rights.","date":"2011-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43376","proposer":"24784","edm":"2225A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Israel's Treatment Of Palestinian Prisoners","text":"leave out from `House' to end and insert `notes that there are 7,000 Palestinian detainees under the supervision of the Israel Prison Service (IPS); further notes that whilst allegations of torture in Israeli prisons have been made in the past, the International Red Cross has never condemned Israel for torturous treatment; further notes that Israel has invested significantly into its prison service, last year alone investing 30 million New Israeli Shekels for renovating prisons; further notes that Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons have equal access to education to Israeli inmates and that hundreds of Palestinian detainees acquire higher education through Open University, while others complete their matriculation certificates, more than 10,000 of which have been achieved since 2000 by detainees in the occupation prisons, and that last summer 3,300 prisoners took the formal Palestinian Authority exams; and further notes that a medical clinic is staffed with a physician and a medic at every detention facility, medical examination is conducted daily and the IPS operate a specialist detention facility for prisoners with physical and mental problems, where prisoners with chronic illnesses are cared for.'.","date":"2011-10-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43351","proposer":"10128","edm":"2268","session":"2010-12","title":"Marzieh Vafamehr And Free Speech In Iran","text":"That this House condemns the conviction of Marzieh Vafamehr, an Iranian actress who has been sentenced to 90 lashes and one year in jail for her role in starring in the film My Tehran for Sale, an Australian film about an actress whose theatre work is banned in Iran; notes that Marzieh Vafamehr is not the only member of the Iranian film industry who has been arrested in recent years; further notes that Pegah Ahangarani, a popular Iranian actor was released from jail in July 2011, Jafar Panahi, an Iranian director received a six year prison sentence and a 20 year ban from film-making in 2010 and Ramin Parchami, an actor who voiced support for the Iranian opposition, remains in jail; believes that it is completely unacceptable that Marzieh Vafamehr and other members of the Iranian film industry are being imprisoned for their artistic activities; and calls on the Government to make representations to the Iranian authorities so that Marzieh and other Iranian actors and directors are released from prison immediately.","date":"2011-10-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43359","proposer":"11221","edm":"2276","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Colombia","text":"That this House calls on the Government to encourage both the government of the Republic of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to engage in a peace process in order to find a politically negotiated solution to the conflict in Colombia; believes there are ongoing widespread human rights abuses in that country; notes recent indications by the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos that he is interested in finding a peaceful solution; considers that the United Kingdom and the government of the Republic of Ireland are uniquely placed to support such negotiations, drawing on their experience and being signatories to the international peace treaty, the Good Friday Agreement; and believes that such an initiative could also involve a team nominated by the Northern Ireland Executive and representatives of the other principle parties involved in the peace process.","date":"2011-10-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43340","proposer":"10682","edm":"2257","session":"2010-12","title":"Anti-Slavery Day 2011","text":"That this House marks on 18 October 2011 the UK Anti-Slavery Day and the European Union's Anti-Trafficking Day; notes with profound regret that far from being resigned to the history books, slavery is still a major problem with at least 12 million people around the world enslaved today according toa United Nations' estimate; further notes that the actual number of people who are enslaved is likely to be far greater; recognises that slavery is still a problem in the UK, with domestic servitude and forced prostitution being amongst the most common forms of slavery found in this country; further notes that greater steps need to be taken to ensure that the London 2012 Olympic Games do not provide opportunities for criminals to enslave and traffick more people into the UK; and calls on the Government to take a pro-active approach to tackling the issue of slavery and human trafficking both in the UK and abroad.","date":"2011-10-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43334","proposer":"10133","edm":"2252","session":"2010-12","title":"Bahrain Human Rights","text":"That this House notes the very precarious political climate currently existing in Bahrain due to ongoing human rights violations and the disturbing elements stirring up sectarian violence with the potential for spreading beyond Bahrain and to her neighbours; calls on the Government to make representations to the government of Bahrain to release the medical professionals who have been sentenced to up to 15 years without any solid evidence or access to a legal team, to investigate the death of a young boy who was killed by shotgun as well as raising the issue of the imprisoned opposition leaders, many of whom were tortured and have no access to medication including a Mr Hasan Mushaima, who is suffering from cancer requiring immediate attention, and to restore rights to the large number of workers who have lost their jobs due to peaceful protests calling for reform.","date":"2011-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43321","proposer":"10941","edm":"2241","session":"2010-12","title":"Release Of Political Prisoners In Burma","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the release of political prisoners in Burma, particularly that of Zarganar, the comedian and film maker, who was originally sentenced to 58 years' imprisonment for alleged public order offences; and calls on the Burmese authorities to follow up this gesture with the further release of all prisoners of conscience and the introduction of genuine democratic reforms.","date":"2011-10-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43324","proposer":"10203","edm":"2204A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Azerbaijani Independence Twentieth Anniversary","text":"leave out from `1991;' to end and add `notes the concern expressed by human rights groups that Azerbaijan has grown increasingly authoritarian in recent years; further notes with alarm the Human Rights Watch report, Beaten, Blacklisted and Behind Bars, which documents government efforts to limit freedom of expression and silence dissenting journalists; further notes that in 2010 Azerbaijan was further ranked 134 out of 178 in the World Corruption Index by Transparency International; is dismayed that Azerbaijan's independent election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre could not consider last year's election democratic, free and fair; is disappointed at the reports of voter intimidation and disqualification of opposition candidates highlighted by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; is appalled at the brutal suppression of those who demonstrate against perceived corruption, including the jailing of two bloggers who mocked the government and the alleged harassment by police of citizens who voted for an Armenian song in the Eurovision Song Contest; and regrets the gullibility of those who place their trust in this oppressive government.'.","date":"2011-10-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43304","proposer":"10128","edm":"2225","session":"2010-12","title":"Israel's Treatment Of Palestinian Prisoners","text":"That this House condemns the imprisonment of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas, but is appalled by the cruel and inhumane treatment suffered by the 7,000 Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli prisons, involving denial of medicines and basic healthcare, denial of education and reading materials, refusal of family visits, excessive fines, repeated night searches of cells and the long-term isolation of elected members of the Palestinian legislative council; believes that Israel's practice of holding Palestinians for unspecified periods of time without charge, including children, journalists and 21 Palestinian MPs is unacceptable; further believes that all this amounts to the collective punishment of Palestinian prisoners for the imprisonment of soldier Shalit; and calls on the Government to increase pressure on Israel to end its immoral and uncivilised treatment of prisoners.","date":"2011-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43283","proposer":"24892","edm":"2203","session":"2010-12","title":"Execution Of Troy Davis","text":"That this House condemns the execution of Troy Davis by the State of Georgia on 21 September 2011; expresses grave concern that the execution went ahead despite a widespread lack of confidence in the trial following the recantation of evidence by a majority of witnesses; believes that capital punishment is fundamentally wrong; calls on the Government to condemn his execution; and further calls on the Government to play an active role in seeking to end the use of capital punishment in all countries in the future.","date":"2011-10-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43284","proposer":"10884","edm":"2204","session":"2010-12","title":"Azerbaijani Independence Twentieth Anniversary","text":"That this House congratulates Azerbaijan on the 20th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union on 18 October 1991; notes that in this time it has joined the Council of Europe and formed close links with the EU; recognises the vital assistance which it has provided to NATO in Iraq and Afghanistan; further recognises that it provides a valuable alternative source of oil and gas for the European market; applauds the fact that despite being a predominantly Muslim country it has thriving Christian and Jewish communities; further notes that it now has one of the fastest growing economies in the world and that the UK is the principal source of foreign direct investment; and wishes the country well on its path towards becoming a fully-fledged member of the community of European democratic states.","date":"2011-10-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43267","proposer":"11420","edm":"2189","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights Abuses In Jammu And Kashmir","text":"That this House notes with concern the reports of human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir; believes that a key element in working towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue is the cessation of human rights abuses; and calls on the Government to use its influence with the United Nations to encourage an internationalinvestigation into the human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir.","date":"2011-09-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43276","proposer":"11323","edm":"2198","session":"2010-12","title":"Public Sector Pension Changes","text":"That this House notes that public sector pension funds have already been re-negotiated to ensure financial sustainability; further notes that the new changes proposed are primarily to reduce spending from the public purse and will lead to a decrease in pension payments to individuals; further notes that the proposed changes will force many public sector workers out of their pension schemes due to the additional payments making public sector pension funds unsustainable in the medium term; and calls on the Government to reconsider its proposals, agree a pension solution that encourages membership to ensure a sustainable public sector pension system and avoids forcing hard-pressed public sector employees into industrial action.","date":"2011-09-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43280","proposer":"24784","edm":"2173A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Iraqi Kurdistan","text":"leave out from `House' to end and add `notes reports of incidents in which journalists have been intimidated and some murdered and urges the authorities in Kurdistan to expedite prosecutions against perpetrators; further notes the recent fifth report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Kurdistan region which finds that the Region's free media and transparency are underdeveloped, few journalists are trained and fair reporting is not culturally or legally ingrained; supports its belief that the best can shame the worst but needs a helping hand such as that offered by independent organisations such as the Kurdistan Media Centre and the IWPR; agrees that insufficient government transparency is part of a legacy of secrecy which was sustained through living under and resistance to dictatorship, the absence of reliable information and mistrust of journalists by government officials who have been misquoted or feel they have been defamed and have become reluctant to deal with the media; recognises that a culture of freedom of information needs to be developed alongside a professional and responsible media; and wishes well to the current all-party talks which seek to further various reforms on issues which inspired demonstrations in Kurdistan which sadly resulted in the deaths of 10 demonstrators and police officers as well as hundreds of injuries, which should also mean policing reforms to better deal with violent demonstrations and uphold peaceable assembly and free expression.'.","date":"2011-09-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43251","proposer":"10383","edm":"2173","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Iraqi Kurdistan","text":"That this House is concerned at the violations of press freedom in Iraqi Kurdistan, particularly the case of Sardasht Osman, the university student and journalist, who after criticising the Kurdish government was kidnapped and murdered on 5 May 2009; notes with regret that the major demonstrations held in February to April 2011 protesting at the lack of freedom and social justice were suppressed aggressively by the Kurdistan regional government, with 10 people killed and many others injured; and calls on the UK Government to urge the Kurdistan regional government to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the murder of Sardasht Osman and to respect the right of its citizens to freedom of expression and political activity.","date":"2011-09-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43230","proposer":"10076","edm":"2154","session":"2010-12","title":"Life And Work Of Samira Hassassian","text":"That this House pays tribute to the life of Samira Hassassian who has died of cancer aged 57,for her work to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, not only as a poet and wife of the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK but also through her support for charities, including the El-Shashat charity devoted to promoting Palestinian films, as a patron of Medical Aid for Palestinians and through her promotion of trade, by encouraging Palestinian craftspeople to come to the UK to exhibit their products; and wishes that she may rest in peace in the shade of the olive groves back in her Palestinian birthplace of Beit Jala near Bethlehem.","date":"2011-09-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43212","proposer":"10383","edm":"2081A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Religious Liberty In Public Life","text":"leave out from `welcomes' to end and add `notes the decision of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to intervene in support of four cases involving discrimination against Christians that are presently with the European Court of Human Rights; is concerned that two of these cases involve discrimination by public officials against people because of their sexuality; declines to regard these two cases as legitimate grounds for reasonable adjustment; supports the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender community and wider society in its efforts to end homophobic and transphobic prejudice and discrimination; and calls on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to review its advocacy for reasonable adjustment to ensure that religious belief cannot be used as an excuse for discrimination.'.","date":"2011-09-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43195","proposer":"11589","edm":"2121","session":"2010-12","title":"Equality And Human Rights Commission Application To The European Court Of Human Rights","text":"That this House welcomes the application by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to intervene in four cases at the European Court of Human Rights which involve alleged religious discrimination in the workplace; notes the Commission's concern that UK and European Courts have created a body of confusing and contradictory case law making it difficult for employers to know what they should be doing to protect people from religion- or belief-based discrimination; acknowledges its hope that it is possible to accommodate expression of religion alongside the rights of people who are not religious and the needs of business; further notes that the Commission thinks that there is a need for clearer legal principles to help the courts consider what is and what is not justifiable in such cases, which might help to resolve differences without resorting to legal action and that it hopes to propose ideas on reasonable accommodations in that context; recognises that the Commission is acting under its statutory duty in section 30 of the Equality Act 2010 and that it would act as an independent party providing expert advice to the court; and stresses that any clarification or development of employment case law must not threaten any rights to goods or services which all citizens should enjoy from all providers - commercial, voluntary or public sector - free from any discrimination on any grounds including the religious or conscientious belief of any employee.","date":"2011-08-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43147","proposer":"24963","edm":"2076","session":"2010-12","title":"La Colosa Gold Mine, Colombia","text":"That this House expresses its concern about the devastating environmental impacts that the proposed La Colosa opencast goldmine in Colombia will have on a region of considerable biodiversity and importance for food production; further expresses concern about potential violations of human rights that often coincide with the presence of such projects; notes that the company in question, AngloGold Ashanti, has a track record of environmental and human rights abuses in Africa; further notes that the same company, despite having a listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and 12 per cent. of its investors from the UK, is not subject to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; and consequently urges the Government to enforce stricter regulation so that companies listed on the LSE cannot evade accountability.","date":"2011-07-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43150","proposer":"24857","edm":"2079","session":"2010-12","title":"Humanitarian Situation In North Korea","text":"That this House notes the continuing reports of violations of human rights in North Korea, including public executions, infanticide, severe and systematic torture, slave labour, dire living conditions and below subsistence-level food rations in the prison camps, religious persecution, sexual violence and extreme punishments inflicted on North Koreans forcibly repatriated from China; further notes that an estimated 200,000 people are incarcerated within a system of camps known as North Korea's gulags; recalls that the families of prisoners are often punished for guilt by association; further notes the reports of former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mr Vitit Muntarbhorn, who has described the egregious and endemic human rights situation in the country as dire and desperate; welcomes the former Special Rapporteur's recommendation that the international community should `mobilise the totality of the United Nations to promote and protect human rights in the country [and] support processes which concretise responsibility and accountability for human rights violations, and an end to impunity'; further notes the call made by the European Parliament for the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity; urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to abolish its system of prison camps; and calls on the Government to seek the establishment by the United Nations of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate whether these human rights violations amount to crimes against humanity and to recommend further action to bring an end to the suffering in North Korea.","date":"2011-07-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43152","proposer":"10575","edm":"2081","session":"2010-12","title":"Religious Liberty In Public Life","text":"That this House welcomes the decision of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to intervene in supportof four cases involving discrimination against Christians that are presently with the European Court of Human Rights; notes that this is a long overdue recognition of the need to defend religious liberty and marks an important development in relation to a better understanding of the role of faith in public life; and further welcomes the Commission's advocacy for reasonable accommodation in the workplace as an acknowledgement of the place of conscientious objection for those with religious belief.","date":"2011-07-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43137","proposer":"10009","edm":"2066","session":"2010-12","title":"Life Of Floribert Chebeya","text":"That this House commemorates the life of Floribert Chebeya, a Congolese human rights defender tortured to death in Congo on 2 June 2010; endorses the call of the UN, EU, US and others for an impartial, credible and transparent judicial investigation conforming to international standards; recognises Floribert Chebeya's contribution to fighting for the respect of human rights and the rule of law in Congo as attested by the Reebok Award for human rights; notes with concern the statement of the clergy of the diocese of Butembo-Beni; condemns the recent killing of Armand Tungulu and the continued detention of dozens of journalists, religious leaders, rights and political activists in the Makala Prison on what Save the Congo considers politically-motivated and trumped up charges to silence dissent of State authorities and activities; commends the courage and resilience of Congolese journalists and rights activists who continue to tackle sensitive political and human rights issues despite the harassment and abuses by security forces; calls on the UK Government to exclude from the UK and freeze assets of those alleged to be responsible for the arbitrary arrest, torture, and assassinations of journalists and rights and political activists; and further calls on the Congolese President Joseph Kabila to intervene in these grave cases of violation of human rights.","date":"2011-07-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43035","proposer":"24852","edm":"1966","session":"2010-12","title":"Birthday Of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi And Human Rights In Burma","text":"That this House recognises Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 66th birthday and Burma Women's Day, celebrated on 19 June 2011; welcomes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Reith lectures on the theme of securing freedom, to be broadcast on 28 June and 5 July 2011 on BBC Radio 4; is concerned that despite the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest on 13 November 2010 the human rights situation in Burma has not improved; notes that more than 2,000 political prisoners remain in detention; is gravely concerned by the Burma Campaign UK reports that the breaking of the ceasefire between the Burmese regime and the Shan State Army has resulted in violence including against civilians in the area; and urges the Government to call for a nationwide ceasefire, to support humanitarian efforts to provide assistance in these areas and to call for the release of political prisoners in Burma.","date":"2011-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"43022","proposer":"10383","edm":"1953","session":"2010-12","title":"Situation Of The Nuba People","text":"That this House expresses its deep concern at the attacks by Sudanese armed forces and alliedmilitias moving heavy artillery and aerial bombardment indiscriminately to destroy towns and villages in the Nuba mountains, causing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people who are now living in appalling conditions without food, water and shelter; and urges the Government to act urgently to mobilise the international community to exert pressure on the Sudanese government to halt the bombardment and the fighting and killing of civilians, and to allow access to international agencies to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population and to assist the displaced Nuba people to return to their homes and villages.","date":"2011-06-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42912","proposer":"10682","edm":"1846","session":"2010-12","title":"Slavery And Human Trafficking","text":"That this House commemorates the first meeting of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, which took place on 22 May 1787; notes the invaluable work of members of the Society, in particular Thomas Clarkson, who were instrumental in raising the public's awareness of the inhumane practice of slavery; recognises the extraordinary work of the Society in campaigning to end the slave trade within the British Empire, which culminated in the Slave Trade Act 1807; further notes with regret that over two centuries since the Act was passed, at least 12 million people around the world remain enslaved today according to the United Nations' estimate; further notes that sexual exploitation and forced prostitution, bonded labour and domestic servitude are key features of contemporary slavery; further recognises that human trafficking is the modern version of the slave trade; and calls on the Government to use every tool at its disposal to fight the root causes of slavery and to prosecute those who participate in enslaving or trafficking vulnerable individuals into the UK.","date":"2011-05-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42915","proposer":"10133","edm":"1849","session":"2010-12","title":"Detention Of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei","text":"That this House is deeply concerned by recent reports of the detention of Ai Weiwei; notes with serious concern the detention of lawyers, artists, writers and government critics who are missingand possibly detained by the Chinese authorities in recent months; and calls on the Government to lead the international community in redoubling its efforts to ensure that China ends its human rights abuses.","date":"2011-05-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42903","proposer":"11963","edm":"1837","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Bahrain","text":"That this House strongly condemns the continuing repressive measures taken against those involved in pro-democracy protests by the regime of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain; notes with serious concern that around 30 demonstrators are reported to have been killed by Government forces, including at least three children, one of whom, Ahmed Shams, was shot in the head while playing outside his home; is deeply worried at reports of sexual abuse of schoolgirls in the country; is troubled at the death penalty awarded to four demonstrators for the murder of two policemen despite concerns raised by human rights organisations about the fairness of the trial; is further troubled at the continuing imprisonment, sacking from their jobs, and harassment of those suspected of involvement in pro-democracy protests; further condemns the bulldozing of ancient mosques and other places of worship and of cultural importance by the regime's forces; deplores the continuing presence of troops from Saudi Arabia in the country; and calls on the Government to put every diplomatic pressure possible ontheir Bahraini and Saudi counterparts, including an immediate suspension of the sale of arms to both countries, to end their repressive measures and move towards giving the people in Bahrain a greater say in their own affairs.","date":"2011-05-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42863","proposer":"24943","edm":"1800","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Malaysia","text":"That this House notes with concern that Mr Charles Hector Fernandez, a Malaysian human rights lawyer, faces defamation charges in Malaysia for having detailed labour rights violations of 31 Burmese migrant workers at a Japanese firm based in Malaysia on his blog; further notes that Mr Hector Fernandez had raised his allegations with the firm prior to publishing them to his blog, in order that they might correct misinformation, without response; further notes that on 11 April 2011 Mr Hector Fernandez was restricted from all further communication through his blog and Twitter; expresses deep concern at the lack of adequate labour protections for migrant workers in Malaysia and condemns discriminatory treatment of Burmese migrants in particular; further notes the critical role of human rights defenders in upholding the labour rights of migrant workers, who often suffer rights violations and deprivations; expresses deep concern at the threat to free speech in Malaysia this trial poses; calls on the Government to ensure its representatives in Malaysia are present during the hearing and trial of Mr Hector Fernandez on 13 May 2011 and 28 and 29 June 2011 respectively; and furthercalls on the Government to make strong representations in this regard, in particular calling on the Malaysian Government to ensure that the principles enshrined in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders are upheld.","date":"2011-05-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42819","proposer":"24831","edm":"1762","session":"2010-12","title":"Civil Litigation Costs Reform","text":"That this House expresses concern that the Government's proposals for reform to the costs regime for civil litigation will have particularly devastating consequences for human rights claims against multinational corporations (MNCs); notes that the costs of taking such cases often significantly exceeds the amount of compensation awarded; believes that, far from perpetuating a litigation culture, the no win no fee model enables a more level playing field between claimants and MNCs and that claimants' lawyers shoulder a significant financial burden throughout the duration of each case as well as the risk of losing all the costs incurred if the case is unsuccessful; calls on the Government to re-think the abolition of success fees so that MNCs will continue to have to pay a success fee in the event that a case against them is successful; supports the introduction of contingency fees so that claimants will not be forced to pay for costs out of their compensation; and further calls for the definition of proportionality used to include specific reference to international victims of MNCs' activities.","date":"2011-04-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42716","proposer":"10063","edm":"1662","session":"2010-12","title":"Universal Jurisdiction","text":"That this House believes that universal jurisdiction for human rights abuses is essential as part of the cause of bringing to justice those who commit crimes against humanity; and welcomes the Director of Public Prosecution's statement thatwhen there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest, there should be a prosecution and that the Crown Prosecution Service would prosecute andwill monitor the effectiveness of any new arrangements for pursuing universal jurisdiction cases to ensure they provide a swift and effective means of bringing those responsible for crimes such as war crimes, genocide, torture and hostage-taking to justice.","date":"2011-03-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42458","proposer":"11420","edm":"1429","session":"2010-12","title":"Inquiry Into Secret Prisoners","text":"That this House is concerned as to the accountability of processes that lead to citizens of the United Kingdom having their liberty constrained in secret; wishes to obtain information as to the details of what events led to these conclusions; and therefore appoints a Committee to review cases of secret imprisonment, that the Committee must not in any way prejudice any police inquiry or potential criminal proceedings, that the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records, to report from time to time, to sit not-withstanding any adjournment of the House and that the Committee consists of the following four members: John Hemming, Karl McCartney, Tom Brake and Steve Baker.","date":"2011-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42368","proposer":"24784","edm":"1349","session":"2010-12","title":"Treatment Of Prisoners By The Palestinian Authority","text":"That this House expresses grave alarm over recent reports of the torture of prisoners under the custody of the Palestinian Authority; notes that the Arab Organization for Human Rights reported that from 2008 to 2009 six detainees were tortured to death; recognises that citizens of the Palestinian Authority are often subject to indiscriminate arrest and torture with no access to legal counsel; urges the Government to seek from the Palestinian authorities guarantees that the basic human rights of detainees shall be respected; and joins in the condemnation of the use of torture which is contrary to international law.","date":"2011-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42301","proposer":"24928","edm":"1284","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights And The Cotton Production Industry In Uzbekistan","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government and associated public bodies may be inadvertently supporting human rights abuses in the cotton production industry in Uzbekistan through the procurement of cotton products for military, emergency and national health services; notes that schools in Uzbekistan are closed as hundreds of thousands of children are forced to pick cotton; further notes that children, with inadequate clothing, food and water, undertake arduous physical labour to reach assigned daily picking quotas; is further concerned that child labour is state-sponsored; and calls on the Government to respond to the voluntary bans of Uzbek cotton by some of the world's largest retailers, using its influence to support an end to forced child labour in Uzbekistan.","date":"2011-01-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42274","proposer":"11963","edm":"1259","session":"2010-12","title":"Women's Rights In Sudan","text":"That this House strongly condemns the abhorrent flogging of a woman in Sudan which has been widely circulated on the internet and in the media; expresses deep concern that 44 women and five men protesting at this barbaric act were arrested in Khartoum and that journalists attempting to report this event were obstructed in doing so; notes that these events highlight how the basic civil liberties and human rights enshrined in Sudan's national interim constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are being infringed in Sudan, particularly against women, with 43,000 public order charges against women occurring in Khartoum State alone in 2008; and calls on the Government to use its leverage to require Sudan to fulfil its international obligations and specific clauses regarding free speech and peaceful demonstration under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.","date":"2011-01-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42235","proposer":"10614","edm":"1222","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Trafficking And Operation Golf","text":"That this House notes with concern that theGovernment will not be opting in to the EU Directive on Human Trafficking; further notes that Operation Golf, a joint human trafficking investigation team between the Metropolitan Police and the Romanian National Police came to an end in December 2010; praises the outstanding work of the Operation that targeted one of the largest child trafficking rings in Europe; calls on the Government to consider human trafficking as an international crime that requires an international response founded on partnership working across EU countries; and urges the Government to encourage more joint EU investigations such as that of Operation Golf in order to protect those who fall victim to human trafficking and to prosecute those who commit this crime.","date":"2010-12-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42221","proposer":"10133","edm":"1208","session":"2010-12","title":"European Parliament Resolution On Western Sahara","text":"That this House acknowledges the most recent European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Western Sahara, which calls on the European Commission to monitor the human rights situation in Western Sahara and regularly to send missions to that territory.","date":"2010-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42210","proposer":"24928","edm":"1198","session":"2010-12","title":"Sexual Orientation Reference In Un Resolution On Execution","text":"That this House notes with grave concern the vote of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly to remove a reference to sexual orientation froma resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; believes that this constitutes the removal of the recognition of a particular vulnerability of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world where 76 countries criminalise homosexuality and five consider it a capital crime; and calls on the Government to condemn this decision and work with other governments to overturn this vote.","date":"2010-12-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42188","proposer":"24852","edm":"1176","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights Day 2010 (No. 2)","text":"That this House recognises Human Rights Day on 10 December 2010; notes the year's theme of human rights defenders who act to end discrimination; acknowledges the commitment and sacrifice of campaigners around the world who seek to defend and promote human rights and combat discrimination; celebrates the past successes of defenders and campaigners, yet warns against complacency in the face of ongoing human rights violations and discrimination; and calls on the Government to continue to uphold,monitor and promote human rights on 10 December 2010 and beyond.","date":"2010-12-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42183","proposer":"10685","edm":"1171","session":"2010-12","title":"Uganda And The Lord's Resistance Army","text":"That this House deplores the atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Sudan, which include the systematic rape and mutilation of civilians and the kidnapping and abduction of thousands of children and young people; condemns the failure of the Ugandan government and the international community to bring Joseph Kony and the LRA leadership to justice; believes that this failure constitutes a humanitarian disaster which destabilises the region; recognises recent legislation on the LRA passed through the United States Congress in the week of 7 December 2010; urges the Government to make similar commitments; and calls on the Government to support the demobilisation of LRA members and act on the UK's duty as a State Party of the International Criminal Court(ICC)to help arrest Joseph Kony and those members of the LRA subject to ICC warrants.","date":"2010-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42159","proposer":"10543","edm":"1151","session":"2010-12","title":"Death Sentence Of Asiya Bibi","text":"That this House is deeply concerned that Asiya Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman, has been sentenced to death in Pakistan under the blasphemy laws; notes that she is the first woman to be sentenced to death under these laws; further notes that an appeal is pending; and calls on the Government and the international community to urgently lobby the government of Pakistan and to do everything it can to prevent such a barbaric act.","date":"2010-12-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42148","proposer":"24738","edm":"1140","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In The Gambia","text":"That this House notes with concern continuing reports of human rights abuses in the Gambia; further notes that according to an independent report by Amnesty International the alleged abuses include arbitrary arrest, torture, incommunicado detention, unfair trials, rape, disappearance and extra-judicial executions; reaffirms its support for the recognition of fundamental human rights across the world; applauds members of the Gambian Human Rights Campaign in Scotland for continuing to raise awareness of this tremendously important issue; expresses its solidarity with the people of the Gambia in light of the reported human rights abuses being committed in their country; and calls on the coalition Government to do everything it can to place international pressure on the Gambian government in support of fundamental human rights.","date":"2010-12-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42093","proposer":"24910","edm":"1093","session":"2010-12","title":"Guantanamo Bay","text":"That this House notes with regret that President Obama's pledge to close the US Military Detention Centre at Guantnamo Bay by January 2010 is almost one year overdue and little closer to realisation; welcomes gestures by other European States to accommodate and receive innocent prisoners who have been cleared for release to help close the facility; notes with dismay that on 11 January 2011 the detention facility will have been open for nine years and that British resident Shaker Aamer has now been held there without charge or trial for almost the same length of time; urges the Government to step up its action to secure his release without further delay; and further notes the case of Ahmed Belbacha, previously resident in the UK and facing the imminent threat of forced return to his native Algeria where there are fears he will face abuse of his human rights; applauds the lead taken by countries such as Ireland, France, Spain, Germany and Bulgaria, who have accepted prisoners cleared for release from Guantnamo Bay by the US authorities on humanitarian grounds but who cannot return to their country of origin; and urges the Government to take similar measures to accept a number of such cleared prisoners.","date":"2010-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42076","proposer":"24784","edm":"1085","session":"2010-12","title":"Detainees In Guantanamo Bay","text":"That this House is concerned about financial pay-outs, potentially of millions of pounds, to 16 terror suspects who were Guantanamo Bay detainees; notes for the record that many of the detainees have now admitted that they trained in terrorist camps in Afghanistan, with the intention of planning bomb plots, or other actions hostile to the UK; and is deeply concerned that the scale of the financial pay-outs is likely to dwarf any compensation paid to UK soldiers wounded in battle.","date":"2010-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42052","proposer":"24852","edm":"1062","session":"2010-12","title":"Broadcast Of Statements Of Prisoners In Iran","text":"That this House notes with concern the recent broadcasts from Iran in which Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, her son Sajjad Qadarzadeh, her lawyer Houtan Kian, and two German citizens, all of whom are currently in detention, appeared to give purported statements in connection with Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's case; further notes that the two German citizens have been charged with espionage in Iran, following their interview with the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani; calls on the Government to continue to remind Iran of its commitments as a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights 1948, and to ask the Iranian government to review Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's case so that the threat of death no longer hangs over her; and furthercalls on the Iranian authorities to ensure fair trials and access to appropriate legal representation.","date":"2010-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42050","proposer":"10348","edm":"1060","session":"2010-12","title":"European Court Of Human Rights Judgement On Voting Rights For Prisoners","text":"That this House is concerned at the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the UK's decision to withdraw the right to vote from most convicted prisoners; notes that the position has been made much worse by the indecision of the previous Government with potential liabilities for compensation rising and case law now further restricting the ability of the Government to maintain the ban for most serious crimes; and calls on the Government to lift the restrictions on prisoners voting to the minimal possible extent within the law, even if that decision has to be defended again in Court.","date":"2010-11-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42015","proposer":"11923","edm":"1026","session":"2010-12","title":"Enforced Disappearances During The 1992-1995 War In Bosnia And Herzegovina","text":"That this House expresses concern about the enforced disappearances ofbetween 10,000 and 12,000 people during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995; condemns the continuing impunity for these enforced disappearances and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; praises Amnesty International for its campaign for justice for those affected by these atrocities; and calls on the Government to encourage the authorities to take meaningful steps to bring those responsible for these enforced disappearances to justice.","date":"2010-11-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"42033","proposer":"10133","edm":"1044","session":"2010-12","title":"Western Sahara (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes the seriousness of the human rights situation in the Western Sahara and the need for an urgent international and independent investigation into any violence in the region; acknowledges the need for Minurso to be given a human rights monitoring mandate; further acknowledges the need for the Western Sahara territorial water to be excluded from the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement; and calls on the Government, in its capacity as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to take decisive action toward ensuring a free and fair referendum on self determination for the Saharawi people.","date":"2010-11-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41978","proposer":"24852","edm":"989","session":"2010-12","title":"Elections In Burma And Advance Voting","text":"That this House notes with concern reports of widespread manipulation of advance votes during the recent Burmese elections, boycotted by the National League for Democracy; believes that this is yet another blow to the prospects for democracy in Burma; dismisses this election as no more than a sham to reinforce the ruling regime's power; and urges the Government to make further representations for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,200 other prisoners of conscience currently detained in Burma.","date":"2010-11-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41972","proposer":"24794","edm":"983","session":"2010-12","title":"Abolition Of The Death Penalty","text":"That this House notes that 58 countries retainthe death penalty; reiterates its opposition to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances; welcomes the recent launch of a new Government strategy for the global abolition of the death penalty, which identified the death penalty as a thematic priority of the Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) Human Rights Programme; and further welcomes the reconstitution of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.","date":"2010-11-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41962","proposer":"10133","edm":"973","session":"2010-12","title":"Western Sahara","text":"That this House expresses its horror at the violent dismantling by the Moroccan forces of refugee camps in the Western Sahara; notes the accompanying deaths of three security officials, another potentially lethal stabbingand many injuries; notes that the unrest precedes by hours the resumption of informal UN-sponsored talks in New York between Morocco and the Polisario Front; and calls on the Government to signal that it is not prepared for the stalemate to continue in defiance of UN resolutions and international law, to organise higher-level UK engagement in a resolution of the issue, to monitor human rights violations and to end the exploitation of resources in the Occupied Territory.","date":"2010-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41957","proposer":"10258","edm":"968","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights Situation Of Iraqi Turkmen","text":"That this House is concerned about the human rights situation of the Iraqi Turkmens, the third largest ethnic group in Iraq, who mainly live in the northern provinces, such as Kirkuk; condemns the ethnic cleansing and assimilation policy of Iraqi Turkmens by both Saddam Hussein's government until 2003 andthe Kurds since 2003, who claim the Iraqi Turkmens' lands which are rich with oil, gas sulphur, uranium and phosphorus; notes that the census in Iraq delayed for the third time since 2007 is now due to be held on 5 December 2010; worries that the inclusion of the questions on ethnicity and mother tongue in the census will divide Iraqi people instead of uniting them and might create new outbreaks of violence in this country; further condemns the treatment of the Iraqi Turkmens as the lower class in Iraq in comparison with the Arabs and Kurds; believes all ethnicities in Iraq should possess equal rights; welcomes the work of the Iraqi Turkmen Front to promote the human rights of Iraqi Turkmens such as the right to participate in the forming of the new government and the right to have justice, equality, fairness andan end to the discrimination and violence; and calls on the Prime Minister and the Government to raise the issue of Iraqi Turkmens' human rights with the government of Iraq.","date":"2010-11-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41942","proposer":"11742","edm":"953","session":"2010-12","title":"Prisoners And The Right To Vote","text":"That this House believes that if a crime is serious enough to warrant a term of imprisonment, then the perpetrator must forgo certain civil liberties, including the right to suffrage; and recognises that the right to vote does not aid the rehabilitation of a prisoner and is a privilege that should be exclusively reserved for law-abiding citizens.","date":"2010-11-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41918","proposer":"10754","edm":"931","session":"2010-12","title":"Trafficking And Sexual Exploitation","text":"That this House congratulates the Soroptimist International of Poole for highlighting issues of trafficking for sexual exploitation through the Purple Teardrop Campaign; recognises that over the last year 4,000 people have been trafficked into the UK and forced to work as prostitutes; notes that advertisements for services of a sexual nature increase the demand for trafficking; is concerned that advertising of sex for sale increases greatly when large numbers of tourists gather for sporting events, such as the Olympics; is further concerned that any cuts in police funding should not impact on the ability of police forces to take effective actionagainst trafficking; and urges the Government to take action to reduce demand in the UK for trafficked women.","date":"2010-11-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41910","proposer":"24910","edm":"923","session":"2010-12","title":"Work And Funding Of The Equality And Human Rights Commission","text":"That this House regards as essential the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) statutory remit to promote and monitor human rights and to protect, enforce and promote equality; notes that the EHRC budget has been cut in the past two years from 70 million to 53 million; further notes that additional cuts would render the Commission inadequate to enforce the public sector equality duties and equality law; expresses concern that if regional teams are made redundant the Commission will also have to slash its advice services to the public and its essential community work at a time when many groups will be particularly vulnerable; further notes that outsourcing vital frontline services would end the EHRC's vital link to the public and emerging issues in the community, leaving the Commission isolated and distanced from the real concerns experienced by people in their daily lives; urges the Government to maintain the current funding of 53 million so that 30 years of human rights and equality work in the UK is not undone and the Commission is able to carry out all its good work; and calls on the relevant Minister to meet representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the issue.","date":"2010-10-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41898","proposer":"10327","edm":"911","session":"2010-12","title":"Death Sentence On Tariq Aziz","text":"That this House regards with deep revulsion the decision of the Iraqi regime to carry out a death by hanging sentence on Tariq Aziz; and points out that British servicemen and women did not die or risk their lives in Iraq in order to install a regime that indulges in judicial murder.","date":"2010-10-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41868","proposer":"10614","edm":"887","session":"2010-12","title":"Body Shop Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign","text":"That this House congratulates The Body Shop and ECPAT on their campaign to stop sex trafficking of children and young people; notes with concern that the trafficking of humans is a growing trade that exists in countries across the world; further notes that approximately 360 children are trafficked into and within the UK every year; urges the Government to opt in to the EU directive on Trafficking in Human Beings that would require child victims to receive a special representative in court proceedings when their parents cannot represent them; and calls on the Government to implement policy and legislation to support victims of trafficking in rebuilding their lives.","date":"2010-10-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41845","proposer":"11374","edm":"864","session":"2010-12","title":"United Nations Resolution On Defamation Of Religions","text":"That this House strongly supports every person's right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change religion or belief as stated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of HumanRights, and is deeply concerned that the United Nations resolution on Combating defamation of religions introduced annually at the UN by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference has the effect of severely restricting these foundational freedoms and undermines the right to religious liberty; encourages the ongoing work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on this issue; welcomes the Right to Believe global petition of the Open Doors charity; and urges United Nations member states to reject this resolution.","date":"2010-10-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41768","proposer":"10401","edm":"802","session":"2010-12","title":"Nobel Peace Prize For Liu Xiaobo","text":"That this House welcomes the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Chinese pro-democracy activist, Liu Xiaobo; and calls on the Government to urge the Chinese authorities to release Mr Xiaobo from prison and enter into a dialogue with him and other signatories to the 08 Charter.","date":"2010-10-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41745","proposer":"10614","edm":"779","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Trafficking","text":"That this House notes with concern that the EU Directive on Human Trafficking may not be adopted by the UK Government; further notes that at least 2,600 women have been trafficked into England and Wales according to the Association of Chief Police Officers; calls on the Government to consider human trafficking as an international crime that requires an international response founded on partnership working across the 27 countries in the EU; and urges the Government to consider opting-in to the EU Directive in March in order to protect those who fall victim to human trafficking and to more effectively prosecute those who commit this crime.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41753","proposer":"24852","edm":"787","session":"2010-12","title":"Aung San Suu Kyi And Elections In Burma","text":"That this House acknowledges reports that Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi may be released on the completion of her current term of arrest on 13 November 2010; is concerned that, as this date falls six days after scheduled elections in Burma on 7 November, Ms Suu Kyi may not be permitted to utilise her vote; is further concerned that her National League for Democracy party will play no part in the election, having boycotted it on the grounds of Ms Suu Kyi's and others' continued political imprisonment, her exclusion from political office and party membership and the Burmese junta's new election laws, which ban groups including civil servants and Buddhist monks from joining a political party; firmly believes that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released unconditionally as a matter of urgency; and calls on the Government to condemn strongly the Burmese junta's recent election laws as obstacles to the free and fair conduct on democracy.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41754","proposer":"24852","edm":"788","session":"2010-12","title":"BBC World Service And Human Rights","text":"That this House considers the BBC World Service to be not only a world-class broadcasting network, but also a lifeline for political prisoners and other suppressed persons; strongly believes that any move to cut this service, for example in Burma, will remove vital access to current and impartial information from those such as Aung San Suu Kyi who have no alternative source of unbiased news; further believes that such cancellation would constitute a failure of the Government to promote or support human rights on the international stage; and urges the Government to strongly opposeany reduction in this important service.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41763","proposer":"10133","edm":"797","session":"2010-12","title":"Mapuche People Of Chile","text":"That this House notes the continuing repression of the Mapuche indigenous people of Chile, the recent hunger strike by Mapuche political prisoners since 12 July 2010 andthe demands of the Mapuche people for the demilitarisation of Mapuche lands, an end of the use of the anti-terrorist legislation introduced against the Mapuche people during the Pinochet era and self-determination; and calls on the Government to make strong representations to the Chilean President on the issue, in particular during his forthcoming visit to the UK.","date":"2010-10-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41606","proposer":"10057","edm":"649","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Iran","text":"That this House expresses concern for the fate and well-being of Mohammed Mostafaei, lawyer to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, and his wife Fereshteh Halimi and her brother Farhad Halimi; and asks the Iranian authorities to demonstrate they are free and able to return home.","date":"2010-07-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41567","proposer":"11494","edm":"610","session":"2010-12","title":"Rights Of Tribal And Indigenous Peoples","text":"That this House welcomes the ratification of International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples by the Central African Republic, the first African country to do so; also welcomes the recent ratifications of Spain, Chile, Nicaragua and Nepal, bringing the total number ofratifying countries to 22; notes that the Convention is the only international law recognising and protecting the land rights of indigenous peoples and that the more countries that ratify the Convention, the greater forceit will have; believes that ratifying the Convention is also the best way to protect the world's rainforests, home for many tribal peoples; further notes the UK's earlier failure to ratify the Convention on the grounds that there are no tribal peoples living in the UK; further notes that similar situations did not prevent the Netherlands and Spain from ratifying; and calls on the new Government to ratify the Convention without delay.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41583","proposer":"10521","edm":"626","session":"2010-12","title":"Removal Of People From Homes And Communities","text":"That this House congratulates successive Governments for their strong condemnation of regimes overseas who have embarked on policies aimed at the removal of people from their home communities, sometimes by force known as ethnic cleansing; urges the Government to maintain such a high and principled stand should similar events occur around the world in future; and calls on the Government to ensure that its own policies do not lead to the forced removal of British subjects from their homes and communities through changes to their economic circumstances.","date":"2010-07-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41533","proposer":"24893","edm":"576","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Iran And Sanctions Against Iranian Officials","text":"That this House supports the imposition and enforcement through the United Nations of an international travel ban and personal financial sanctions on the 15 leading Iranian officials named in the Men of violence report published by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and held responsible in that report for carrying out the brutal repression against peaceful protestors and civil society activists detailed on the website of the Iran Human Rights Group; considers that those repressive measures were in direct contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and further supports the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, which backs Iranian human rights activists and defenders of the civil, political, social and economic rights Iran is obliged to uphold as a subscriber to the international framework of human rights treaties and standards.","date":"2010-07-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41507","proposer":"24794","edm":"550","session":"2010-12","title":"Capital Punishment In Trinidad And Tobago","text":"That this House is dismayed by reports that the new government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago plans to recommence capital punishment as a means of dealing with the country's high murder rate; notes with concern that these proposals have already resulted in a headcount to determine the number of convicted murderers who can be executed as soon as possible; further notes that extensive global research has found that there is no correlation between execution and the murder rate; and calls on the Government to make representations and oppose this regressive move in the strongest possible terms.","date":"2010-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41528","proposer":"10133","edm":"571","session":"2010-12","title":"Mordechai Vanunu","text":"That this House notes Amnesty International's recognition of Mordechai Vanunu as a prisoner of conscience and condemns without reserve that he is once again being held in isolation in a small cell with no windows, in a special unit for dangerous prisoners in Ayalon prison, one of the most notorious in Israel, for a civil offence; further notes that these intolerable conditions are a harsh Israeli response to a dispute over where Vanunu should do community service, and are a real threat to his health; and calls on the Government to recognise Vanunu as a prisoner of conscience who should be transferred to a less severe prison without delay, and insist to the Israeli authorities that they stop this vindictive harassment of Vanunu and immediately show more respect for international human rights legislation by allowing Vanunu the right to freedom of expression and association and the opportunity to leave Israel, if he wishes, to live in the country of his choice.","date":"2010-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41501","proposer":"24892","edm":"544","session":"2010-12","title":"Falun Gong","text":"That this House notes the 11th anniversary on 20 July 2010 of the start of the persecution of Falun Gong in China; calls for the release from detention and imprisonment of all Falun Gong practitioners held for peaceful practice of their beliefs; recognises that the Chinese government divides people by class, politics, religion and economic backgrounds; and expresses its concern about this infringement of human rights.","date":"2010-07-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41466","proposer":"11915","edm":"513","session":"2010-12","title":"Guardianship For Child Victims Of Trafficking","text":"That this House believes that child victims of trafficking are some of the most vulnerable children in the UK; notes that while there exists a range of guidance to ensure a higher level of support and protection for child victims of trafficking, there remain substantial gaps in this system of support and these vulnerable children are not able to rely on one responsible adult with parental responsibility to care and support them and take decisions based on their best interests; believes that a system of guardianship would provide child victims of trafficking with someone to prevent them from facing further exploitation, reduce the risk of them going missing and ensure they receive the educational, medical, practical and legal support they need to help rebuild their lives; further notes that a system of guardianship is a requirement of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and is a key recommendation of the UK anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group, made up of nine leading charities, including ECPAT UK and UNICEF UK; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce a system of guardianship for child victims of trafficking.","date":"2010-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41358","proposer":"10120","edm":"417","session":"2010-12","title":"Linda Carty On Death Row In The Us","text":"That this House is deeply concerned about the fate of Linda Carty, the only British woman on death row in the United States; is dismayed that her execution date is likely to be announced soon by state officials in Texas following the rejection by the United States Supreme Court in May 2010 of reviewing her case; recalls that Texan state authorities allegedly neglected to inform British authorities that Ms Carty, who holds a UK dependent territory passport, had been detained, despite their obligations under the Vienna Convention on the Right to Consular Assistance and a bilateral treaty between the UK and the United States; notes that the organisation Reprieve has stated that Ms Carty's conviction in 2002 for the murder of a 25-year-old woman was `catastrophically flawed' and that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has previously complained of ineffective counsel at a court hearing in support of Ms Carty; and calls on the UK Government to raise Ms Carty's case as a matter of urgency with the relevant United States and Texan state authorities, including the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who could grant clemency.","date":"2010-07-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41323","proposer":"24910","edm":"383","session":"2010-12","title":"International Funding For Drug Enforcement And Human Rights","text":"That this House welcomes the report by the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) on the death penalty and international support for drug enforcement policies; notes with alarm that, of the 58 states which retain the death penalty, 27 permit its use to punish drug offences; further notes the huge disparity in the definition of a capital drug offence in domestic legislation of retentionist countries; shares the IHRA's concern that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the European Commission and individual European governments' economic and technical assistance for domestic drug enforcement in countries that retain the death penalty risks promoting human rights abuses; recalls the statements of the UN Human Rights Committee and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions have both stated that executions for drug offences are in violation of international human rights laws; and calls on the Government to review its policies on funding for drug enforcement activities in countries which retain the death penalty.","date":"2010-07-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41258","proposer":"10133","edm":"323","session":"2010-12","title":"Mothers Of The Plaza De Mayo","text":"That this House welcomes the banner displayed by Argentine's national world cup team led by Diego Maradona calling for the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo; remembers the 33,000 people who disappeared during the Dirty War in Argentina between 1976 and 1983; notes that the women, who demonstrated once a week between 1977 and 2006 to demand information on the whereabouts of their missing families and children, faced incredible hostility and danger; expresses surprise at the lack of media coverage of this brave act; and believes that prominent athletes who stand up for human rights should be commended.","date":"2010-06-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41233","proposer":"11323","edm":"299","session":"2010-12","title":"Detention Of Children In Turkey","text":"That this House deplores the Turkish government's policy of detaining children under counter-terrorism laws; notes that around 4,000 Kurdish children are held in prison charged with such offences; expresses its concern that some children and youths face inappropriate sentences for offences such as attending demonstrations; further notes that lawyers defending these cases have condemned the quality of evidence being used to bring such cases to court; understands that many Turkish and international children's and human rights groups are of the opinion that the number of minors affected by Turkey's counter-terrorism legislation is increasing; believes that such prosecutions need to be brought to a halt if Turkey's democratic reforms are to have any substance; and calls for an end to the practise of imprisoning children under counter-terrorism laws in a manner which exacerbates the grievances and sense of injustice felt by Kurds in Turkey and contributes towards prolonging the conflict.","date":"2010-06-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41135","proposer":"10231","edm":"212","session":"2010-12","title":"Project Champion And Surveillance Of The Muslim Community In Birmingham","text":"That this House views with concern the implementation of an initiative, codenamed Project Champion, whose principle function is to monitor extremists that the police and MI5 suspect to be living among Birmingham's Muslim community; commends the recent article which appeared in the Guardian newspaper on 5 June 2010 whose investigations revealed that surveillance cameras have been installed at 81 sites without consultation, after being requested by West Midlands police counterterrorism unit more than two years ago; notes that the current specification includes around 150 automatic number plate reading cameras, 40 of which have been classified as covert and are thought to be concealed in walls and trees by the side of the road; further notes that the initiative is funded by resources channelled through the Terrorism and Allied Matters fund administered by the Association of Chief Police Officers whose brief is explicitly to fight terrorism; is mindful of the fact that Birmingham is the only example, to date, where this technology has been employed to monitor a community; believes that this initiative constitutes a grave infringement of civil liberties; and calls on the Government to launch an immediate consultation with representatives of the local community into the scope and scale of this initiative and to give assurance that the cameras will not be activated until these consultations have taken place and the feelings of the local communities have been made known.","date":"2010-06-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41121","proposer":"11309","edm":"198","session":"2010-12","title":"Trial Of Chiranuch Premchaiporn","text":"That this House notes with concern the case of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the Director of Thai news website Prachatai, who is on trial in Thailand under its Computer Crime Act for not removing third party comments criticising the monarchy from her website quickly enough and who, if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in jail; believes that this action threatens Thailand's reputation for tolerance of free expression and risks creating a climate of fear; further notes with concern that this particular law has led to thousands of websites being blocked in Thailand; opposes web blocking and censorship; and calls on the government of Thailand to review the situation.","date":"2010-06-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41086","proposer":"24784","edm":"108A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Law And Human Rights","text":"leave out from second `that' to end and insert `current universal jurisdiction legislation has allowed those with political agendas to exploit the legal system; notes that the current legislation undermines Britain's reputation as an effective venue for diplomacy; and therefore urges the Government immediately to seek an amendment to UK law - not to stifle meritorious complaints - but to ensure the important role Britain should play in international diplomacy can continue.'.","date":"2010-06-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41028","proposer":"10190","edm":"112","session":"2010-12","title":"Human Rights In Burma","text":"That this House sends its best wishes to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who will spend her 65th birthday in detention on 19 June 2010; calls for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma; rejects the elections planned by Burma's generals later this year which, due to election laws and ongoing repression in Burma, cannot be free and fair; condemns Burma's new constitution which is designed to maintain dictatorship in civilian guise and does not grant rights or protection to Burma's ethnic minorities; notes that all diplomatic efforts to reform the dictatorship's sham roadmap to democracy have failed; recalls that the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly, Secretary General and Human Rights Council have all stated that the solution to the problems in Burma lies in dialogue between the dictatorship, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and ethnic representatives; and calls on the Government to support a United Nations-led effort to pressure the dictatorship to enter into such dialogue.","date":"2010-05-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41033","proposer":"10190","edm":"117","session":"2010-12","title":"Bah\u00c1'\u00cd Leaders In Iran","text":"That this House notes the ongoing trial of Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, seven Bah\u00e1'\u00ed leaders in Iran; observes that as of 14 May 2010 they have entered a third year of incarceration in deplorable conditions in cells without beds or bedding; expresses grave concern at the disregard for due process since their arrest and the absence of any evidence presented against them to date; and calls on the Government to protest to the Iranian government at their ongoing detention and to call for their immediate release.","date":"2010-05-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"41023","proposer":"10133","edm":"108","session":"2010-12","title":"Law And Human Rights","text":"That this House believes that universal jurisdiction for human rights abuses is essential as part of the cause of bringing to justice those who commit crimes against humanity and will oppose any legislation to restrict this power of UK courts.","date":"2010-05-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40850","proposer":"10295","edm":"1197","session":"2009-10","title":"Holy Week And Easter Sunday","text":"That this House recognises the importance of Holy Week and Easter Sunday to the thousands of Christians living in the UK and beyond; welcomes the fact that Christians in the UK are able freely to observe their faith; notes however, with concern, that many Christians across the world face persecution as a result of their Christian faith and believes that this is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to work with others to ensure that all Christians, no matter where they live, can observe their faith without fear or intimidation.","date":"2010-03-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40854","proposer":"11199","edm":"1204","session":"2009-10","title":"Unseen Traffik Stage Production And Human Trafficking","text":"That this House recognises the trauma, pain and suffering that people-trafficking brings to the lives of thousands of innocent human beings every year; believes that people should not be considered as commodities or as objects to trade in and wholeheartedly condemns this barbaric and cruel practice; further believes that every possible effort should be made by governments around the world to prevent people trafficking; congratulates Susanne Midgley and Caroline Shepherd for their important work in promoting awareness of this issue and for organising a fundraising performance of Stop The Traffik at the Gidea Park Methodist Church in Romford in aid of Oasis India; thanks all of the people who attended the production of Unseen Traffik, a daring stage production exploring the brutal reality of modern-day slavery; and commends those who are working to put an end to this insult to humanity, most especially the hon. Member for Totnes.","date":"2010-03-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40770","proposer":"11963","edm":"1128","session":"2009-10","title":"Human Trafficking And The Sex Trade","text":"That this House condemns human trafficking; notes with dismay that human trafficking for the sex trade is a particularly brutal part of this criminal activity; further notes that this modern form of slavery includes domestic servitude, bonded labour and forced marriage; welcomes the attempts that have been made to crack down on trafficking and the Government's support for Council of Europe conventions on this issue; and calls for continued vigorous Government action to raise awareness and stamp out this appalling trade in human lives.","date":"2010-03-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40759","proposer":"11784","edm":"1117","session":"2009-10","title":"Treatment Of Palestinian Children In Israeli Prisons","text":"That this House is concerned by recent reports of the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons; notes that 343 Palestinian children were being held in Israeli prisons at the end of February 2010; further notes that Israel routinely prosecutes children as young as 12; also notes the recent report by Defence for Children International which argues that ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children is widespread, systemic and institutionalised; and calls on the Government to recognise the seriousness of this and to exert pressure on the Israeli authorities to uphold the human rights of Palestinian children.","date":"2010-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40763","proposer":"11971","edm":"1121","session":"2009-10","title":"Violence Against Women And Girls Overseas","text":"That this House welcomes the creation of a Ministerial role to co-ordinate the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence to tackle violence against women overseas; congratulates Action Aid and the Gender and Development Network on the success of its campaign for the creation of such a role; recognises that violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights and a serious barrier to economic and social development; and calls on all parties to support the continuation of this Ministerial role and ensure it is adequately resourced to take forward this important work.","date":"2010-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40724","proposer":"10208","edm":"1091","session":"2009-10","title":"Balibo Conspiracy Film","text":"That this House congratulates Human Rights Watch on its decision to showcase an award winning film, The Balibo Conspiracy, in London on 17 March 2010; notes that the film concerns the deaths of five journalists killed at Balibo in East Timor in October 1975, including British citizens Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie, and of a sixth journalist, Roger East, killed in East Timor in December 1975; and invites the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to encourage the Indonesian government to lift its ban on that film and further to encourage the Indonesian government to co-operate with the investigation by the Australian Federal Police into the deaths of the five journalists killed at Balibo.","date":"2010-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40725","proposer":"10133","edm":"1092","session":"2009-10","title":"Malaysia And Anwar Ibrahim","text":"That this House recognises Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's contribution to promoting democracy in Malaysia and peace and understanding between the Muslim world in the West; is deeply concerned at the charges laid against Anwar Ibrahim and that his current trial flouts international standards of fairness and adherence to the rule of law; notes that this trial resembles the one he faced in 1998 in which the conduct of the judiciary was condemned by Malaysians and by the international community; further notes the renewed exhortations by international human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and prominent leaders from Commonwealth nations including the Right honourable Paul Martin of Canada and the Right honourable Michael Danby and 59 other elected representatives of Australia for the Malaysian government to drop the charges against Anwar Ibrahim; and calls on the Malaysian authorities to bring an end to the harassment and persecution of members of the political opposition.","date":"2010-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40649","proposer":"10120","edm":"1023","session":"2009-10","title":"Welfare Of Haytham Al-Maleh In Syria","text":"That this House is extremely concerned by reports that Amnesty prisoner-of-conscience Haytham Al-Maleh has become seriously ill since being denied appropriate medication for his chronic medical conditions; believes that Mr Al-Maleh, a prominent lawyer, human rights activist and former President of the Syrian Human Rights Society, has again been imprisoned because of his defence of human rights in Syria; recalls his defence of Mr Mamoun Al-Homsi and Mr Riad Seef, both former Syrian members of parliament, whose cases were taken up by the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians; and asks the international community to urge the Syrian government to release Mr Al-Maleh or at least to allow him to receive the medical treatment he requires as a matter of urgency and to significantly improve his conditions of detention.","date":"2010-03-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40575","proposer":"10465","edm":"955","session":"2009-10","title":"Thailand And The Return Of Ethnic Karen Refugees To Burma","text":"That this House condemns the actions of the government of Thailand, which is threatening to deport 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma; is appalled that on 5 February 2010 thirteen refugees were forced to return against their will to an area which is infested with landmines, and occupied by a military force, allied to the dictatorship in Burma, which is likely to use the villagers as slave labour and children as child soldiers; expresses deep concern that the government of Thailand has made false claims to the international community that the refugees want to return; calls on the government of Thailand to turn its temporary halt of the deportations into a permanent one, and to end the harassment and intimidation of the refugees; and calls on the British Government to make the strongest possible representations to Thailand on this matter, and to examine whether the actions of the government of Thailand in forcing refugees to return could break international humanitarian and human rights law.","date":"2010-02-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40544","proposer":"10001","edm":"932","session":"2009-10","title":"Inquiry Into Extraordinary Rendition","text":"That this House recognises the ruling by the Court of Appeal to publish seven previously omitted paragraphs from the judgment of 21 August 2008 relating to the case of Mr Binyam Mohamed; is concerned about revelations of torture and British complicity in extraordinary rendition; and, in light of the recent High Court ruling in the case of Mr Binyam Mohamed, calls for a full judicial inquiry into all concerns raised in recent years regarding extraordinary rendition and British involvement in torture.","date":"2010-02-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40410","proposer":"11784","edm":"810","session":"2009-10","title":"Human Rights In Cameroon","text":"That this House condemns the continued abuse of political activists by the Cameroonian government, particularly of the SCNC political party; notes Cameroon's poor human rights record, and its continued abuses including denial of the rights to freedom of expression, association, press, and assembly; further notes the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advice to avoid political demonstrations and large public gatherings in Cameroon; also notes abuses against the SCNC documented by Amnesty International, which include arbitrary arrest, unlawful detentions and inhuman or degrading treatment; acknowledges the clear risks posed to members of the SCNC by the Cameroonian government; and calls on the Government to offer help to members of the SCNC who are judged to be in danger due to these human rights abuses.","date":"2010-02-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40302","proposer":"11221","edm":"711","session":"2009-10","title":"Imported Natural Stone","text":"That this House notes that imports of natural sandstone seem to be rising, with 120,000 tonnes being brought into the UK in 2005; further notes that much of the stone comes from India; is concerned that the quarrying and production process in that country often involves the use of child labour, including children as young as six; is further concerned that health and safety protection is frequently absent with resulting widespread injuries and deaths and that many of the child workers are bonded and are therefore unable to leave their jobs; is alarmed that Anti-Slavery International has estimated that up to a million children work in India's stone quarries; and calls on consumers to buy imported sandstone from independently-verified sources such as those approved by the Ethical Trading Initiative.","date":"2010-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40304","proposer":"10022","edm":"713","session":"2009-10","title":"Seventh Anniversary Of Death Sentence For Tenzin Delek","text":"That this House notes that 26 January 2010 marks the seventh anniversary of the failed appeal by Tibetan Buddhist Lama, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, against the death sentence he received in December 2002 following a closed-door trial that failed to meet even the most minimal international legal standards; further notes Ministers' public statements voicing serious concerns that international fair trial standards were not met in recent trials in China and Tibet; calls on the Government to do more than voice concerns at this ongoing lack of observance by China's internationally accepted due legal processes and an individual's right to a fair trial; urges the Government to set out and implement policies that encourage the Chinese government to bring China's legal system in line with those that are internationally accepted and draw up benchmarks for tangible progress; further calls on the Government to appeal for clemency or a re-trial for Tenzin Delek, whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2005 but who is now suffering grave ill-health with high blood pressure, heart and leg problems; and further notes that over the summer of 2009, 40,000 Tibetans in Tenzin Delek's community in Lithang, Tibet, signed petitions asking for justice and a re-trial for Tenzin Delek.","date":"2010-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40206","proposer":"10785","edm":"622","session":"2009-10","title":"Moratorium On Mongolian Death Penalty","text":"That this House welcomes the recent announcement by Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj of a moratorium on the death penalty and welcomes his call for the punishment to be abolished within Mongolia; notes that executions within Mongolia are highly secretive with exact execution numbers and the date of the last execution unknown; further notes that Mongolia has already implemented several moratoria on the death penalty which have later been overturned and that the President faces significant opposition to his calls in the Mongolian Parliament; further notes that Asia executes more individuals than the rest of the world combined, with Amnesty International estimating that at least 1,838 individuals were executed in 11 Asian countries in 2008; and calls on the Government to support President Tsakhia Elbegdorj's call for abolition so that Mongolia can set an example to its Asian neighbours that the death penalty has no place in modern justice systems.","date":"2010-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40218","proposer":"11522","edm":"634","session":"2009-10","title":"Changes To Legislation On Universal Jurisdiction","text":"That this House opposes any proposed changes to UK legislation on universal jurisdiction that would compromise the UK's obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention to seek out and prosecute persons suspected of war crimes wherever and whoever they are, whatever their status, rank or influence, against whom good prima facie evidence has been laid.","date":"2010-01-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40153","proposer":"10133","edm":"574","session":"2009-10","title":"Mordechai Vanunu","text":"That this House condemns the latest incident in the continuing harassment of Mordechai Vanunu when he was detained in December 2009 and placed under house arrest for being with his girlfriend; notes that he completed an 18 year sentence for revealing Israel's secret development of nuclear arsenal over five years ago; that, despite the passage of 23 years since he was brutally kidnapped by Israeli agents for the publication of that information by The Sunday Times, is alarmed that Israel insists that Vanunu has sensitive information that could harm its security; and calls on the Government to recognise these facts and to insist that Israel respects Vanunu's human rights by withdrawing its repressive restrictions and that allowing him the freedom to leave Israel if he so wishes.","date":"2010-01-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40125","proposer":"10363","edm":"547","session":"2009-10","title":"Release Of Shaker Aamer, Last British Resident In Guant\u00c1namo","text":"That this House welcomes President Obama's commitment to close Guant\u00e1namo and his appeal to European countries to take in released detainees; supports the representations by the UK Government for the release and return of Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held in Guant\u00e1namo; notes that Mr Aamer has been detained for nearly eight years without trial or charge; further notes that he was a UK resident before his detention and that his wife and children have always lived in this country; and urges the Government to make renewed representations to the US to secure his release and return to this country.","date":"2010-01-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40127","proposer":"10465","edm":"549","session":"2009-10","title":"Continuing Detention Of Bah\u00c1'\u00cd Leaders In Iran","text":"That this House notes the continuing apparent intention of the Iranian authorities to place seven leaders of the Bah\u00e1'\u00ed community on trial; further notes the appearance in various Iranian government-affiliated news agencies wrongly alleging that the Bah\u00e1'\u00eds faith is among the groups formenting civil unrest in Iran; fears this unfounded claim may nevertheless be used as a reason to take measures against these seven individuals; further notes reports of arrests and intimidation of other members of the Bah\u00e1'\u00ed community in Iran; and calls on the UK Government to approach the Iranian authorities to request the cancellation of the trial, and to seek assurances that any trial of Bah\u00e1'\u00eds is always conducted in public, following the basic tenets of justice and fair trial.","date":"2010-01-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40042","proposer":"10295","edm":"470","session":"2009-10","title":"Police And Killings In Brazil","text":"That this House notes with concern the Human Rights Watch report that attributes up to 11,000 deaths to the hands of Brazilian police since 2003; urges the Brazilian federal government to challenge state governments about the figures and to question the power the police have to investigate internally all homicides involving law enforcement authorities; and calls on the Government to support international human rights groups in raising awareness of the matter and thereby putting pressure on the Brazilian authorities to address the factors involved.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40074","proposer":"10133","edm":"502","session":"2009-10","title":"Law And Human Rights","text":"That this House believes that universal jurisdiction for human rights abuses is essential as part of the cause of bringing to justice those who commit crimes against humanity and will oppose any legislation to restrict this power of UK courts.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40001","proposer":"11784","edm":"433","session":"2009-10","title":"Unidentified Graves In Indian-Held Kashmir","text":"That this House notes with concern a recent report by the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice documenting the discovery of 2,943 bodies in unmarked and mass graves in Indian-held Kashmir; further notes reports that over 50,000 people have died since 1989 as Kashmiri groups fight for independence; and supports calls for an investigation by an independent body like the International Criminal Court or the United Nations Committee on Human Rights into the circumstances surrounding these deaths.","date":"2009-12-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"40003","proposer":"10295","edm":"435","session":"2009-10","title":"Suppression Of Christianity","text":"That this House notes with concern the large number of Christians who are suppressed from practising their beliefs in countries such as China and India; recognises that as Christmas approaches, Christians around the world wish to celebrate the birth of Christ and promote the virtues of peace and love; expresses grave concern that basic human rights are suppressed; and calls on the Government to promote the virtues of religious tolerance so that Christians can not only celebrate Christmas but also practise their faith all year round.","date":"2009-12-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39953","proposer":"10190","edm":"391","session":"2009-10","title":"International Human Rights Day","text":"That this House welcomes International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2009; condemns those countries where human rights abuses occur on a daily and systematic basis; notes that on Monday Iranian authorities ordered foreign news outlets not to cover the protests that came on National Student Day, which were reportedly dispersed with the use of tear gas and militia brutality; further notes that in Burma, the case of Aung San Suu Kyi highlights the cruel suppression of democracy and perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the military junta; and calls on international agencies, including the UN and EU, and each sovereign state, to refocus their attention on human rights violations wherever they occur throughout the world.","date":"2009-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39958","proposer":"11323","edm":"396","session":"2009-10","title":"Turkey's Breach Of Human Rights For Ocalan","text":"That this House acknowledges the inhumane conditions of imprisonment endured by Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan under solitary confinement since 1999 on the Imrali island prison in the Mamara sea, Turkey; regrets Ocalan's deleterious mental and physical condition suffered as a result of his inhumane conditions of imprisonment since that time; notes that these conditions have included allegations in 1997 of heavy metal poisoning and that the existence of exceptionally high levels of heavy metals in Ocalan's blood was evidenced by laboratory reports and confirmed by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT); supports the findings of the CPT that Ocalan's conditions of imprisonment contravene international law on the rights of the prisoner, and the CPT's recommendations that Ocalan be moved; further regrets that in moving Ocalan to a new prison, Turkey has provided conditions of imprisonment significantly worse than before; further notes the new conditions of imprisonment including the fact that the cell is half the size of that in which he was previously held and lacks air circulation, thus causing Ocalan severe breathing difficulties and loss of bodily functions; further notes reports from Ocalan and his lawyers that the current conditions are seriously deleterious to his health and life; urges the UK Government to request the CPT urgently to conduct a visit and inspection; and further urges the UK Government to put the utmost diplomatic pressure on Turkey to provide humane conditions of imprisonment to Ocalan.","date":"2009-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39905","proposer":"10282","edm":"345","session":"2009-10","title":"Human Rights In Tibet And China","text":"That this House notes the Foreign Affairs Select Committee's recent statement that there is little evidence that the Government's policy of constructive engagement is leading to any significant human rights improvements in Tibet and China; further notes that the change made in 2008 by the Government to view Tibet henceforth as part of China was made without parliamentary oversight and has failed to lead to the human rights gains in return that were predicted by the Foreign Secretary at the time; recognises that the Government's weakening commitment to protect human rights in Tibet in recent years has coincided with a dramatic worsening of the human rights situation in Tibet; and calls on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to conduct a formal inquiry into the effectiveness of strategies being employed by the Government within its overall policy towards China, to protect and promote the human rights of the Tibetan and Chinese people.","date":"2009-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39915","proposer":"10754","edm":"355","session":"2009-10","title":"20th Anniversary Of The Un Convention On The Rights Of The Child","text":"That this House welcomes the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); recognises the achievements made through the UNCRC over the last 20 years in promoting and protecting the rights of children around the world; notes that significant progress has been made in the UK, but agrees with the Government's assessment that `there is more to be done' in order to see children reach their fullest potential; further welcomes the Government's Working Together, Achieving More action plan to address the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; calls for the rights of children to be protected whatever their circumstances and setting, including children in the criminal justice system, children facing discrimination, refugee and asylum-seeking children and children in the media; and further calls on the Government to fulfil its commitments under the UNCRC in order to achieve its ambition to make the UK the best place for all children and young people to live.","date":"2009-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39897","proposer":"11589","edm":"337","session":"2009-10","title":"Un Resolution On Treatment Of Minorities In Iran","text":"That this House notes with grave concern the continuing human rights violations against ethnic and religious minorities in Iran; strongly condemns the discrimination against Bah\u00e1'is, Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims in Iran; further condemns the persistent harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, political opponents, ethnic and religious minorities and other groups by the Islamic authorities; welcomes and supports the resolution passed by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on 20 November 2009 strongly condemning the continuing abuse of the fundamental human rights of these groups and Iran's failure to comply with international standards in the administration of justice; and urges the Government to further support this Resolution, to work with international partners and use every influence to ensure that the rights of Bah\u00e1'is and all the other minority groups are upheld by the Iranian authorities.","date":"2009-12-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39859","proposer":"10177","edm":"299","session":"2009-10","title":"Wave Of Abuse In Western Sahara","text":"That this House condemns the escalating wave of human rights violations against Saharawi human rights activists in October and November 2009 including the detention of seven prominent Saharawi prisoners of conscience; expresses concern over the intention of the Moroccan authorities to try these prisoners in a military court where they may face the death penalty; is dismayed over the expulsion of prominent Saharawi human rights activist and winner of the 2009 Civil Courage Award Aminatou Haider from Western Sahara; notes with concern the actions of the Moroccan authorities to prevent Saharawi human rights activists from travelling abroad; expresses regret over the arrests of several Saharawi human rights defenders; opposes the regressive and systemic trend of human rights violations against those who peacefully resist the occupation of Western Sahara; and calls on the Government to condemn these actions and urge the United Nations to implement human rights monitoring in the region.","date":"2009-12-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39814","proposer":"10203","edm":"271","session":"2009-10","title":"Adnan Hajizade And Emin Milli","text":"That this House condemns the imprisonment of young Azerbaijani bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, and agrees with Amnesty International and other human rights groups, that their detention and trial were politically motivated and aimed at stifling freedom of speech in Azerbaijan; joins Amnesty International in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Adnan and Emin; and appeals to President Ilham Aliev to fulfil Azerbaijan's commitments, as a member of the Council of Europe and OSCE to respect human rights and freedom of speech, and end the persecution of opposition activists and independent media.","date":"2009-11-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39781","proposer":"10785","edm":"238","session":"2009-10","title":"Human Rights In Burma","text":"That this House expresses severe concern at the escalating systematic human rights abuses being perpetrated against the people of Burma by the Junta military dictatorship; notes that there is well documented evidence over many years of widespread torture, forced displacement, sexual violence, extra-judicial killings and forced labour with civilians being deliberately targeted; further notes that these actions constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes; and calls on the Government to urge the United Nations to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these crimes in addition to supporting the International Labour Organisation's calls to refer the use of forced labour to the International Court of Justice.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39790","proposer":"11245","edm":"247","session":"2009-10","title":"Independent Inquiry Into The Armenian Genocide","text":"That this House supports Turkey's application for membership of the EU; but is concerned about the welfare of thousands of Crypto-Armenians in Turkey; notes the substance of Geoffrey Robertson QC's legal opinion on the Armenian Genocide; calls for an independent inquiry into the revelations of that opinion; and urges the Government to acknowledge that the events which befell the Armenians and Assyrians of Turkey of 1915 amounted to genocide.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39792","proposer":"11963","edm":"249","session":"2009-10","title":"United Nations Campaign To End Violence Against Women","text":"That this House expresses deep concern that, according to UNIFEM, up to 70 per cent. of women worldwide will experience sexual or physical violence from men in their lifetime; notes that a concerted international effort is required to combat this problem; and welcomes the United Nations Campaign to End Violence Against Women which seeks to achieve the adoption and enforcement of national legislation in line with international human rights standards, the adoption and implementation of multi-sectoral national action plans, the establishment of data collection and analysis systems, the establishment of national and\/or local awareness-raising campaigns and systematic efforts to address sexual violence in conflict situations in all countries by 2015.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39793","proposer":"11963","edm":"250","session":"2009-10","title":"Human Rights In The Philippines","text":"That this House expresses serious concern for the welfare of Jonas Joseph Tronqued Burgos, who has been missing since 28 April 2009; is deeply troubled at reports that Mr Burgos was last seen being bundled into a van by four armed men and a woman outside a restaurant in Quezon City; notes that the plate number of the vehicle concerned, TAB 194, was traced to a vehicle in the custody of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; further notes Mr Burgos has a history of campaigning for peasant rights in the Philippines; fully supports the campaign for his immediate release led by his mother, Dr Edita Burgos; and calls on the Government to lend every assistance possible to the campaign and to press the Philippines Government for a proper investigation into the disappearance of Jonas Burgos and for his immediate release.","date":"2009-11-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39728","proposer":"11923","edm":"188","session":"2009-10","title":"Imprisonment Of Hakamada Iwao","text":"That this House denounces the injustice of the imprisonment of Hakamada Iwao who has been in jail on death row in Japan for 41 years for a crime he did not commit; condemns the fact that for 29 of these years Mr Iwao was in solitary confinement which has led to him suffering from mental illness; highlights that he was convicted in 1968 for the murder of a family of four on the basis of a confession he says was extracted under duress and which he retracted at his trial; notes that of the three judges at Mr Iwao's trial, one has publicly stated that he believes Mr Iwao is innocent; and calls on the Japanese government to end this injustice immediately and give Mr Iwao the fair trial which he deserves.","date":"2009-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39754","proposer":"11971","edm":"214","session":"2009-10","title":"Violence Against Women And The No Recourse To Public Funds Rule","text":"That this House commends the work of Amnesty International, the No Recourse to Public Funds campaign and the End Violence Against Women campaign; acknowledges that the current no recourse to public funds rule has a devastating effect on hundreds of women who are trapped in a cycle of abuse, unable to access basic levels of protection and support due to their immigration status; believes that the Government has a duty to protect the human rights of all women entering the UK regardless of immigration status, as stated in the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); further acknowledges the recent Home Office pilot project, but recognises the need for a permanent solution for all women; and therefore calls on the Government to exempt women fleeing domestic violence from the no recourse to public funds rule, to grant women's refuges the funds they need to offer protection from violence to all women suffering abuse, and to launch an integrated strategy to counter violence against women so as to prevent contradictory policies undermining women's rights.","date":"2009-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39644","proposer":"10056","edm":"107","session":"2009-10","title":"Action Against Terrorism","text":"That this House, while neither tolerating nor condoning the commission of acts of terrorism at home or abroad, emphasises the need for maintaining commitments under the Human Rights Act and the underlying European Convention of Human Rights; welcomes the tone taken by the International Commission of Jurists in its recent report Assessing Damage, Urging Action; specifically commends their analysis that the basic Convention framework with derogations is adequate to maintain security, and that there are real dangers in creep from temporary measures towards permanency, and from the unhelpful concept of a war on terror; calls on the Government to limit actions to measures which are necessary and proportionate; further calls on the Government to avoid acts in breach of the Convention done by proxy, the use of immigration law as a substitute for criminal law, and the abuse of administrative listing processes; and further calls on the Government to take steps to ensure that the actions of intelligence agencies are fully compatible with human rights law and to initiate a process of stocktaking to identify and remedy breaches of human rights principles.","date":"2009-11-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39625","proposer":"10614","edm":"88","session":"2009-10","title":"Guant\u00c1namo Bay","text":"That this House welcomes the efforts being made by President Obama to close Guant\u00e1namo Bay; notes the common legal heritage between Great Britain and the United States especially in regard to the writ of habeas corpus; further notes that the issue of Guant\u00e1namo Bay is before the United States Supreme Court for a fourth time; and supports an effective remedy for those prisoners who have been found by a competent court to be innocent of any wrongdoing, but who continue to be held.","date":"2009-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39518","proposer":"10133","edm":"2256","session":"2008-09","title":"Trade Union Rights In Saudi Arabia","text":"That this House believes it a fundamental human right to be able to form independent trade unions; is concerned that Yahya Al Faifi was an active trade unionist in Saudi Arabia and due to threats made against him left and came to the United Kingdom; and calls on the UK to express its concerns at human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and not to allow any deportations to take place of those who have been active as trade unionists and thus face persecution.","date":"2009-11-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39431","proposer":"10657","edm":"2133A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights In Tibet And China","text":"at end add `and regrets that no debate took place in the House at the time of the Government's change of policy towards Tibet.'.","date":"2009-10-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39395","proposer":"10123","edm":"2150","session":"2008-09","title":"Executions In Lhasa, Tibet, 20 October 2009","text":"That this House is shocked and saddened by the news of the deplorable judicial executions of Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak in Lhasa on 20 October 2009; fully supports the Minister of State's condemnation of these executions and the doubts expressed in his Statement on the lack of due legal processes in these cases; calls on the Government urgently to follow up its concerns about lack of due process; further urges the Government to state clearly what measures it will take to ensure the Chinese government reviews the cases of those who remain under sentence of death for their alleged involvement in last year's unrest; and further calls on the Government to obtain clarification on reports that two further Tibetans were executed at the same time and, if the report is verified, under what legal processes these executions were carried out since there is no information on any other Tibetans having received death sentences without reprieve.","date":"2009-10-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39357","proposer":"10155","edm":"2123","session":"2008-09","title":"Eu-Syria Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement","text":"That this House notes media reports that the EU-Syria Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement is due to be signed on 26 October 2009; further notes that the Association Agreement can be suspended in the event of human rights violations; recalls that Syria is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; is appalled at the ongoing detention of Kamal al-Labwani, artist and campaigner for peaceful democratic reform in Syria; draws attention to the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that concluded his imprisonment by the Syrian authorities is illegal; is very concerned at reports of the disappearance of human rights lawyer Haythem al-Maleh on 17 October 2009; commends European Parliament resolution P7_TA-PROV(2009)0024 which calls for the release of political detainees; is alarmed at the Syrian government's disregard for human rights, including civil and political rights; and calls on the Syrian government to release political detainees, including Kamal al-Labwani, human rights lawyers and Damascus Declaration activists, prior to the signing of the EU-Syria Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement.","date":"2009-10-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39367","proposer":"10282","edm":"2133","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights In Tibet And China","text":"That this House notes the Foreign Affairs select committee's recent statement that there is little evidence that the Government's policy of constructive engagement is leading to any significant human rights improvements in Tibet and China; further notes that the change made in 2008 by the Government to view Tibet henceforth as part of China was made without parliamentary oversight and has failed to lead to the human rights gains in return that were predicted by the Foreign Secretary at the time; recognises that the Government's weakening commitment to protect human rights in Tibet in recent years has coincided with a dramatic worsening of the human rights situation in Tibet; calls on the Foreign Affairs select committee to conduct a formal inquiry into the effectiveness of strategies being employed by the Government within its overall policy towards China, to protect and promote the human rights of the Tibetan and Chinese people.","date":"2009-10-21","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39125","proposer":"10120","edm":"1903","session":"2008-09","title":"Death Of Natalya Estemirova","text":"That this House is shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Chechen human rights activist Natalya Estemirova on 15 July 2009; is very concerned by reports that Ms Estemirova was forced into a vehicle by four men in Grozny, Chechnya, and was then found dead later in the day in neighbouring Ingushetia, with two close-range bullet wounds to her head; notes that Natalya campaigned tirelessly with the organisation Memorial to defend human rights in Chechnya since 2000, for which she received many awards, including the European Parliament Robert Schuman medal in 2005, and worked with UK parliamentarians to raise awareness of the human rights situation in Chechnya; and calls on the Government to raise her case with the authorities in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Russia as a matter of urgency.","date":"2009-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39077","proposer":"10203","edm":"1857","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights In Afghanistan","text":"That this House condemns the deteriorating human rights record of President Karzai; regrets his refusal to pardon a young man sentenced to 20 years in prison for accessing an internet article on women's rights, while pardoning a group of young men guilty of gang-raping a 13 year old girl; notes his support for a new law that legalises marital rape; applauds the suspended Afghan woman MP and human rights' prize winner Malalai Joya who said that the rights of women in Afghanistan now are worse than under the Taliban; and regrets NATO's uncritical support of Karzai's regime.","date":"2009-07-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39080","proposer":"10203","edm":"1860","session":"2008-09","title":"PRESIDENT ALIEV'S VISIT TO BRITAIN","text":"That this House is deeply concerned with the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan; condemns the attacks and imprisonment of youth activists in Azerbaijan on 10 July 2009; calls on the Government to demand their immediate release and an end to prosecution of independent media and opposition activists and to restore BBC Radio broadcasting, shut down by the Aliev government earlier this year; and hopes that the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will robustly defend human rights during President Ilham Aliev's current visit to the UK.","date":"2009-07-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39044","proposer":"10169","edm":"1832","session":"2008-09","title":"Government Response To The Ninth Report Of The Joint Committee On Human Rights, Session 2006-07","text":"That this House notes that the Joint Committee on Human Rights published a report on The Meaning of Public Authority under the Human Rights Act (HC 410) on 28 March 2007; further notes that the report included 47 conclusions and recommendations, principally on the scope of the Human Rights Act and Government guidance on the issue; further notes that the Government is required by convention to respond to select committee reports within two months of publication; expresses concern that the Government has failed to respond to the Joint Committee's report, despite numerous requests to do so in oral evidence, correspondence and recommendations in subsequent reports; further notes that the Government's response is now over 25 months overdue; calls on the Government to respond to the Joint Committee's report forthwith; and urges the Government to include within its response a timetable for publishing its long-awaited consultation document on the scope of the Human Rights Act.","date":"2009-07-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"39023","proposer":"11473","edm":"1814","session":"2008-09","title":"Religious Freedom In China","text":"That this House notes the Chinese government's systematic persecution of those peacefully expressing their beliefs, including detention without trial, torture and judicial execution; further notes, in particular, that July 2009 marks the tenth year of the use of these measures against Falun Gong practitioners; further notes the Vice-President of the European Parliament\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s request to the UN Secretary General to initiate an inquiry into this issue; and calls on the Government to support unequivocally the Vice President\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s call for an inquiry, and to make representations to the UN Secretary General to that effect.","date":"2009-07-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38999","proposer":"10785","edm":"1799","session":"2008-09","title":"Arrest Of Mr Mohammad Mostafaei","text":"That this House notes with serious concern the arrest on 25 June 2009 of Iranian human rights lawyer Mr Mohammad Mostafaei; further notes that Mr Mostafaei is a defence lawyer for minors facing the death penalty in Iran and is currently representing more than 25 Iranian juveniles facing execution; further notes that Iran is one of five nations that continue to execute children contrary to international law and its obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; shares concerns echoed by human rights charities that several known human rights defenders and lawyers have in recent weeks been arrested in Iran and are thought to be at risk of torture and attempted forced confessions; further notes that no charges have yet been brought against Mr Mostafaei; fears that Mr Mostafaei has been arrested for his human rights activities and for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association; calls upon the Iranian authorities to allow Mr Mostafaei immediate access to his family and lawyers; and further calls upon the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to make the strongest possible representations at all international levels regarding Mr Mostafaei's detention.","date":"2009-07-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38976","proposer":"10383","edm":"1776","session":"2008-09","title":"Attacks On Codep In Oaxaca, Mexico","text":"That this House condemns the assassination in the largely indigenous state of Oaxaca, Mexico, of Sergio Martinez Vasquez and the beating almost to death of Agustin Rios Cruz, both members of CODEP, the Committee in Defense of the Rights of the People; notes that this is not the first time human rights advocates have been targeted, including Marcos Garc\u00c3\u00ada Macedas, also of CODEP, who survived an assassination attempt, and US cameraman Brad Will, who was shot dead while filming, both in 2006; further notes that paramilitaries connected with state governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz and multinational development plans for the area have been blamed for the murders; deplores the campaign of intimidation against Jaquelina Lopez Almazan, Samuel Hernandez Morales and other members of CODEP; and urges the British Government to make representations demanding justice and an end to this repression.","date":"2009-06-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38781","proposer":"10356","edm":"1603","session":"2008-09","title":"Political Prisoners In Laos","text":"That this House expresses profound concern about the human rights situation in Laos; notes that political prisoners continue to be held in detention in harsh conditions; condemns the continuing imprisonment after more than nine years of peaceful protestors Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Seng-Aloun Phengphanh and Bouavanh Chanhmanivong; calls for a review of the charges against ethnic Hmong Thao Moua and Pa Fue Khang, imprisoned after a politically-motivated trial in June 2003 for their involvement with European journalists in researching a news story about the plight of the Hmong hiding in the jungles of Laos; further condemns the refusal of the Lao government to allow independent observers, including UN agencies, to monitor the situation of Lao Hmong refugees and asylum seekers returned to Laos from Thailand during the past three years; and further calls on the Government to draw these violations of human rights to the urgent attention of the UN.","date":"2009-06-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38774","proposer":"10001","edm":"1596","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Trafficking","text":"That this House welcomes the entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking; notes that the Convention obliges signatories to `protect victims of trafficking and safeguard their rights'; notes that at present the Government only provides specialised accommodation for 54 victims of trafficking and then that they must be female, over 18 years old, and victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation or domestic work; is concerned that victims of all types of human trafficking need protection and support; is further concerned that the Government continues to remove vulnerable people who have been victims of trafficking from the country; and calls on the Government to widen its range of specialised support for victims of trafficking and to give special consideration to the immigration claims of victims of trafficking.","date":"2009-06-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38766","proposer":"10169","edm":"1588","session":"2008-09","title":"Historic Treatment Of Minorities In Turkey","text":"That this House notes the statement by the Turkish Prime Minister recognising that Turkey's minorities have been ethnically cleansed; calls on the Government also to recognise this fact; suggests that a measure of restitution which could be made by the government of Turkey to demonstrate its good intentions would be the return to the jurisdiction of the respective Patriarchates the 2,000 Armenian, Assyrian and Syriac churches and religious monuments which were expropriated in 1923 by the Turkish State under the law of abandoned properties following the events of the 1915 Genocide; and urges the Government to make representations to Turkey to this effect.","date":"2009-06-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38772","proposer":"10001","edm":"1594","session":"2008-09","title":"Gay Pride Protests In Moscow","text":"That this House is concerned at reports that a gay pride rally in Moscow was violently ended by police officers; notes that the protest had been banned by city authorities on the grounds of preventing `moral degradation'; recognises the right to protest peacefully; further recognises that, whilst homosexuality is no longer illegal in Russia, there are no anti-discrimination or harassment laws to protect homosexual men or women; and calls on the Government to use its membership of the Council of Europe to press for an improvement to gay rights in Russia.","date":"2009-06-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38727","proposer":"10785","edm":"1550","session":"2008-09","title":"Samantha Orobator","text":"That this House is seriously concerned by the incarceration of the pregnant Briton Samantha Orobator, currently detained in deplorable prison conditions in Laos; is concerned for Samantha's health given the poor dietary provisions in Laos prisons; voices its concern that it has not been possible to ascertain how Samantha became pregnant four months after her arrest; notes that Samantha has not been granted adequate access to counsel; further notes that the Laos authorities have moved Samantha's trial date on numerous occasions, causing distress to Samantha and making her legal defence difficult; further notes that due to Samantha's pregnancy it will be unsafe for Samantha to fly after 6 June 2009; and calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to do all it can to ensure that the Laos authorities set an immediate trial date as a matter of urgency and ensure that Samantha returns to the UK before 6 June 2009.","date":"2009-06-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38661","proposer":"10120","edm":"1490","session":"2008-09","title":"Aung San Suu Kyi","text":"That this House deplores the decision of Burma's regime to move the democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, to Insein prison to face charges relating to an incident involving a US citizen who broke into her compound last week; is dismayed by her unlawful detention under house arrest for 13 of the 19 years since the military junta refused to recognise the 1990 landslide victory of her party, the National League for Democracy; is concerned that this incident could give the military junta a convenient reason to extend her unlawful detention, which was meant to end shortly; is concerned about reports of a deterioration in Ms Suu Kyi's health; calls on the international community to do more to secure the release of political prisoners in Burma and to disregard the results of next year's elections if they are not free and fair; and applauds the European Union for extending its sanctions against the regime, including an arms embargo, a travel ban on Burma\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s leaders and a freezing of their assets in Europe.","date":"2009-05-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38644","proposer":"10383","edm":"1476","session":"2008-09","title":"Detention Of Trade Unionists And Students In Iran","text":"That this House notes with concern that during the May Day rally in Laleh Park, Tehran over 100 participants were physically attacked and arrested, including leading members of the Free Trade Union, and that at the May Day rally in Sanandaj in western Iran a further attack took place with 10 arrested; further notes that the Iranian authorities continue to detain Mr Mansour Osaloo, the President of the Tehran Bus Drivers Syndicate and students from the Freedom and Equality Seeking Activists movement; and calls on the Government to condemn these human rights abuses and to urge the Iranian government for the release of these detainees.","date":"2009-05-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38645","proposer":"10261","edm":"1477","session":"2008-09","title":"Prosecution Of Genocide And Crimes Against Humanity","text":"That this House is concerned that there are people in the UK who are suspected of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide; notes that, because of gaps in UK law, four Rwandans who are suspected of having committed genocide in 1994 cannot be prosecuted in the UK for such crimes; further notes that the four have now been released from custody after winning their appeal in the High Court against extradition to Rwanda; further notes that suspected war criminals from other conflicts are also present in the UK; further notes that these suspects cannot be tried in UK courts because of limitations to the International Criminal Court Act 2001; further notes with concern that the 2001 Act does not apply to suspects if they committed the crime before 2001 or if they are present, but not resident in the UK; further notes that this position is in contrast to the position of the crimes of torture and hostage taking, which are fully prosecutable in UK courts; believes that these gaps in the law lack moral logic; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the 2001 Act to enable suspects who are present without being resident in the UK and who are suspected of committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity before 2001 to be prosecuted in the UK courts, to ensure that the UK does not become a safe haven for war criminals.","date":"2009-05-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38630","proposer":"10021","edm":"1462","session":"2008-09","title":"Arrests Of Democratic Society Party Members In Turkey","text":"That this House is concerned about the recent wave of arrests in Turkey of members of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), a legal political party which, in the recent Turkish local elections, achieved a resounding endorsement from Kurdish voters; notes that the Party's success awakened hope for many millions of Kurds that their voice would be heard in Turkish politics; regrets that in responding to the DTP's electoral victories with repression, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is revealing itself to be little different from previous administrations which have refused to acknowledge the existence of a Kurdish issue and thus offered no solutions for resolving it; believes that it is the duty of all those who seek peace and stability in Turkey to support the responsible calls for a just democratic solution to the issue of the rights of the Kurdish people; calls for the immediate release of all those DTP members who have been arrested; and urges the UK Government to put the utmost diplomatic pressure on Turkey to turn away from conflict and to open negotiations with DTP leaders forthwith as it believes the DTP has a key role to play in any peace process and bringing stability to the region.","date":"2009-05-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38617","proposer":"10578","edm":"1452","session":"2008-09","title":"Political Prisoners In Burma","text":"That this House welcomes the Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now campaign being organised by former political prisoners from Burma; congratulates the organisers on securing 250,000 signatures in support of the campaign; notes that more than 2,100 political prisoners languish in Burma's gaols, having committed no crime other than to want freedom and democracy, or to deliver aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis; expresses deep concern that political prisoners are deliberately being denied medical treatment; supports the call for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all of Burma's political prisoners; and calls on the Government to do all it can to assist the UN Secretary General in this objective.","date":"2009-05-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38618","proposer":"10528","edm":"1453","session":"2008-09","title":"Detention Of Pakistani Students","text":"That this House calls on the Home Office to intervene in the case of the 11 Pakistani students arrested on 8 April 2009 as part of a security operation and released into UK Border Agency detention without charge and who are currently awaiting removal from the UK; notes that these students were not charged and that as such the human rights of these individuals are being materially breached; further notes that the fundamental tenet and basis of the UK justice system is being innocent until proven guilty; and calls for their immediate release to enable them to resume their studies.","date":"2009-05-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38605","proposer":"10133","edm":"1441","session":"2008-09","title":"Dr Binayak Sen","text":"That this House is concerned that Dr Binayak Sen, a public health and human rights campaigner in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, has been detained for nearly two years on what Amnesty International considers politically-motivated and trumped-up charges to silence his dissent of State authorities and activities; is aware that Chhattisgarh is of particular interest to the UK as one of six focus states of India for the Department for International Development; is concerned that there have been repeated delays in giving Dr Sen a fair trial and that he has been denied his constitutional right to bail repeatedly; recognises Dr Sen's contribution to community health and human rights as attested by the award of the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights; expresses concern about the deterioration of Dr Sen's health due to lack of appropriate medical care; and therefore calls on the Chhattisgarh state government to release Dr Sen immediately on bail pending a fair and prompt trial so that he is able to carry out his work as a public health and human rights activist without harassment and free from fear; and calls also on the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in this grave case of violation of human rights.","date":"2009-05-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38607","proposer":"10133","edm":"1443","session":"2008-09","title":"Mordechai Vanunu","text":"That this House deplores the fact that Mordechai Vanunu, released in April 2004 after serving a full 18-year sentence for revealing details of Israel's nuclear weapons' programme, has now had restrictions on his freedom of movement and speech in Israel renewed for yet a sixth year on 21 April; notes also that he is barred from leaving Israel and from speaking to foreigners for which latter offence he was sentenced last year to six months imprisonment, later reduced to three months; and calls upon the Government to request the Israeli government to procure the final lifting of these restrictions, which have no legal or security justification and are an infringement of Mordechai Vanunu's human rights.","date":"2009-05-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38565","proposer":"10682","edm":"1404","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights Campaigner Sr Marcelo Freixo","text":"That this House praises the work of Sr. Marcelo Freixo, a human rights defender and elected official in Rio de Janiero, who has campaigned tenaciously for human rights in his state; commends his role as President of the Parliamentary Commission investigating the violence perpetrated by paramilitary militias in Rio de Janeiro's shanty towns; encourages the Brazilian government to ensure that effective protection is provided for Sr Freixo in the face of serious threats to his life; encourages the Brazilian government to respect and act on the findings of the Commission; and urges the Brazilian government to address the violence suffered by residents of shanty towns across Brazil.","date":"2009-04-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38532","proposer":"10282","edm":"1373","session":"2008-09","title":"Death Penalty In Tibet","text":"That this House opposes the use of the death penalty; condemns the recent imposition of the death penalty by the Lhasa Intermediate People's Court on Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, having found them guilty of arson attacks in Lhasa in March 2008 which led to confirmed deaths; further condemns the recent imposition of the death penalty, each with a two year reprieve, by the same court on Tibetans Tenzin Phuntsok, Kangtsuk and on a 21-year-old Tibetan woman, Penkyi, also for arson attacks in Lhasa in March 2008, which led to confirmed deaths; is concerned that evidence against these individuals is unsound, with one of the convicted found guilty on the basis of a confession only months after the UN Committee Against Torture concluded that China regularly uses torture as a means of extracting confessions in criminal proceedings; is further concerned that the trials of those named above were not conducted in accordance with judicial standards and that the death sentences passed are therefore unsafe; calls on the relevant Chinese authorities to rescind the aforementioned death sentences and to provvide unfettered access to Tibet and all Tibetan-populated regions, including court proceedings, for journalists, consular staff based in Beijing and independent observers; and further calls on the British Government publicly to raise its concerns regarding the cases with the Chinese government.","date":"2009-04-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38509","proposer":"10328","edm":"1354","session":"2008-09","title":"Afghan Women Parliamentarians","text":"That this House supports the brave stance taken by women members of the Afghan parliament to attack the now shelved family law proposals drafted by the Karzai government, which potentially could have decriminalised rape; furthermore expresses concern that the Afghan government has drawn up legislation which amounts to severe restrictions to women's rights; and calls on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to continue to express concern at the highest level over this issue and ensure that the Karzai government acts in a way that is consistent with the UN Charter on Human Rights and the Afghan constitution.","date":"2009-04-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38498","proposer":"10383","edm":"1343","session":"2008-09","title":"Sergay Goos","text":"That this House condemns the sacking of a leading activist in Ukraine's Independent Media Workers' Union from his job on the Kiev-based Ukrainian Weekly magazine for trade union activities; notes that Sergay Goos was the full-time president of the independent union but was forced to work as a journalist on the magazine when funds ran low; further notes that in response to low pay and interference in editorial policy by shareholders, Sergay and other union members set up a chapel and when they sought a collective agreement Sergay was sacked; believes that free and independent trades' unions are a positive force in the world, being vital to democracy and providing protection for working people; is appalled that many workers face victimisation for union activities; reaffirms its commitment to protecting and extending trades' union rights across the world; and urges the Ukrainian Weekly magazine to reinstate Sergay and enter into negotiations to establish a collective agreement with Independent Media Workers' Union Chapel at the Ukrainian Weekly magazine.","date":"2009-04-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38487","proposer":"10057","edm":"1336","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights In Burma","text":"That this House expresses profound concern at the desperate and deteriorating human rights situation in Burma; condemns the continuing widespread and systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, torture, forced labour, forced relocation, religious persecution, forcible recruitment of child soldiers and use of human minesweepers by the military regime; further condemns the military offensives in eastern Burma, including attacks on civilians, resulting in the internal displacement of one million people and the destruction of more than 3,300 villages in eastern Burma alone, and the imprisonment of over 2,100 political prisoners and continued detention of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi; calls on Her Majesty's Government to draw these gross violations of human rights to the urgent attention of the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General; urges Her Majesty's Government, along with other governments, to propose the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma; and urges the UN to invoke the principle of Responsibility to Protect in relation to the crisis in Burma.","date":"2009-04-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38437","proposer":"11494","edm":"1299","session":"2008-09","title":"Rights Of Tribal And Indigenous Peoples","text":"That this House welcomes the 20th anniversary of International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Tribal and Indigenous Peoples, which recognises and respects the land rights of indigenous peoples; notes that protecting the land rights of indigenous peoples is the most effective way to protect the world's rainforests, crucial in the battle against climate change; further welcomes a memorandum submitted to the Environment Audit Committee by the Department for International Development and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which recognises the importance of ensuring indigenous peoples' rights are respected in terms of ownership of the carbon asset; notes the Government's continued refusal to put these rights on a firm legal footing and ratify Convention 169, on the grounds that there are no indigenous peoples in the United Kingdom; further notes that this has not prevented either the Netherlands or Spain from joining the list of 20 countries, including Brazil, that have ratified the Convention; believes that protecting the rights of indigenous peoples is a matter of international concern; and calls on the Government to ratify Convention 169 without delay.","date":"2009-04-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38344","proposer":"10295","edm":"1224","session":"2008-09","title":"INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT'S OUR WORLD. YOUR MOVE CAMPAIGN","text":"That this House fully supports the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian network with almost 97 million volunteers across 186 countries; notes that 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the battle of Solferino, which inspired the idea of the Red Cross and modern International Humanitarian Law (IHL); further notes that 2009 is also the 90th anniversary of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 60 years since the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone of IHL; recognises the continued vital importance of the Geneva Conventions and the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Movement; congratulates the Movement on its achievements and ability to respond to humanitarian need across the world; pays particular tribute to the work of the British Red Cross, its staff and 30,000 UK volunteers, as an invaluable auxiliary to the UK Government in providing humanitarian assistance in times of crisis in the UK and across the world; and further fully supports the Movement's Our World. Your Move campaign, which highlights the challenges faced by people in need throughout the world and the actions that can change their lives.","date":"2009-03-30","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38324","proposer":"11784","edm":"1203","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights Watch Rain Of Fire Report","text":"That this House notes the publication of the report Rain of Fire by Human Rights Watch on the subject of Israel's use of white phosphorus in Gaza; further notes that the document illustrates Israel's extensive use of white phosphorus munitions during its most recent military operation in Gaza; further notes that the report concludes that the Israel Defence Forces repeatedly exploded white phosphorus munitions in the air over populated areas, killing and injuring civilians and damaging civilian structures; recognises the principles of distinction and proportionality enshrined in customary international law; and calls for an urgent, international, impartial fact-finding mission to begin the process of criminal prosecution in relation to the Gaza conflict.","date":"2009-03-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38230","proposer":"10383","edm":"1119","session":"2008-09","title":"Equality And Human Rights Commission Helpline","text":"That this House notes with concern the Equality and Human Rights Commission's proposal to cut 50 posts from the Helpline Advice Service and to close down its Manchester helpline team; believes that the decision is ill-timed with the number of calls to the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline increasing due to the recession; further notes with concern that women, people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and carers will be particularly disadvantaged by the decision; and therefore calls on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to review its plans and to do more to promote the service so that those people already at a disadvantage are not further disadvantaged by such inopportune cutbacks.","date":"2009-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38132","proposer":"10022","edm":"1034","session":"2008-09","title":"Political Situation In Tibet","text":"That this House condemns the state of de facto martial law that Tibet has been subjected to by the Chinese government on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising and the flight of the Dalai Lama; recognises the severe impact on basic human rights and freedoms the present Chinese approach is having on the Tibetan people; notes that Tibetans continue to be tortured and killed and that thousands are subject to arbitrary and heavy-handed restrictions of movement; and calls on the Chinese government to end the de facto martial law and to lift the official ban on access to Tibet for journalists and aid organisations.","date":"2009-03-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38090","proposer":"10123","edm":"998","session":"2008-09","title":"Venerable Palden Gyatso And Human Rights In Tibet","text":"That this House welcomes the arrival to Britain, at the invitation of the Tibet Society, of the former political prisoner, the Venerable Palden Gyatso, to speak of his experiences; notes with deep regret the suffering and torture he endured during 33 years of imprisonment following detainment in 1959 for peaceful protest; commends his commitment to peacefully calling for the rights and freedom of his people; further notes with sadness that 50 years on the human rights situation in Palden's homeland of Tibet remains critical, with continuing oppressive measures being imposed upon the Tibetan people by Chinese government policies, such as patriotic re-education, arbitrary arrests and torture in detention and the use of brutal force against Tibetans who publicly demonstrate; and offers its support for a just and fair solution for the Tibetan people.","date":"2009-03-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"38062","proposer":"10022","edm":"978","session":"2008-09","title":"50th Anniversary Of The Tibetan National Uprising","text":"That this House notes the 50th anniversary on 10 March 2009 of the Tibetan National Uprising; draws attention to the unique historical position of Great Britain and Tibet whereby Great Britain had direct diplomatic and trade links with Tibet and maintained a permanent diplomatic mission in Tibet between 1933 to 1947; further notes that the Written Ministerial Statement of 29 October 2008, which changed the British Government's long-held position on the status of Tibet, was made without receiving any assurance from the Chinese government that it will make genuine progress on the issue of Tibet; in view of the Government's strong concerns on human rights issues inside Tibet, also expressed in the Ministerial Statement, including the situation of those remaining in detention, the increased constraints on religious activity and the limitations on free access to the Tibet Autonomous Region by diplomats and journalists, urgently calls on the Government to act on these concerns and give effect to its stated commitment to seek a solution for Tibet; and further calls on the Government to draft a list of practical actions that address these issues, with a clear framework to monitor progress, that the Chinese government can adopt in order to work to bring about genuine justice to the Tibetan people.","date":"2009-03-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37986","proposer":"10459","edm":"907","session":"2008-09","title":"Detention Of Abdullah Ocalan","text":"That this House notes with deep concern the continued isolation and reported ill-treatment of Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali Island since 1999; further notes that in 2005 the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber unanimously concluded on his case that the applicant did not have a fair trial and that the Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee defined physical and psychological assaults against him as torture; believes that a fully inclusive and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey is possible and should be pursued by the Turkish government as a priority; and calls on the Government to raise the treatment and continued confinement of Abdullah Ocalan with the Turkish authorities and support a sustainable solution to the Kurdish question.","date":"2009-02-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37885","proposer":"10685","edm":"810","session":"2008-09","title":"Dr Alison Des Forges","text":"That this House mourns the death of Dr Alison Des Forges, the leading expert on the 1994 Rwandan genocide and its aftermath, who was killed in the crash of Flight 3407 to Buffalo on 12 February 2009; recognises her unfaltering commitment to the people of the Great Lakes region of Africa and her major contribution to the promotion of human rights, in particular during almost two decades as senior adviser to Human Rights Watch's Africa division; expresses gratitude for her profound understanding of the region, which she shared with wit and generosity; notes her role as expert witness at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and her award-winning account of the Rwandan genocide; and further expresses its deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.","date":"2009-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37906","proposer":"10385","edm":"831","session":"2008-09","title":"International Criminal Court","text":"That this House welcomes the historic first use of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the trial of the Congolese warlord, Thomas Lubanga, for human rights violations including torture, rape and the forced conscription of child soldiers; encourages the ICC's continued investigations in the central African region; regrets the loss of over three million lives to fighting and poverty over 12 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and calls on the Government to use all available routes to assist with peace-building and the relief of extreme poverty.","date":"2009-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37803","proposer":"10785","edm":"746","session":"2008-09","title":"Iwao Hakamada And The Death Penalty In Japan","text":"That this House notes with concern Japan's continued and increasing use of the death penalty; further notes the particular case of Mr Iwao Hakamada who will turn 73 on 10 March 2009; is concerned to hear that Mr Hakamada has spent almost 43 years in detention, including 29 years in solitary confinement on death row and as a consequence is suffering from serious mental illness; further notes the serious concerns raised about the manner of Mr Hakamada's conviction; further notes that former Judge Kumamoto, one of the judges in the original trial, has stated he believes Mr Hakamada to be innocent; further notes that former Judge Kumamoto travelled to the UN office in New York in 2008 where he further voiced his concerns regarding Mr Hakamada's case; commends Amnesty International and a range of other organisations in raising the profile of Iwao Hakamada and other death row inmates; calls on the Japanese Minister of Justice to review the case and order a retrial; and further calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to raise these concerns with its Japanese counterparts and continue its valuable work with all governments and the United Nations to achieve a global moratorium on executions.","date":"2009-02-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37767","proposer":"10367","edm":"713","session":"2008-09","title":"British Military Assistance To Colombia","text":"That this House notes with concern the increase in trades unionists assassinated in Colombia during 2008 as compared to the number killed in 2007; further notes the recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that she believes the Colombian security forces to be involved in `widespread and systematic' killings of civilians; welcomes the findings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in relation to British policy towards Colombia, and specifically draws attention to the Committee's conclusion that UK military assistance to Colombia is `inappropriate' given the `serious' human rights situation in Colombia; and calls on the Government to freeze UK military assistance to Colombia until the Colombian regime fully implements the repeated human rights recommendations made by the UN.","date":"2009-02-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37683","proposer":"10074","edm":"633","session":"2008-09","title":"International Parliamentary Conference On International Migration And Human Trafficking","text":"That this House supports the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch in hosting its International Parliamentary Conference on International Migration and Human Trafficking, from 2 to 7 February 2009 in the Palace of Westminster for 40 colleagues from Commonwealth and other Parliaments; notes that this relevant conference seeks to equip parliamentarians better to hold their executives to account on the challenges of mutually beneficial migration management and curbing human trafficking; further notes that to be debated are key issues including migration and development in origin countries, coherence in destination country immigration policies, child migration, migrant rights, integration of migrant and settled communities, defining human trafficking, policy priorities and protecting the trafficked; and concludes that this initiative reflects this parliament's commitment to international outreach activities to strengthen parliamentary democracy.","date":"2009-01-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37658","proposer":"11823","edm":"612","session":"2008-09","title":"Rape As A Weapon","text":"That this House condemns the use of rape as a weapon; notes the rape capital of the world is the eastern Congo where in some areas three-quarters of women have been raped; further notes that in Darfur, raped women are scarred or branded, or occasionally have their ears cut off and that this is often done by police officers or soldiers, in uniform, as part of a co-ordinated government policy; and calls on the Government to condemn violence against women, to work to highlight this abhorrent use of force in conflicts around the world and do everything that it can to prevent the systematic use of rape as a weapon.","date":"2009-01-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37620","proposer":"10436","edm":"586","session":"2008-09","title":"Media Freedom","text":"That this House welcomes the fact that the number of journalists killed worldwide in work-related incidents during 2008 has dropped significantly to 104 from the record high of 179 in 2007 according to the report by the International Federation of Journalists, January 2009; but notes with concern that many journalists are killed whilst reporting on news stories and that local journalists covering national, local and community stories remain the main targets for deliberate attacks to intimidate and silence them; further notes that many governments around the world do not launch serious investigations into the deaths of independent journalists; believes that the freedom of journalists to work without fear is vital for any democratic society; and therefore urges the Government to use all international opportunities to support the freedom and safety of journalists worldwide.","date":"2009-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37462","proposer":"10521","edm":"439","session":"2008-09","title":"Closure Of Guant\u00e3namo Bay Detention Facility","text":"That this House welcomes the announcement of the proposed closure of the Guant\u00c3\u00a1namo Bay Detention Facility; calls for this to happen more quickly than the projection of within the next two years; notes with disgust that it has existed for seven years under the administration of the President of the United States, George W. Bush; condemns the brutal manner in which detainees have been treated, coupled with a refusal of a fair trial and subjection to severe violations of their human rights; acknowledges the closure of Guant\u00c3\u00a1namo Bay as one step towards the closure of all such detention facilities around the world; demands that all detainees should be entitled to the protections of the Geneva Convention; believes that evidence gained under torture is unreliable and immoral; expresses concern that prisoners have included UK citizens such as Moazzam Begg, who spent three years in captivity at detention facilities in Afghanistan and Guant\u00c3\u00a1namo Bay, without charge or explanation; advocates the immediate release of all those detained unlawfully; urges the international community to have them returned home safely or to countries where they do not face the risk of arbitrary detention and torture; and calls on the Government to maintain a strong line on human rights abuses perpetrated by the US and to step up diplomatic pressure on the international community to enforce the closure of all secret detention facilities around the world.","date":"2009-01-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37450","proposer":"10218","edm":"430","session":"2008-09","title":"Democratic Rights In South Korea","text":"That this House is concerned that the South Korean authorities have arrested leading figures in the Candlelight movement, which is protesting over the risk of BSE from imported US beef; notes that in addition to the arrest of Lee Seok-haeng of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the house of the only Candlelight movement leader to escape arrest, Kim Kwang-il, has been illegally searched, and his telephone records used to harass other activists; further notes that Amnesty International has voiced concern at these actions and is investigating; believes that South Korea took a huge step forward with the end of the decades of military rule in 1988; strongly condemns this new 1980s-style repression; and calls on the South Korean authorities to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression.","date":"2009-01-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37352","proposer":"10021","edm":"341","session":"2008-09","title":"Kurdish Politician Leyla Zana","text":"That this House strongly condemns the unfair trial, conviction and sentencing of the Kurdish politician and former DEP MP, Leyla Zana in Diyabakir Court, on 4 December 2008, under the Turkish Penal Code and the anti-terror law for comments which she made in nine speeches; recalls that Leyla Zana had previously been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and spent 10 years in gaol following a trial subsequently declared unfair and unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights and that one of the crimes of which she was accused and convicted was having used the Kurdish language in the Turkish Parliament; notes that she is acknowledged across the free world as a courageous fighter for the human rights of the Kurdish people, including their freedom of speech, assembly and of association, all of which are rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Turkey is a signatory; further recalls that she was awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2005 for her courage and integrity; and calls upon the Foreign Secretary to make known the revulsion of this House at this breach of Turkey's commitments in the context of the Copenhagen Criteria and this House's concern at current interpretations of the Turkish Penal Code and the unjust use by the Turkish authorities of Turkish anti-terror laws to target Kurdish politicians, which casts doubt on the sincerity of the assurances given by the Turkish government in support of its application to join the European Union.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37363","proposer":"10012","edm":"352","session":"2008-09","title":"Use Of Music As An Instrument Of Torture","text":"That this House notes and objects to the incessant playing of high volume music by United States interrogators as a form of psychological torture used to break prisoners; further notes that the existence of this practice has been acknowledged by the US's Psychological Operations Company; defends the human rights of all human beings as laid out by the Geneva Convention; and therefore believes that torture, including this practice of using music, is inhumane and a breach of these rights; further believes that the particular practice of using music as an instrument of torture is an infringement of creator's rights; supports the Musician's Union's principled protest, through the Zero dB initiative, against this practice; and urges the Government to exert whatever diplomatic pressure is available to end this practice and the practice of torture in all countries.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37314","proposer":"10527","edm":"305","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights In Kazakhstan","text":"That this House notes with concern the findings of the Human Rights Watch report An Atmosphere of Quiet Repression, detailing the poor state of human rights in Kazakhstan; furthers notes that serious improvement should be expected for when Kazakhstan chairs the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2010; believes that too little progress has been made to improving the situation; and calls on the Government to put more pressure on the Kazakh government to rectify the poor regard for human rights in the country.","date":"2008-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37329","proposer":"10295","edm":"320","session":"2008-09","title":"Cafod And The Hallmark Nickel Project In The Philippines","text":"That this House supports the work of CAFOD in exposing the significant reservations about the Hallmark Nickel project in the Philippines run by BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company; notes the potential impact this project will have on the local community which relies mostly on fishing and farming to survive; expresses concern that CAFOD's investigation has found flaws in the community consent process, allegations of bribery by BHP Billiton's local partner and Philippine government officials, lack of transparency and information sharing with the community and potential dangers to the environment and to local livelihoods; calls on BHP Billiton and the Philippine government to act on the recommendations in CAFOD's report; recognises that the private sector is an essential part of economic growth but that businesses need to operate within an effective regulatory framework which balances profits against the needs of citizens and reduces the risk of bribery; calls on the UK to adopt a new anti-bribery law that complies fully with the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development Anti-Bribery Convention and covers corporate liability for corruption abroad; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation requiring companies to disclose information about the human rights, environmental and social impacts of private sector projects as well as the payments they make to governments on a country by country basis, in order for citizens to access the information they need about the costs and benefits of such projects.","date":"2008-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37336","proposer":"10383","edm":"327","session":"2008-09","title":"Prostitution","text":"That this House notes with concern the Government's proposals contained in the Home Office review, Tackling the Demand for Prostitution 08, which includes increased raids and closures of brothels and the criminalisation of clients buying sex from someone working for another person's gain; regrets that the proposed measures will mean women working in brothels will face up to seven years in prison, whilst those who are immigrants will face deportation and that this further criminalisation of prostitution and related activities will drive prostitution further underground increasing the dangers, stigma, exploitation and abuse that many prostitute men and women experience, making them less able to challenge abuse by seeking help or accessing rights; believes that if its aims are to tackle exploitation, abuse and violence within prostitution, the Government should adopt an approach that will empower prostitutes with rights and support and that such proposals should include measures to ensure that existing laws regarding violence, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment are being used effectively to protect prostitutes, to provide and invest in welfare services to tackle impoverishment, ending the proposed cuts in benefits to single parents which could contribute to pushing more women into prostitution, to ensure that prostitutes with uncertain immigration status are able to seek help when needed and to provide an immigration amnesty for all victims of forced trafficking; and therefore urges the Government to reassess its current approach and instead develop an overall policy to decriminalise prostitution.","date":"2008-12-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37265","proposer":"10436","edm":"264","session":"2008-09","title":"Trade Union Rights And Human Rights","text":"That this House notes that 10 December 2008 marks 60 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and that article 23 of the UDHR recognises the right to form and to join a trade union; further notes with concern that trade union rights are frequently violated across the world, that trade unionists are murdered in Colombia, imprisoned or face execution in Iran, and beaten in Zimbabwe; regrets that successive anti-union legislation in the UK has meant that trades union rights are now weaker than those introduced by the Trades Disputes Act 1906, leading to management using staff associations, bureaucratic measures and lack of consultation to block the work of unions; believes that free and independent trades unions are a force for good in the world, being vital to democracy and providing protection for working people; and therefore reaffirms its commitment to protecting and extending trades union rights, along with all other human rights, across the world.","date":"2008-12-11","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37194","proposer":"10224","edm":"200","session":"2008-09","title":"Human Rights And The Millennium Development Goals","text":"That this House marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; highlights Article 22 - the right to social security; further highlights Article 25 - the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being; further highlights Article 26 - the universal right to education; deplores the fact that despite 60 years of recognition for universal human rights, millions of the world's citizens still live in abject poverty, without access to adequate nutrition healthcare, sanitation, education and clean water; notes that the millennium development goals (MDGs), if achieved, would substantially contribute to the realisation of the rights of millions of the world's poorest by reducing hunger and poverty and by improving health, the environment, education and gender equality; is deeply concerned that progress toward the achievement of the MDGs for improving basic standards of living for the world's poorest remains seriously off-track; supports the Government in continuing working towards achieving the MDGs by meeting its full obligations regarding the quality and quantity of overseas development assistance it provides and also by encouraging the international community to do likewise; and urges the Government to ensure that such efforts are not undermined by redoubling its commitment to ending the harmful global trade rules and conventions that constrain the economies of the world's least developed countries.","date":"2008-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37160","proposer":"10614","edm":"168","session":"2008-09","title":"Forced Marriage Unit","text":"That this House congratulates the Forced Marriage Unit for its efforts in protecting the lives of young people who suffer tremendous physical and emotional trauma in situations of forced marriage; notes that the Unit has handled over 1,300 cases since the beginning of 2008; recognises that the implementation of the Forced Marriage Act 2007 will help supplement the efforts of the Unit; and believes that in order to deal with the increasing number of cases the Government needs to support an expansion in the operations of the Unit by making an increase in human and financial resources made available to it.","date":"2008-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37169","proposer":"11245","edm":"177","session":"2008-09","title":"Un Genocide Convention 60th Anniversary","text":"That this House notes that on 9 December, meetings in the House on the continuing persecution of minorities will mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Genocide Convention; further notes that organiser Raphael Lemkin is inspired by the genocide of Armenians and Assyrians in 1915, the subsequent massacre of Assyrians at the birth of modern Iraq, and his personal experience following the invasion of Poland; further notes that the Government has never consulted any reliable genocide scholars; and urges the Government to honour Raphael Lemkin's work by changing its untenable position of denial of the Armenian and Assyrian genocide.","date":"2008-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37104","proposer":"10021","edm":"112","session":"2008-09","title":"Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza","text":"That this House notes the appalling humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, which UN officials have described as the worst crisis to have befallen the 1.5 million Palestinians of Gaza; further notes that Israel has prevented basic humanitarian supplies from entering the Gaza Strip, including some medicines, clothing for children and essential spare parts; further notes that prohibited items even include some foodstuffs; is extremely concerned that hospitals are running short of fuel supplies, and that this threatens basic health care, including babies in incubators; considers that this blockade is a form of collective punishment in fundamental breach of international law; calls upon the Government to insist on the immediate ending of the blockade of the Gaza Strip both on the Israel-Gaza and Egypt-Gaza borders; and further calls on the Government to support all efforts to bring about a permanenet ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, including a complete cessation of violence by all parties including rocket attacks on Israel and attacks on Gaza by Israeli military forces.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37121","proposer":"10258","edm":"129","session":"2008-09","title":"Trafficked Children On African Cocoa Plantations","text":"That this House notes with concern that the trafficking of children is a growing problem in the production of cocoa and that at least 15,000 Malian children have been trafficked to work on cocoa and coffee plantations in Cote d'Ivoire; welcomes the UK's support for the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and ILO programmes elsewhere; notes with dismay the lack of progress by the cocoa industry in implementing a monitoring and certification process and its inability to be able to guarantee the absence of trafficked labour on cocoa production lines; and calls on the Government and the cocoa industry to provide a traffick free guarantee for all cocoa products, as suggested by the Stop the Traffick coalition.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37129","proposer":"10258","edm":"138","session":"2008-09","title":"Cocoa Industry And Trafficking","text":"That this House notes with dismay that the cocoa industry did not meet its commitment as set out by the Harkin-Engel Protocol to guarantee to eradicate the worst forms of child labour in supply chains by 1 July 2008; notes that it continues to profit from modern-day child slavery; welcomes the release by the governments of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana of certification reports to address cocoa farming labour practices; and further calls on the industry to uphold children's rights and on the Government to hold chocolate manufacturers to account.","date":"2008-12-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37019","proposer":"11245","edm":"27","session":"2008-09","title":"Safety Of Minority Communities In Iraq","text":"That this House is concerned that the failure to honour promises made after the First World War to the Assyrians and Kurdish minority communities on autonomy, the creation of a centralised Iraq in 1932 without provision for the security of minorities, the recent war of 2003 which led to the rise of fundamentalism, and the ethnic cleansing of the Mandaeans and Assyrian-Chaldeo-Syriacs in Basra, Baghdad and Mosul, place a special responsibility on the Government to these minorities; calls on the Government to therefore take a sympathetic attitude to asylum claims from these minorities; and urges the Government to learn from past mistakes and to use its influence in a robust way on the government of Iraq to ensure the safety of the aforementioned minorities as well as of Yezidis, Faili Kurds and Shabaks, so that a dishonourable withdrawal from Iraq is avoided.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"37036","proposer":"10177","edm":"44","session":"2008-09","title":"Freedom Of Religion In Pakistan","text":"That this House warmly welcomes the appointment of the prominent human rights activist Shahbaz Bhatti, President of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs; applauds the decision by the Government of Pakistan to include this ministerial position in the Cabinet for the first time; encourages the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to provide Mr Bhatti with full support in his efforts to promote religious freedom and equal rights for all the people of Pakistan; calls on the Government to engage fully with the President, Prime Minister, Minister for Minorities Affairs and other ministers on issues of human rights and religious freedom; and urges the Government of Pakistan to make significant progress towards the repeal of the blasphemy laws which are so widely abused and cause so much injustice for so many people.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36879","proposer":"11672","edm":"2473","session":"2007-08","title":"Execution By Stoning Of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow In Somalia","text":"That this House expresses grave concern following the unlawful stoning of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow in Somalia; unequivocally condemns the inaction to defend her from bogus accusations of adultery; sees no justice under international human rights law, Sharia law or any other Somali law, in the sentence of stoning passed to this 13 year old girl; deplores the state of human rights affairs in Somalia with the lives of human rights activists and journalists being threatened on a daily basis; and calls on the Government to use every diplomatic measure at its disposal to prevent any future repeats of this terrible incident.","date":"2008-11-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36833","proposer":"10323","edm":"2433","session":"2007-08","title":"Stoning Of Thirteen Year Old Rape Victim In Somalia","text":"That this House is deeply concerned by the horrific killing of 13 year old Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow who was stoned to death in Somalia; condemns the al-Shabab militia who arranged for a group of 50 men to stone Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow in front of a crowd of 1,000 spectators; notes that she was accused of adultery in breach of Islamic law but that her father and other sources told Amnesty International that she had in fact been raped by three men; is appalled that when she attempted to report the assault to the al-Shabab militia, she was detained and sentenced to death; further notes that when some of the witnesses to the stoning attempted to come to her aid, the al-Shabab militia opened fire and shot dead a boy who was a bystander; and calls on the Government to intervene in any possible way to help ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and to help prevent any repetition of such a barbaric act.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36835","proposer":"10614","edm":"2435","session":"2007-08","title":"Removal Of Profiles From The National DNA Database","text":"That this House believes that the Government should adopt a principle of data minimisation in regard to the national DNA database; further believes that DNA information should only be taken from people when it is absolutely necessary and not just because it is possible; notes that there are currently around 730,000 innocent people's details retained on the national DNA database which is the largest per head of population in the world; further notes that around 15,000 new profiles are added each week, some of which include children as young as 10 years; and calls upon the Government to make the necessary legislative changes to ensure that innocent people can have their information removed quickly and efficiently.","date":"2008-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36789","proposer":"11707","edm":"2397","session":"2007-08","title":"Conflict In The Democratic Republic Of Congo","text":"That this House notes with utmost concern the escalation of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; further notes that this conflict has now cost an estimated 5.4 million lives, making it the most deadly conflict since World War II; is concerned by recent reports received by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that camps north of the city Goma, which were home to 50,000 refugees, have been forcibly emptied, looted and torched; is alarmed that aid agencies are being forced from the country because of concerns for their safety; and urgently calls on the Government to take a leading role in achieving a peaceful and lasting settlement to this conflict.","date":"2008-11-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36763","proposer":"11522","edm":"2376","session":"2007-08","title":"Killing Of Journalists In Croatia","text":"That this House expresses its concern about the killing in Zagreb of journalists Ivo Pukanic and Niko Franjic of the Nacional newspaper, a paper dedicated to uncovering corruption and criminal extortion in Croatia; and trusts that the EU will do all it can to assist Croatia in combating corruption before that country's accession to the EU.","date":"2008-10-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36740","proposer":"10177","edm":"2359","session":"2007-08","title":"Home Office Treatment Of Darfur Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House believes recent events in Sudan, including the Justice for Equality Movement attack of 10th May 2008 on Khartoum, have led to a drastic change in circumstances and have reinforced the need for Darfuris to be protected from persecution; notes the September 2008 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Sudan, Sima Samar, in which she warns that at least 500 civilians are still in National Intelligence and Security Services detention and that most are thought to have been arrested on grounds of their Darfurian ethnicity; further notes concerns raised by human rights group Waging Peace regarding severe breaches of law and procedure which occurred during re-documentation interviews of Darfuri asylum seekers by a Sudanese official in Home Office facilities in March and April 2007; expresses concern at the one-year delay for a Home Office response to the report; expresses concern at reports that Home Office officials have recently encouraged Darfuri asylum seekers to sign voluntary return forms without the presence of interpreters; welcomes the upcoming guidance case in November in which returns to Khartoum of individuals of Darfurian origin will be reassessed; urges the Home Office to acknowledge the growing evidence of targeting and persecution of Darfuris in Khartoum; and requests that the Home Office engage as a matter of urgency with the Home Affairs Select Committee and Waging Peace in order to address remaining questions regarding the re-documentation interviews of Darfuri asylum seekers.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36743","proposer":"10252","edm":"2362","session":"2007-08","title":"Speaker Abbot Award","text":"That this House applauds Jonathan Paye-Layleh from Liberia and Michel Kilo from Syria, joint winners of the 2008 Parliamentary Press Gallery Speaker Abbot Award, supported by the Silbury Fund, given since 2003 to international journalists considered to have made the greatest contribution internationally to the protection, promotion and perpetuation of parliamentary democracy; notes that while Jonathan Paye-Layleh was able to receive his award from Mr Speaker in October 2008 at a reception in Mr Speaker's apartments at Westminster, Michel Kilo was arrested on 14th May 2006, accused of publishing `mendacious and exaggerated reports with the aim of discrediting the government' and `defaming the president and the courts', and remains in prison in Syria; and calls on the authorities in Syria to release Michel Kilo and allow him to continue the struggle for democracy in Syria.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36726","proposer":"10226","edm":"2346","session":"2007-08","title":"Norfolk Rebellion","text":"That this House praises Robert and William Kett who were both executed on 7th December 1549 for being leaders of the Norfolk Rebellion under the reign of King Edward VI; recognises these courageous leaders for their contribution to the long struggle of the common people of England to escape from a servile life into the freedom of just conditions; and calls on the Government to recognise that both men were not traitors as charged.","date":"2008-10-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36727","proposer":"10133","edm":"2347","session":"2007-08","title":"Free Gaza Campaign","text":"That this House applauds the excellent work of the Free Gaza (FG) Movement in highlighting the fact that Israel is imposing collective punishment on the 1.5 million people of Gaza, in contravention of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention; acknowledges the considerable pressure applied by the Israeli government on a FG voyage in August 2007; wishes the latest boat travelling from the port of Cyprus to Gaza carrying both a large group of concerned human rights workers, including among them Palestinian MP, Dr Mustafa Barghouti, and the Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, as well as medical practitioners and supplies, a safe voyage with no outside interference; and calls upon the Government to take action to ensure that the massive economic, political and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is brought to an end as a matter of urgency.","date":"2008-10-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36730","proposer":"10009","edm":"2350","session":"2007-08","title":"Seventieth Anniversary Of Kristallnacht","text":"That this House notes that 9th to 10th November 2008 marks the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, otherwise known as the Night of the Broken Glass for the shattered window panes that carpeted streets, in which the Nazi government sanctioned a wave of pogroms against the German and Austrian Jewish communities; further notes that Kristallnacht was a watershed event in Nazi rule, marking the beginning of the systematic eradication of the Jewish people and a prelude to the Holocaust; further notes that in the space of a few hours thousands of synagogues, Jewish-owned shops and businesses, and cemeteries, were torched, plundered and destroyed while police and fire brigades watched idly and did nothing; further notes that at least 91 innocent people were murdered, many others injured and 30,000 arrested and sent to concentration camps simply because they were Jewish; declares that Kristallnacht should remind us all that evil must always be confronted forcefully and that the civilised world cannot stand idly by whilst barbarism and mass murder continue to be committed against innocent people; and applauds organisations such as the Holocaust Educational Trust for their work in educating future generations about the consequences of unchallenged racism and their responsibility in ensuring that such evil is confronted wherever and whenever they encounter it.","date":"2008-10-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36707","proposer":"10785","edm":"2328","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Penalty In Nigeria And Saudi Arabia","text":"That this House welcomes the two Amnesty International reports entitled, Waiting for the Hangman and Affront to Justice; notes with concern that over 700 people are currently under sentence of death in Nigeria's prisons; is concerned to hear reports of evidence indicating Nigerians cannot rely on their criminal justice system to produce results that are either fair or accurate; further notes that executions in Saudi Arabia have risen sharply in the last two years, with a fourfold increase from 2006; further notes with concern that death sentences in Saudi Arabia are often imposed at the end of largely secret and unfair trial processes with many defendants being executed for non-violent or vaguely worded offences; and calls on both the Saudi Arabian and Nigerian governments to impose a moratorium on executions, as called for by the UN General Assembly in December 2007.","date":"2008-10-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36710","proposer":"10123","edm":"2331","session":"2007-08","title":"Tibet And Assurances From The Chinese Government","text":"That this House expresses deep concern that despite assurances given by the Chinese government to the international community on the situation in Tibet, the Tibet Autonomous Region and other areas of Tibet remain under tight security following the widespread demonstrations in March and April; notes there has been no independent access to assess the humanitarian situation following the demonstations; further notes that thousands remain in detention, their whereabouts unknown; further notes that trials are being conducted without due process of legal representation as recognised under international legal conventions; further notes that in the wake of an 6.6 magnitude earthquake near Lhasa inside Tibet that has affected over 60,000 people, the Chinese authorities have not invited international agencies to furnish emergency practical aid; and calls on the Government to urge strongly the Chinese authorities to grant immediate access into the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other areas of Tibet to the International Red Cross, the UN and other independent humanitarian aid organisations.","date":"2008-10-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36673","proposer":"10133","edm":"2305","session":"2007-08","title":"Manual Scavengers Movement","text":"That this House notes with immense concern that some 1.3 million Dalits, formerly called untouchables, in India, mostly women, are still employed as manual scavengers, a job which consists of removing human excrement from dry toilets and sewers using basic tools such as flimsy thin boards, not even shovels, and baskets, despite this inhumane practice being abolished by law in 1993; welcomes the initiative of Safai Karmachari Andolan, the Manual Scavengers Movement, and the Dalit Solidarity Network (UK) to work together to try to eradicate manual scavenging in the whole of India by the start of the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October 2010; and calls on the Department for International Development to assist the Indian government to implement its own legislation and re-training programmes and to end, once and for all, the inhumane and dangerous practice of manual scavenging.","date":"2008-10-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36683","proposer":"10754","edm":"2315","session":"2007-08","title":"Un Convention On The Rights Of The Child","text":"That this House notes the publication of the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which assesses the Government's record in meeting its international obligations on the treatment of children; further notes the Committee's conclusion that the Government is failing to uphold children's rights in a number of policy areas resulting in over 120 recommendations; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to address these recommendations and ensure that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is fully implemented in the UK.","date":"2008-10-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36566","proposer":"11784","edm":"2217","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Asbestos Overseas","text":"That this House notes with concern the continued use of asbestos in the Third World; further notes that work with asbestos in the United Kingdom is banned under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; recalls the consequences in Rochdale and elsewhere in the UK where asbestos was used or produced for the workers of Turner Brothers, whose machinery is now in use in the Third World; is shocked that the human rights of workers to health and to life are clearly being violated; and calls on the Government to work with the International Labour Organisation to ensure the implementation of the Convention Concerning Safety in the Use of Asbestos 1986 and the United Nations Environment Programme regarding the Stockholm Convention on Persistent and Organic Pollutants, a programme which has been repeatedly devalued by countries such as Canada and Russia, and further, to work towards a total ban on the use of asbestos.","date":"2008-10-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36541","proposer":"10790","edm":"2192","session":"2007-08","title":"ECUADORIAN GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL FOR SAVING THE YASUNI FOREST","text":"That this House welcomes the proposal of the Ecuadorian government to preserve the Yasun\u00c3\u00ad forest by asking the international community to pay for not exploiting the oil reserves which lie underneath it; but believes that the proposal must include an unconditional, non-reversible commitment from the Ecuadorian government to preserve Yasun\u00c3\u00ad and protect the human rights of its people and must include an unlimited extension of the time given to reach agreement on how to do this and an international process led by the Ecuadorian Government, with full participation from local and indigenous groups in the region, to create a clear, coherent and fully representative proposal for securing a long-term sustainable future for Yasun\u00c3\u00ad; believes that this process should work in partnership with supportive non-governmental organisations and governments, and must also include a further assurance that any financial support from governments will come through an open, democratic and accountable process, and will not involve carbon trading, World Bank funding or debt cancellation schemes, which have proved ineffective in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and damaging to local people's rights around the world; and finally considers that the proposal must include an assurance that any other projects which may have a negative impact on the area will not be allowed to go ahead.","date":"2008-10-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36507","proposer":"11923","edm":"2157","session":"2007-08","title":"Treatment Of Children In Secure Training Centres","text":"That this House notes that at any one time there are at least 200 children held in secure training centres (STCs) in the UK; notes with concern that from 6th July 2007 staff in STCs were permitted to physically restrain children and were authorised by Ministers to use the very painful rib and thumb distraction to ensure good order and discipline; further notes with concern that between 1st January and 31st March 2008 restraint was used 503 times on children in STCs, and that between 1st April 2007 and 29th February 2008 there were 18 injuries resulting in hospitalisation as a result of assault, restraint, or self-harm in STCs; welcomes the Court of Appeal's decision to quash child restraint rules after the death of a child caused by restraint; supports the Children's Rights Alliance for England campaign to provide human rights information directly to children in STCs; and calls on the Government to provide compensation for children who have been unlawfully restrained.","date":"2008-10-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36521","proposer":"10527","edm":"2171","session":"2007-08","title":"Angola Elections","text":"That this House welcomes recent legislative elections in Angola, the first since 1992; notes with concern reports from the European Union observers and Human Rights Watch that the elections were not free, fair and transparent; and calls on the Government to act to encourage the Angolan state to ensure that a free, fair and transparent process is followed for the scheduled 2009 presidential election.","date":"2008-10-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36481","proposer":"11784","edm":"2132","session":"2007-08","title":"Unidentified Graves And Disappeared Persons -\u0000 Jammau And Kashmir","text":"That this House supports the resolution on unidentified graves and disappeared persons in Jammau and Kashmir tabled by Liz Lynne MEP in the European Parliament on 8th July; is concerned at the hundreds of unidentified graves which have been discovered since 2006 in Jammau and Kashmir, including at least 940 persons found in Uri district alone, and that the Srinagar based Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, whose report issued on 29th March 2008, indicates the existence of multiple graves close to the line of control with Pakistan for which it is prevented from investigating; notes that the estimates of persons having gone missing vary greatly between the associations of families of victims and the Indian central and state governments; is further concerned that human rights violations committed by the armed forces of India continue despite the Indian government's commitment in September 2005 not to tolerate human rights violations in Jammau and Kashmir; calls therefore on the Indian government to ensure independent and impartial investigations into all suspected sites of mass graves in Jammau and Kashmir; further calls on the Indian government to ratify and implement the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance without reservation and to grant access to Jammau and Kashmir for the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture, on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and the UN working group on Enforced or Voluntary Disappearances; and asks the UK Government to raise these matters with the Indian government as a matter of urgency.","date":"2008-07-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36487","proposer":"10716","edm":"2138","session":"2007-08","title":"Un Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities","text":"That this House welcomes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will benefit 11 million disabled Britons; urges hon. Members to read the Inter-Parliamentary Union's handbook for parliamentarians on the Convention; further welcomes the Government's commitment to ratify the Convention before the end of 2008 and urges it to ratify in line with the full purpose of the Convention; and recognises the importance of the full Convention to facilitate and positively affect the drafting and interpretation of domestic legislation to enable the Government to uphold its commitment to disabled people's human rights and dignity, with the aim of ending inequality between disabled and non-disabled people by 2025.","date":"2008-07-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36488","proposer":"10133","edm":"2139","session":"2007-08","title":"Murder Of Munir Said Thalib","text":"That this House recognises and supports the work of KASUM (The Committee for Solidarity With Munir) to bring those responsible for the murder of Indonesian human rights defender Munir Said Thalib to account; welcomes the progress made so far in connection with the case; further welcomes the recent arrest of Major General Muchdi Purwoprandjono, a former member of the Indonesian state intelligence agency BIN; requests the UK Government to ask the Indonesian government to make public the report by an independent fact-finding team into the Munir case, ordered by the Indonesian President, and to ensure that all those responsible for Munir's death are brought before the courts; further requests the UK Government to monitor closely the continuing developments in the case; and encourages the UK Government to support human rights defenders, independent journalists and civil society activists in Indonesia.","date":"2008-07-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36451","proposer":"11420","edm":"2104","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Of Balkar Singh And Sikhs In India","text":"That this House notes with grave concern an unarmed Sikh, Balkar Singh, was shot dead in Mumbia on 20th June, with the killing resulting in widespread protests by Sikhs in cities throughout Punjab, Haryana and in Mumbia; is deeply concerned that since the incident the Indian armed forces and police have beaten and attacked unarmed Sikh men, women and children and thousands of Sikh activists in Punjab have been arrested to try and suppress peaceful protests; further notes that Bal Thakeray the chief of Shiv Sena, a right wing nationalist group, is fuelling the situation by reminding the Sikh minority of the anti-Sikh pogroms of November 1984 and that this is causing considerable distress to British Sikhs; and for this reason urges the Government to act immediately by raising its concerns with the Indian authorities.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36399","proposer":"10120","edm":"2057","session":"2007-08","title":"International Criminal Court","text":"That this House celebrates the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, which resulted in the setting up of the International Criminal Court (ICC); welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute by 106 state parties; congratulates the United Kingdom for leading the efforts to set up the ICC and to end impunity for individuals responsible for international crimes; believes that ending impunity for these crimes, which by their very nature demean humanity, must be a priority for every state; calls on the international community to do more to assist the ICC, including ensuring that relevant cases are tried in national courts, so that there are no safe havens for such criminals; requests that the United Nations Security Council considers whether further referrals should be made to the ICC; and continues to support the work of the ICC against individuals accused of international crimes, including the current Sudanese President Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36400","proposer":"10123","edm":"2058","session":"2007-08","title":"Inquiry Into Treatment Of Detainees By Armed Forces","text":"That this House, recalling the Baha Musa case and other cases of alleged abuse and degrading treatment, calls for a root and branch independent inquiry into the way that detainees apprehended during active operations are treated by the armed forces.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36416","proposer":"11350","edm":"2075","session":"2007-08","title":"DNA Database","text":"That this House notes that the UK has the largest DNA database in the world and that it includes at least half a million people who have never been convicted, charged or cautioned; further notes that the DNA database includes 27 per cent. of the entire black population, 42 per cent. of the male black population, 77 per cent. of young black men and nine per cent. of all Asians, compared with just six per cent. of the white population; expresses concern that this fuels the erroneous perception that black people are more likely to commit a crime than white people; believes that DNA profiling has a very important role to play in securing convictions, especially for difficult crimes and cold cases, but that the collection and storage of samples must be executed in a way that respects fundamental rights to liberty, autonomy and privacy and is fair, transparent and proportionate; applauds the DNA Database (Removal of Samples) Bill of the hon. Member for Cardiff Central; and calls on the Government to remove from the database and destroy the samples of those people who have not committed a crime.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36389","proposer":"10968","edm":"2047","session":"2007-08","title":"National Staff Dismissal Register","text":"That this House condemns the establishment of a national staff dismissal register by Action Against Business Crime; agrees with trade unions and civil liberties campaigners that the scheme could lead to abuse as it would allow unscrupulous employers to make unsubstantiated accusations that could devastate the lives of innocent people; further notes that victims of this scheme might be unaware that they had been blacklisted and would have no right of appeal; and therefore calls for the scheme to be scrapped.","date":"2008-07-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36392","proposer":"10521","edm":"2050","session":"2007-08","title":"Italian Government And Roma People","text":"That this House registers with revulsion the actions taken by the Italian government against Roma people; regards such actions, coupled with television footage of Italians verbally abusing and harassing Roma people, and the deliberate burning of Roma property, to be an unwelcome reminder of Italy's 20th century fascist regime; affirms that such discrimination is not compatible with the United Nations Charter and the principles of equality of all citizens laid down in requirements for membership of the European Union; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Italian government to cease repressive measures against the Roma community and to uphold the UN Charter and the principles of EU membership.","date":"2008-07-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36364","proposer":"10001","edm":"2023","session":"2007-08","title":"Darfuri Asylum Seekers In The UK","text":"That this House is greatly concerned at the Home Office's recent decision to resume the removal of Darfuri asylum seekers from the UK and return them to Khartoum; recalls that in 2007 the Home Office suspended the deportations in order to investigate further accusations of torture in the region by Sudanese authorities, but concluded that the accusations were not confirmed; notes that this conclusion failed to take into consideration the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' position against the return of Darfuris to Khartoum, which stated that they would be subjected to torture and even death; further notes that upon lifting the ban on deporting Darfuri asylum-seekers the Home Office failed publicly to disclose its change in policy; and therefore urges the Home Office immediately to reverse its decision in order to honour the Government's international human rights obligations.","date":"2008-07-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36320","proposer":"10040","edm":"1988","session":"2007-08","title":"Referral Of Burma To The International Criminal Court","text":"That this House condemns ongoing crimes against humanity in Burma, whereby the dictatorship systematically commits crimes against civilians including torture, rape of ethnic women, systematic sexual violence, slavery, murder, mass imprisonment, forced labour, persecution of dissidents, conscription of child soldiers and forced relocation; further expresses deep concern that the dictatorship refused to allow humanitarian assistance to survivors of Cyclone Nargis; welcomes the European Parliament Resolution of 22nd May 2008 calling for the dictatorship to be referred to the International Criminal Court; and calls on the British Government to use its membership of the United Nations Security Council to secure support for the Council to refer the situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36322","proposer":"10012","edm":"1991","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Music As An Instrument Of Torture","text":"That this House notes the use of recorded music by United States interrogators, involving the incessant playing of high volume music in order to break resistance through sleep deprivation and exposure to lyrics that prisoners would find culturally offensive; further notes this practice has been acknowledged by the US's Psychological Operations Company; defends the human rights of all human beings as laid out by the Geneva Convention; and therefore believes that torture, including this practice of using music, is inhumane and a breach of these rights; further believes that the particular practice of using music as an instrument of torture is an infringement of creator's rights; supports the Musicians' Union's principled protest against such a practice; and urges the Government to exert whatever available diplomatic pressure to end the practice of torture in all countries.","date":"2008-07-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36281","proposer":"10133","edm":"1958","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Rights In Papua","text":"That this House notes the continued repression and intimidation of the indigenous people of Papua by the military (TNI), and other elements of the Indonesian security forces; further notes the climate of fear, intimidation and violence under which human rights defenders in Papua have to work, referred to in the January 2008 report of the UN Special Representative on Human Rights; and accordingly calls on the Foreign Secretary to make representations to the Indonesian government urging it to look carefully at the role of the TNI and other security forces in Papua, to account for its failure to implement special autonomy in Papua, to allow the Papuan people to voice their concerns and aspirations by exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and further to allow free and unfettered access to Papua by foreign journalists and international human rights organisations.","date":"2008-07-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36248","proposer":"10066","edm":"1926","session":"2007-08","title":"Freedom Of Journalists And The Media In Israel","text":"That this House condemns the actions of the Israeli security forces with regard to the Palestinian journalist and joint winner of the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, Mohammed Omer, who after briefing Members of Parliament on the situation in the Gaza Strip, attempted to re-enter the Occupied Territories via the Allenby Bridge and was interrogated at the crossing, strip-searched at gunpoint and beaten for four hours resulting in hospitalisation after he lost consciousness; expresses concern that harassment, intimidation and even killing of journalists has been too frequent an occurrence, particularly since the outbreak of the Intifada in 2000; calls on Israel and all other parties to uphold the freedom of journalists to report; further calls on the Israeli government to launch a full independent inquiry, to compensate Mohammed Omer in full for his injuries; and urges the Government to raise this issue with the government of Israel at the earliest opportunity.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36252","proposer":"10106","edm":"1930","session":"2007-08","title":"Persecution Of Christians In Algeria: The Case Of Habiba Kouider","text":"That this House expresses concern at reports of the closure of churches and the detention of Christians in Algeria; expresses particular concern at the case of Habiba Kouider, a 37 year old Algerian woman facing prosecution as a result of being in possession of copies of the Bible; and urges the Government to raise this case and other cases of persecution of Christians in Algeria in the course of the discussions on the proposed Union for the Mediterranean due to commence in Paris on 13th July.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36253","proposer":"10133","edm":"1931","session":"2007-08","title":"Freedom Of Expression In Yemen","text":"That this House notes with concern the conviction and sentencing to six years in prison of leading Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani; commends the courage and resilience of journalists and activists who continue to tackle sensitive political and human rights issues despite the harassment and risks faced in what appears to be part of a wider clampdown on freedom of expression in Yemen; and calls on the UK Government to use its influence to press the Yemeni authorities to release Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, stop prosecuting journalists, activists and critics of the state for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and to release all prisoners arrested solely for the non-violent expression of their opinions.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36257","proposer":"10383","edm":"1935","session":"2007-08","title":"Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine","text":"That this House is extremely worried that there is still no news of disappeared Haitian human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine who fought for justice for the victims of the 1991 and 2004 military coups against elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; recognises that the world owes a debt to Haiti, the first country to abolish slavery in 1804, decades before the US and Europe, and that Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine represents this long revolutionary tradition; notes that many people are accusing the Haitian and UN authorities of not doing enough to find Mr Pierre-Antoine; welcomes the concern expressed by US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, actors Danny Glover and Vanessa Redgrave, Secretary General of Pax Christi International, Claudette Werleigh, and the Amnesty International report which also warns of threats to the life of Mr Pierre-Antoine's colleague Wilson M\u00c3\u00a9silien; commends the weekly vigils held in Port-au-Prince, London, Los Angeles and San Francisco for keeping Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine in the public eye; and calls on the Government to use its influence to urge the Haitian and UN authorities to double their efforts to locate Mr Pierre-Antoine and ensure the protection of Mr M\u00c3\u00a9silien.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36258","proposer":"10009","edm":"1936","session":"2007-08","title":"Zimbabwe Election","text":"That this House believes the so called election in Zimbabwe was a complete disgrace from beginning to end and that the results do not reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe; notes with grave concern the atrocious levels of violence and intimidation meted out by Robert Mugabe and his henchmen to the opponents of this dictator; deplores the spineless response of African Union countries and world governments to this election; endorses and, furthermore, will act to ensure that the wise words of Edmund Burke are taken into serious immediate consideration by Parliament, `All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'; and encourages the rest of the world community to bring forward proposals to invalidate this corrupt election forthwith.","date":"2008-07-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36236","proposer":"10258","edm":"1914","session":"2007-08","title":"Cocoa Industry And Trafficking","text":"That this House calls attention to the trafficking of an estimated 12,000 children into slavery on cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire to make the chocolate that is consumed in the UK; notes with dismay that the cocoa industry will not meet its commitments to eradicate the worst forms of child labour in supply chains by 1st July 2008, and thus it continues to profit from modern-day child slavery; is concerned with the lack of Government pressure on the industry to uphold children's rights; calls on the cocoa industry to guarantee its products are not made by trafficked children; and further calls on the Government to hold chocolate manufacturers to account.","date":"2008-06-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36204","proposer":"11245","edm":"1883","session":"2007-08","title":"Humanitarian Situation In Somalia","text":"That this House is deeply concerned by the developing humanitarian crisis in Somalia arising from civil war, political instability and catastrophic climate failures which have led to famine and drought; notes that the number of people desperately in need of help may rise to three million and that children under five years old are worst affected by these conditions and are suffering terrible consequences; and therefore calls on the Government to work with other African countries, non-governmental organisations and the international community and, particularly, to use bilateral aid to get humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia.","date":"2008-06-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36205","proposer":"10600","edm":"1884","session":"2007-08","title":"Political Violence In Zimbabwe And 27th June Presidential Vote","text":"That this House condemns the ongoing campaign of murder and brutal political violence perpetrated by the regime of President Robert Mugabe against the Zimbabwean people which has led to the withdrawal from the 27th June presidential run-off of first-round winner and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai; notes with grave concern the vow of President Mugabe that the MDC will `never, ever be allowed to rule Zimbabwe' and his claim that `only God will remove him' from office; and calls on the African Union and the Southern African Development Community not to recognise the result of this election.","date":"2008-06-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36152","proposer":"10616","edm":"1843","session":"2007-08","title":"Detention Of Asylum Seekers From Democratic Republic Of Congo","text":"That this House calls for the immediate release of all asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are still being held in immigration detention centres around the UK, including one in Belmarsh Prison, as their deportation is not imminent while the DRC country guidance is being appealed against; and considers that their continued detention, in some cases far in excess of 12 months, is becoming unlawful, as it is blatantly punitive rather than administrative.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36154","proposer":"11973","edm":"1845","session":"2007-08","title":"Josie Pasane","text":"That this House condemns the Home Office decision to separate Josie Pasane from her family, whom she has been living with for seven years in Broughty Ferry, and to deport her to South Africa; expresses concern over reports that Josie received incorrect advice from the Home Office over her status which has led to the order for deportation; notes that Josie, a graduate of Abertay University, is a valued member of the local community; and calls on the Government urgently to review her case.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36142","proposer":"10328","edm":"1834","session":"2007-08","title":"Democracy In Bangladesh","text":"That this House supports the declaration made by the Foreign Secretary on his visit to Bangladesh on 10th February 2008 that Britain will help Bangladesh and its people who are striving to achieve a democracy that will endure; expresses concern that the caretaker government have arrested thousands of political activists from the main political parties according to Human Rights Watch and Bangladeshi newspaper reports; notes the desire for free and fair elections to be held in December 2008 without intimidation or harassment; and calls on the UK Government to use its good offices to ensure the caretaker government of Bangladesh provides an environment conducive to the establishment of a sustainable democracy that involves all the main political parties.","date":"2008-06-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36109","proposer":"11245","edm":"1805","session":"2007-08","title":"Genocide Against The Kurdish People","text":"That this House notes that the Supreme Criminal Court of Iraq has reached its verdict on the Anfal Campaign, declaring it to be a mass killing, a genocide, against the Kurdish people; and calls on the international community to respect the Court's decision and recognise the mass killing of Kurds as genocide.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36110","proposer":"11245","edm":"1806","session":"2007-08","title":"Genocide Against The Assyrian And Armenian People","text":"That this House urges the Government to recognise formally the genocide of Assyrians and Armenians under the Young Turk regime in Ottoman Turkey during 1915 to 1923; and welcomes the co-operation between groups representing the Armenian and Assyrian peoples, joined also by groups representing the Kurdish people who have also suffered genocide, in jointly working to encourage the whole international community to recognise the atrocities perpetrated against their respective peoples as genocide.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36111","proposer":"11245","edm":"1807","session":"2007-08","title":"Imperial War Museum Genocide Exhibition","text":"That this House welcomes the current exhibition by Kurdish artist Mr Osman Amed on the Anfal genocide at the Imperial War Museum; and urges the Government to recognise Saddam Hussein's killing of Kurdish people in Iraq during the period 1987 to 1988, including the Anfal campaign and the Halabja chemical attack, as an act of genocide.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36098","proposer":"10261","edm":"1794","session":"2007-08","title":"World Refugee Week","text":"That this House recognises on the occasion of Refugee Week, that more than 67 million people worldwide are in a situation of forced displacement as a result of conflict and persecution; notes with concern that the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the sole body with a global mandate to co-ordinate protection, shelter and assistance for the world's displaced, but remains almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions; expresses dismay that over five million of the world's refugees have been living in exile for more than five years; and calls on the Government and the wider international community to find durable solutions for all long-term refugees.","date":"2008-06-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36086","proposer":"11892","edm":"1785","session":"2007-08","title":"Zimbabwe (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes with increasing alarm the on-going crisis in Zimbabwe; further notes the spiralling inflation, devastated economy and growing food shortages in that country; further notes that these are a direct result of the policies of the government led by Robert Mugabe; remembers that Zimbabwe was once known as the bread basket of Africa; condemns the combination of racism, corruption, greed, nepotism and administrative incompetence that has caused this crisis; expresses its opposition to the current attempts on the part of the Mugabe regime to subvert democracy, intimidate and launch physical attacks against political opponents and cling to power at the expense of the people of Zimbabwe; voices its support for all in Zimbabwe who are working to build a better future for it; and calls on the UK Government to prioritise the Zimbabwean tragedy in its work within the European Union and United Nations.","date":"2008-06-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36055","proposer":"10277","edm":"1755","session":"2007-08","title":"HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WOMEN LEADERS' COUNCIL","text":"That this House unconditionally recognises the unacceptability and horror of human trafficking, particularly of vulnerable females and children; and gives its full support to the women-only international task force, the Women Leaders' Council, which has amongst its membership Emma Thompson and Julia Ormond and which has been formed to publicise and combat the crime of human trafficking.","date":"2008-06-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36064","proposer":"11506","edm":"1764","session":"2007-08","title":"World War Ii Munitions Workers","text":"That this House acknowledges the contribution made by munitions workers to the defence of the United Kingdom in the Second World War; notes that many such workers were women conscripted under the provisions of the National Service Act 1941; considers that the contribution of munitions workers proved crucial in securing victory in 1945; regrets that that contribution has never been formally recognised; and calls on the Government to recognise the effort of former munitions workers in maintaining the security of this country.","date":"2008-06-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36017","proposer":"11798","edm":"1731","session":"2007-08","title":"Use Of Powers Under The Regulation Of Investigatory Powers Act 2000","text":"That this House expresses concern at reports concerning the expansion of the powers introduced in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and the recent extension to the list of organisations permitted to use these powers from nine to 792, including 474 councils, allowing hundreds of Government and local government agencies access to communications data; further notes the provisions of the Act that a warrant is only applicable in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, or for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of any international mutual assistance agreement; further notes recent reports that 152 of the largest councils in the UK used the Act to examine 936 people's private communications data in the 2006-07 financial year; believes that the powers of the Act are being expanded beyond its intended scope; and asks the Government to conduct an immediate review of the extension of organisations permitted to use the powers outlined in the Act.","date":"2008-06-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36034","proposer":"10123","edm":"1748","session":"2007-08","title":"Iraqi Referendum On Occupation","text":"That this House notes the claim of the occupying powers in Iraq to be introducing democracy; further notes that democracy and occupation are almost certainly incompatible; takes account of reports that the US is planning a contract with the present Iraqi government to continue its occupation indefinitely beyond the end of the year when the UN mandate runs out; and considers that the demand of Moqtada al-Sadr's group and many others in Iraq for a referendum of all the Iraqi people on that contract and on continuing US occupation should be acceded to.","date":"2008-06-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"36000","proposer":"10383","edm":"1714","session":"2007-08","title":"Pauline Campbell","text":"That this House notes with sadness the passing away of Pauline Campbell, a tireless, brave and committed campaigner who highlighted the shocking number of deaths of women within the prison system; further notes that since the death of her daughter, Sarah Campbell, who died in Styal Prison of a self-inflicted death in 2003, Pauline was a dedicated activist who fought to improve the treatment of women within the criminal justice system; and therefore resolves to continue Pauline's campaign to argue for a urgent and radical change in the way women are treated throughout the criminal justice system and in particular, to call for a fundamental redesign of custody whereby custodial sentences for offenders should primarily be reserved for serious and violent offenders.","date":"2008-06-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35977","proposer":"10543","edm":"1693","session":"2007-08","title":"75th Anniversary Of The Holodomor In Ukraine","text":"That this House notes that the British Association of Ukrainians is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine; further notes that the Holodomor was the systematic starvation to death of at least 7,000,000 Ukrainians during 1932 and 1933 when the Soviet regime confiscated all food from Ukrainian villages; considers that this was an appalling act of inhumanity and an immense tragedy; further notes that this anniversary honours the memory of all the millions who died; and calls on the Government to officially recognise the Holodomor as an act of genocide.","date":"2008-06-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35967","proposer":"10372","edm":"1683","session":"2007-08","title":"Anne Frank Declaration","text":"That this House welcomes the Anne Frank Declaration back to Parliament on its 10th anniversary; thanks the Anne Frank Trust UK for creating the Anne Frank Declaration and for its tireless work in schools, prisons and communities all over the UK, educating young people to embrace positive attitudes, responsibility and respect for others; and calls on Parliament to mark what would have been Anne Frank's 79th birthday by urging every hon. Member to embrace the mission of the Anne Frank Declaration to reduce hatred, challenge prejudice and strive for a world where everyone is treated equally.","date":"2008-06-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35935","proposer":"10190","edm":"1653","session":"2007-08","title":"Aung San Suu Kyi","text":"That this House is saddened that Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader in Burma, has had her house arrest extended by the Burma junta; notes that she has been held without trial for more than 12 of the last 18 years; and calls on the Government to urge the Burma junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and the further 2,000 political prisoners so that democratic politics can be restored to Burma.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35948","proposer":"10057","edm":"1667","session":"2007-08","title":"Krishna Maharaj","text":"That this House asks respectfully that the Florida Board of Executive Clemency led by Governor Charlie Crist grant the application for release by Krishna Maharaj, the British national imprisoned for 22 years of which 10 were on death row; recognises that the role of clemency can have results similar in effect to the British process of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; thanks the Florida authorities for granting the waiver that has allowed the hearing on 5th June and welcomes the recent understanding letter by the British Foreign Secretary to the Governor that followed the letter last year giving the British Government's support for Mr Maharaj's clemency plea; knows that the clemency hearing is not a new trial that was not ordered by the appeal courts but understands that in retrospect it is agreed that there have been unusual numbers of difficulties and unanswered questions in the detection, prosecution, witness evidence, trial, sentencing and legal representation following the undoubted crimes; remembers that Mr Maharaj has been an exemplary prisoner, always calmly maintaining his innocence; and requests that the sentence be reduced to a length that allows the release of this elderly man in ill health so he would return to the United Kingdom.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35923","proposer":"10133","edm":"1641","session":"2007-08","title":"Victor Jara Investigation","text":"That this House expresses its condemnation of the proposal in Chile to close the legal investigation into the murder of Victor Jara; notes that those who committed crimes in the former Chile Stadium should not enjoy impunity, since the stadium was under the control of the Chilean armed forces in the days following the military coup when these crimes were committed; and believes that the Chilean courts and Chilean government should now act to ensure that the armed forces hand over information which will enable the officers responsible for the crimes to be identiifed and facilitate the continuance of the investigation into this case which is symbolic both for Chile and the world.","date":"2008-05-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35886","proposer":"10465","edm":"1608","session":"2007-08","title":"ARREST OF MEMBERS OF THE BAH\u00c3\u0081'\u00c3\u008d COMMUNITY IN IRAN","text":"That this House expresses grave alarm at the news of the arrest of six prominent Bah\u00c3\u00a1'\u00c3\u00ads in Iran on 14th May 2008; notes that Mrs Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr Jamaloddin Khanjai, Mr Afif Naeimi, Mr Saeid Rezaie, Mr Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Mr Vahid Tizfah are members of the informal group known as the Friends in Iran that co-ordinate the activities of the Bah\u00c3\u00a1'\u00c3\u00ad community in Iran; further notes that another member of the Friends in Iran, Mrs Mahvash Sabet, has been held in custody since 5th March 2008; registers deepest concern at the mounting threats and persecution of the Iranian Bah\u00c3\u00a1'\u00c3\u00ad community; urges the Government to seek from the Iranian government guarantees for the safety of these individuals; and calls for their immediate unconditional release.","date":"2008-05-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35887","proposer":"10282","edm":"1609","session":"2007-08","title":"Treatment Of Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade Unions","text":"That this House deplores the detention of the President, Lovemore Matombo and the Secretary General, Wellington Chibebe, of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions; welcomes the decision of Amnesty International to regard both men as prisoners of conscience; is gravely concerned by the relentless assault on political and civic expression evidence by shamelessly brutal attacks on trades union officials; and calls upon all who claim to uphold human rights and democracy to condemn unequivocally the use by the ZanuPF regime of imprisonment, abduction and violence to suppress the peacefully expressed democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe.","date":"2008-05-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35855","proposer":"11768","edm":"1578","session":"2007-08","title":"Burmese Constitutional Referendum","text":"That this House condemns the announcement by Burma's ruling junta that a new constitution was given overwhelming backing in a referendum carried out on 10th May in the midst of the catastrophe caused by Cyclone Nargis; notes that the draft constitution has been designed to entrench military rule in Burma and is opposed by pro-democracy groups within Burma; is appalled that the regime continued with the planned referendum even as thousands of Burmese men, women and children were dying in the devastated Irawaddy Delta region; dismisses the claims by the generals that voter turnout was 99 per cent. and that the constitution was approved by more than 92 per cent. of all eligible voters; again calls on the junta to release all political prisoners inside Burma including Aung San Suu Kyi; and encourages the Government to continue working with international partners to overcome the resistance of the regime in Burma to a full international humanitarian effort to bring relief to the cyclone survivors.","date":"2008-05-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35844","proposer":"10754","edm":"1568","session":"2007-08","title":"Forced Marriages Of People With Disabilities","text":"That this House notes that the majority of cases of forced marriage reported in the United Kingdom involve South Asian families; further notes that the Department of Health's report Learning Disabilities and Ethnicity found that learning disabilities are up to three times higher in South Asian communities than in other communities; further notes that the Director of UK Visas has stated that of the 250 `reluctant sponsors' for visas dealt with by the consul in Pakistan in 2007, 86 involved adults with severe disabilities; expresses concern that limited information on forced marriages of people with disabilities may hinder effective responses to this problem; and asks the Government to commission research into the prevalence and causes of forced marriages of people with disabilities.","date":"2008-05-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35813","proposer":"10169","edm":"1543","session":"2007-08","title":"Warsaw Ghetto Uprising","text":"That this House notes that 2008 is the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a revolt by people without any resources or hope of victory against the Nazi machine; further notes that the insurgents were killed with great cruelty; recognises that the uprising was a desperate expression of the will to live, and of the hope for a future against all the odds; recalls that during the 27 days it lasted, starting on the eve of Passover, 1943, thousands of Jews who remained in the ghetto took on the Nazis, and these inexperienced, weak, defenceless people fought for almost a month against a force 1,000 times superior; acknowledges that the uprising was the first revolt of a civilian urban population in Nazi-occupied Europe, and, although the insurgents were defeated in the end, their bravery and their heroism are an inspiration; and accordingly salutes the memory of the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.","date":"2008-05-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35799","proposer":"10218","edm":"1529","session":"2007-08","title":"Occupation Of Somalia And Human Rights Abuses","text":"That this House notes the publication by Amnesty International of damning evidence of human rights abuses carried out by Ethiopian forces and their allies in Somalia; further notes that 700,000 people, nearly half of the population of Mogadishu, have been forced to flee following the Ethiopian invasion; recalls that the US administration has trained and supplied Ethiopian troops involved in the occupation of Somalia and that the European Union is also a funder of the regimes in Ethiopia and occupied Somalia; and therefore supports the call by Amnesty International for an international commission of inquiry into allegations of war crimes in Somalia and into the role of other countries that have given military or financial support to those who might have committed them.","date":"2008-05-09","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35742","proposer":"10358","edm":"1476","session":"2007-08","title":"Conduct Of Zimbabwe And Equatorial Guinea Towards Mr Simon Mann","text":"That this House deplores the transfer by Zimbabwe to Equatorial Guinea of Mr Simon Mann after nearly five years in gaol, in contravention of assurances given to the UK Government that this would not occur while his appeal process was still underway; is appalled that he has been held in shackles in Black Beach Prison ever since; condemns the continuing refusal to grant United Kingdom consular access to him since a single visit in March; and urges the Government to seek the support of the United States and other influential countries to safeguard Mr Mann's human rights in this perilous situation.","date":"2008-05-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35750","proposer":"10076","edm":"1484","session":"2007-08","title":"60th Anniversary Of Palestinian Nakba","text":"That this House notes the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel; further notes that it coincides with the marking of 60 years since the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe); regrets that 60 years after 1948 there are still over four million UN-registered Palestinian refugees, in addition to those who were unable to register with the UN, who have yet to have their rights upheld as required by several UN resolutions and have yet to receive acknowledgment of the injustice that they suffered; further notes that there are over 250,000 internally displaced Palestinians inside Israel who have also not been allowed to return to their homes; further notes that over 530 Palestinian villages and towns were destroyed in that period and that Palestinian refugees have not been compensated for the loss of their property; and believes that achieving a just solution for Palestinian refugees is as essential a requirement for a comprehensive and durable peace in the Middle East as is full recognition and security for the State of Israel.","date":"2008-05-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35696","proposer":"10616","edm":"1435","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Displacement By Monocultures","text":"That this House notes with interest the Friends of the Earth report Losing Ground on the many adverse human rights and environmental effects of large-scale palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia; further notes the widespread reports from the global South of human rights abuses and harm to local environments amid the advance of monocultures associated with the present commodities shock and biofuel drive, including of palm oil elsewhere and of soya, cotton, sugarcane and jatropha; further notes that 11,000 villagers are being displaced in Tanzania by jatropha plantations cultivated for the UK firm Sun Biofuels; urges that British and European decision-makers consult more actively with Southern non-governmental organisations when devising trade and energy policies; and also recognises the need to reduce the UK's ecological footprint in its national choice of energy sources, and the value of individuals doing so within a balanced diet by reducing consumption of animals.","date":"2008-04-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35705","proposer":"10022","edm":"1444","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Rights And Tibet","text":"That this House is both alarmed and disappointed by the refusal by the Chinese government to accede to a request from Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to grant access for a delegation from the UN to visit Tibet in April in order independently to assess the current working situation; urges the Government to express its grave concern to the Chinese authorities over this decision, to ask why it is not convenient at this time and to press for an early date at which it would be convenient; and further urges the Government actively to support the recent European Parliament's resolution on Tibet wherein it calls for an open and independent inquiry, under the auspices of the United Nations, into the recent riots and repression in Tibet; and urges the Chinese authorities to issue a standing invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies to visit Tibet.","date":"2008-04-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35675","proposer":"10177","edm":"1424","session":"2007-08","title":"ANNIVERSARY OF BISHOP JOHN JOSEPH'S DEATH AND PAKISTAN'S BLASPHEMY LAW","text":"That this House recalls the death of Bishop John Joseph on 6th May 1998, who shot himself to protest against the blasphemy law and the sentencing of Ayub Masih to death for blasphemy in Pakistan; notes that abuses continue to occur under Pakistan's blasphemy law including sentencing Younis Masih to death for blasphemy last year; notes that those who are accused suffer retributive attacks and severe mistreatment, particularly in prison, and even those who are acquitted remain at risk of violent attack by extremists and are therefore forced to live in hiding or exile; notes that the blasphemy law is open to abuse as it only requires the testimony of one person for charges to be brought, no proof of intent is needed and the definition of blasphemy is inadequate; further notes that lawyers and human rights defenders regularly receive death threats when defending blasphemy cases; further notes the recent election of a new government in Pakistan under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani; and so calls upon Mr Gillani's government to repeal the blasphemy law and for Pakistan to adhere to its responsibilities under international law.","date":"2008-04-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35625","proposer":"10401","edm":"1378","session":"2007-08","title":"MEXICAN GOVERNMENT REPRESSION OF MINEWORKERS' UNION","text":"That this House notes that Mexico's largest mining company, Grupo Mexico, and the Mexican government have systematically and repeatedly violated Mexican law and international standards in an attempt to crush the National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM), including illegally removing Napoleon Gomex Urrutia, SNTMMSRM's General Secretary, from office and replacing him with a government appointee; further notes that the Mexican government perverted its legal system and levelled charges of corruption and embezzlement against Gomez; further notes that when a number of independent inquiries into these actions revealed the government has used falsified documents, concealed evidence and coerced officials to issue baseless arrests warrants against Gomez, the Mexican government and Grupo Mexico worked together to seek to destroy the union by granting overnight recognition to a pro-company union, holding election in which workers were forced at gunpoint to join the new union and vote for approved candidates; condemns Grupo Mexico and the Mexican government for using the Army and Federal Police to break SNTMMRSM strikes, kill workers and arrest union leaders; believes the existence of free and independent trade unions is essential to the functioning of any democracy; and therefore calls upon the Government to make representations to the Mexican government to end its attacks on SNTMMRSM and Gomez, release all union funds illegally seized, lift all charges pending against Gomez and other SNTMMRSM members, prosecute those responsible for the illegal pursuit of Gomez and investigate Grupo Mexico's involvement in the recent murder of SNTMMRSM member Reinaldo Hernandez Gonzales and the detention and torture of 20 of the union's members in Nacozari, Sonara state.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35634","proposer":"10123","edm":"1387","session":"2007-08","title":"Humanitarian Suffering In Tibet","text":"That this House expresses deep sadness and concern for the current situation in Tibet which sees the country in severe lockdown by the Chinese authorities following recent demonstrations by the Tibetan populace that resulted in over 140 Tibetans killed, over 4,000 Tibetans in detention, a lack of medical aid for those injured, restricted movement, many in hiding for fear of their lives, leaving villages deserted at the crucial time of year when crops need to be sowed and severe food shortages in the cities; and calls on the Government to urge the Chinese authorities to end this suffering by allowing humanitarian aid, under the auspices of the International Red Cross, the UN or other independent bodies, into the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other areas of Tibet.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35606","proposer":"11245","edm":"1362","session":"2007-08","title":"Armenian Genocide Of 1915","text":"That this House supports rational international deterrents to genocide; agrees with the argument powerfully made in the film, Screamers, that the failure of political leaders to acknowledge past genocides allows and enables further acts of genocide to be carried out with impunity; and therefore believes that Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35611","proposer":"10012","edm":"1367","session":"2007-08","title":"Treatment Of The Actress Tang Wei","text":"That this House is concerned at the treatment of Tang Wei, the successful Chinese actress and star of the award-winning film Lust, Caution directed by Ang Lee; is alarmed by reports that she has effectively been blacklisted by China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television; understands that the broadcast of advertisements featuring Tang Wei have been halted and access to internet references to her have been removed within China; believes she may be made a scapegoat for involvement in a film that is viewed unfavourably by the Chinese authorities; and calls on the UK Government to make representations in support of artistic freedom for Tang Wei and all Chinese citizens.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35614","proposer":"10428","edm":"1370","session":"2007-08","title":"Missing Persons Cyprus","text":"That this House notes that in the recent European Court of Human Rights judgement Varnava and others v Turkey it was found that Turkey was guilty of violating the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), through its failure to investigate or take action over the fates of the nine applicants to the Court who, although witnessed alive and under the detention of the Turkish Army in both Cyprus and Turkey following the illegal invasion and hostilities on the island in 1974, remain today missing persons, believed dead; believes that Turkey's violation of those persons' liberty was and remains a crime against humanity; further believes that the fates of more than one thousand others connected to the same conflict, many of whom are the relatives of British citizens, should be similarly categorised; and calls upon the Government to demand of Turkey that it immediately complies with the judgement of the ECHR in this case and also promptly provides full details of other missing persons in its charge before their disappearance.","date":"2008-04-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35560","proposer":"10685","edm":"1321","session":"2007-08","title":"Murder Of Serge Maheshe","text":"That this House expresses its great distress at the murder in Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo of the UN radio journalist Serge Maheshe; notes with gravest concern the report of the United Nations identifying gross shortcomings in the investigation of the crime and the trial of two of Mr Maheshe's colleagues currently under sentence of death for the murder; and calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to address the deficiencies already identified and to ensure a free and fair appeal process.","date":"2008-04-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35535","proposer":"10780","edm":"1299","session":"2007-08","title":"40th Anniversary Of Civil Rights Movement In Northern Ireland","text":"That this House notes that 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the commencement of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, which was aimed primarily at employment and housing rights; recognises that 40 years on there are a range of commissions and non-departmental public bodies to ensure fairness and transparency in these and many other areas; believes that, whereas Roman Catholics felt disadvantaged when there were few safeguards and little data available to verify disadvantage in 1968, it is Protestants who in 2008 face disadvantage in jobs and cultural rights despite the existence of the data which verifies their claim to disadvantage and the organisations whose task it is to ensure that such disadvantage no longer exists; and calls upon those bodies to work to ensure that there is genuine equality in Northern Ireland for all.","date":"2008-04-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35519","proposer":"10105","edm":"1284","session":"2007-08","title":"Mr Gafar Ali Hassan And Mrs Ali Hassan","text":"That this House is most concerned that Mr Gafar Ali Hassan and Mrs Ali Hassan who fled from Iraq to the UK in 2006 in fear of their lives have been told to prepare to return: considers that this decision fails to comprehend that Mr Hassan's Baa'th connections and rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Iraqi armed forces until 2000 make him a militia target; believes that if he were returned to Iraq there is a high risk of Mr Hassan being murdered; and calls on the Minister for Immigration and Asylum to intervene and give him and his wife the right to sanctuary until their well-being can be guaranteed.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35500","proposer":"10608","edm":"1266","session":"2007-08","title":"Bhopal 23 Years On","text":"That this House deplores the continuing suffering of the people of Bhopal 23 years after the world's worst industrial disaster; notes that Amnesty International has reported ongoing violations of human rights, that contaminated factory land is still not properly cleaned up, that high quantities of organochlorines and lead pollute local water supplies, that there are continuing occurrences of birth deformities and ill health and that 15 people die each month as a result; congratulates the work of the Sambhavna medical clinic in treating victims of gas and water poisoning and that of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal in trying to make the government of India meet its obligations to provide clean water and adequate medical, social and economic rehabilitation; and further applauds the campaign for pursuing polluter pays principles against Dow Chemical and extradition of its fugitive subsidiary Union Carbide, which refuses to face charges in India of culpable homicide in connection with the deaths of 23,000 people.","date":"2008-03-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35503","proposer":"10133","edm":"1269","session":"2007-08","title":"Bangladesh And Democracy","text":"That this House notes the 37th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh; expresses deep concern at the present political situation in Bangladesh where the caretaker administration, supported by the military, has already been in office for 15 months; therefore calls for an end to the state of emergency, resumption of normal political activities, and that all political prisoners should have immediate access to independent legal representation and their cases heard in independent civilian courts; and furthermore expresses deep concern at the denial of medical care to any prisoner including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.","date":"2008-03-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35484","proposer":"10383","edm":"1250","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Penalty In Pakistan","text":"That this House notes with concern that a man arrested by Pakistani authorities as Manjit Singh has been sentenced to be executed at the end of April 2008; notes that the man's family claim he is a victim of mistaken identity, and that his name is Sarabjit Singh; further notes that he was arrested in 1990 on charges of having worked for Indian intelligence, but has since been convicted of involvement in lethal bomb attacks in 1990; and calls on the Prime Minister both to make representations to the President of Pakistan to use his powers under Article 45 of the Constitution to commute the death sentence, and further to encourage Pakistan to abolish the death penalty.","date":"2008-03-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35462","proposer":"10186","edm":"1235","session":"2007-08","title":"ETHIOPIAN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION","text":"That this House shares the deep concern of Education International, the TUC and the National Union of Teachers over the future of the legitimate Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA) following the recent Ethiopian Supreme Court ruling which resulted in an order for the union's property, assets and even its name to be handed over to a rival organisation, also called ETA, set up by the Ethiopian government; further expresses concern about the safety of ETA teacher members who continue to be forcibly detained, or arbitrarily dismissed, for any form of criticism of the Ethiopian government; notes that these are gross breaches of international standards in relation to trade union rights; and requests that the UK Government uses its influence with the government of Ethiopia to help secure a meeting between Education International and Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, to explore avenues for dialogue and reconciliation between the rival organisations in order to avert further tension and unrest.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35470","proposer":"11656","edm":"1201A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Behaviour Of Chinese Forces In Tibet","text":"leave out from `and' to end and add `welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement that he will meet the Dalai Lama when he is in London in May.'.","date":"2008-03-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35423","proposer":"10543","edm":"1197","session":"2007-08","title":"Mrs Sheikh Hasina Wajid","text":"That this House notes with grave concern that Mrs Sheikh Hasina Wajid, a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Leader of the Bangladeshi Awami League, has been under arrest for the last eight months by the military-backed government in Bangladesh; further notes that though various charges have been laid against her that she has not been offered due legal process or the right to a trial in an open, fair and transparent court; further notes that she is seriously ill in jail but has not been offered the appropriate hospital treatment; and calls upon the Government to make representations to the government of Bangladesh to either offer Mrs Sheikh Hasina Wajid a fair trial or to release her, to afford her immediate hospital treatment and, more generally, to uphold its democratic obligations to the country.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35427","proposer":"10022","edm":"1201","session":"2007-08","title":"Behaviour Of Chinese Forces In Tibet","text":"That this House condemns the brutal policing by the Chinese authorities in quelling spontaneous demonstrations by local Tibetans, monks, nuns and lay people in Lhasa and elsewhere in Tibet which has endured 49 years of subjugation by China; notes with deep sadness that this heavy-handed response has resulted in the slaughter of at least 100 Tibetans; calls on the Government to strongly denounce the Chinese government's overreaction in sending in troops and tanks to Lhasa, to support the Dalai Lama's calls for an independent UN delegation to visit Tibet urgently to report on conditions and verify the number of injured, deaths and arrests and to call on the Chinese authorities to start genuine negotiations without preconditions with envoys of the Dalai Lama for a settlement of the Tibet issue; and further reiterates its call for the Prime Minister to meet the Dalai Lama when he is in London in May.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35412","proposer":"10074","edm":"1190","session":"2007-08","title":"Colombian Hostages","text":"That this House expresses concern for all those political hostages being held throughout Colombia; is particularly concerned by the plight of Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate, who has been held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for the last six years; notes with further concern reports of the deteriorating health of Ms Betancourt; further notes the recent downturn in diplomatic relations in the Andean region between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela as a consequence of the activities of FARC and the Colombian military; and calls on the Prime Minister to follow the example of the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, in calling for the immediate release of Ingrid Betancourt and the continuation of unconditional humanitarian hostage releases by FARC.","date":"2008-03-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35401","proposer":"10001","edm":"1180","session":"2007-08","title":"Mehdi Kazemi And The Treatment Of Homosexuality In Iran","text":"That this House is concerned by the case of Iranian teenager Mehdi Kazemi who is currently living in Holland; notes reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was forced by Iranian authorities to denounce other gay men, including Mr Kazemi himself; is appalled at reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was then hanged for the offence of homosexuality; believes that Mr Kazemi's life is in serious danger if he were returned to Iran; further notes that the Dutch authorities have rejected Mr Kazemi's appeal for asylum in Holland and are likely to deport him to the UK; believes that the Home Office view that Iran is safe for homosexuals as long as they hide their sexuality is contrary to human rights standards on sexual freedom; and calls on the Government to uphold its asserted position as a supporter of human rights by refraining from sending Mr Kazemi back to Iran and near-certain human rights abuses.","date":"2008-03-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35404","proposer":"11589","edm":"1183","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Rights In Western Sahara","text":"That this House expresses deep concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied territory of Western Sahara; deplores the evidence of human rights abuses perpetrated against Saharawi citizens including torture, beatings, false imprisonment, unfair trials, rape and disappearances; notes that some of these abuses have continued to escalate since the 2007 reports by Amnesty International and by the Saharawi human rights organisation, CODESA; further notes that the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reflecting serious concern and calling for urgent action has never been formally released; calls for the OHCHR report to be officially published and adopted by the UN Security Council so that its recommendations may be implemented; and calls on the Government to act urgently in this regard.","date":"2008-03-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35379","proposer":"10295","edm":"1159","session":"2007-08","title":"Free Tibet March On China","text":"That this House notes the Free Tibet movement march on the Chinese border; notes that the march aims to reach the border when the Beijing Olympics close in order to highlight the injustice of treatment of Tibet by the Chinese authorities; and calls on the Chinese government to recognise the rights of Tibetans and in the spirit of the Olympic Games adopt a tolerant and respectful stance towards the beliefs and rights of Tibetans.","date":"2008-03-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35363","proposer":"10190","edm":"1143","session":"2007-08","title":"BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM","text":"That this House notes the decision of the Burmese military regime to hold a referendum on a new constitution in early May 2008; is concerned that clauses in the draft constitution would preclude the election of Aung San Suu Kyi or other legitimate non-military opposition leaders; condemns the harsh restrictions in place against campaigners against the referendum; further notes that among those Burmese citizens to be denied the opportunity to vote within Burma will be approximately 350,000 Buddhist clergy, 500,000 internally displaced Burmese and 160,000 refugees on the Thai-Burma border; further notes the opportunity to vote will also be denied to an estimated 150,000 Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia, Singapore, China and India, to 50,000 Burmese refugees in India, and to an estimated four million Burmese living in exile around the world, including in Britain; calls for the referendum to be held in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for basic rights; looks forward to the day when all Burmese citizens over 18 are afforded the right to vote, without regard to religion, gender, ethnicity or political affiliation; and calls on the Government to continue to press the EU, the US and Burma's neighbours to take a strong and united position on Burma and to support the Burmese people in their struggle for full democratic rights.","date":"2008-03-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35349","proposer":"10001","edm":"1129","session":"2007-08","title":"Chinese Investment In Darfur","text":"That this House believes that the continuing crisis in Darfur could be eased by a reduction in foreign investment, most notable of which is Chinese investment in the Sudanese oil industry; and notes that oil revenues have been used to fund the continuing conflict and that, given the international focus on China in the run up to the Beijing Olympic Games, the Government should urge China to reduce its investment in Sudan and join the international community in applying pressure to all parties in the conflict for a peaceful settlement.","date":"2008-03-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35342","proposer":"10028","edm":"1123","session":"2007-08","title":"Rights For Homeworkers","text":"That this House believes that homeworkers deserve equal treatment with those employed in factories, offices or other places of work; is concerned that homeworkers are currently vulnerable to exploitation as their rights are unclear under existing English law; believes that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 177 on Homework provides a positive framework for delivering decent rights and protections to homeworkers; and calls upon the Government to take all necessary steps to make good its intention, stated in 1997, to ratify ILO Convention 177.","date":"2008-03-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35299","proposer":"10133","edm":"1091","session":"2007-08","title":"Recent Arrest And Detention Of Ethnic Indian Human Rights Defenders In Malaysia","text":"That this House notes with concern the recent arrest and detention without trial in Malaysia of five ethnic Indian human rights defenders from the organisation Hindraf following a peaceful gathering demanding basic rights; further notes that these men are being held by the Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial for an unspecified period; further notes that these arrests come on top of other actions taken by the Malaysian government to curtail the human rights of the minority Indian community in Malaysia including the freedom of religion; calls on the Government to make representations to the government of Malaysia on serious human rights violations against the ethnic minority Indian community; calls on Malaysia to ensure that the internationally protected rights of ethnic minority community, to peaceful assembly, expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion are protected in accordance with international standards; and calls for the immediate release of the five held without trial.","date":"2008-03-03","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35201","proposer":"10040","edm":"1003","session":"2007-08","title":"Assassination Of Democracy Leader From Burma","text":"That this House condemns the assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, General Secretary of the Karen National Union; pays tribute to his tireless work to bring freedom to the people of Burma; condemns the junta ruling Burma for its terrrorist act in organising the assassination; sends its condolences to the family of Mahn Sha; and calls on the British government to take action to stop the Burmese junta's brutal attacks against the Karen and other ethnic civilians in Eastern Burma.","date":"2008-02-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35097","proposer":"11245","edm":"883A1","session":"2007-08","title":"IRAQI WOMEN'S LEAGUE CAMPAIGN","text":"after `crimes;', insert `further notes that the allies' policy of training, putting into uniform and in arming opposing militias and putting them on the streets may have exacerbated the problem;'.","date":"2008-02-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35059","proposer":"11427","edm":"883","session":"2007-08","title":"IRAQI WOMEN'S LEAGUE CAMPAIGN","text":"That this House notes that in recent months there have been over 60 recorded murders of women carried out by extremist and reactionary forces and criminal gangs, under various social, religious and political motives and pretexts in the Basra area; fears that the figure may be even higher because the families of victims are often reluctant or too frightened to report these horrific crimes; supports the campaign launched by the Iraqi Women's League to highlight the plight of Iraqi women and to mobilise public opinion, exert pressure and intensify efforts to stop these inhuman and barbaric acts as well as allowing the voice of Iraqi women, rejecting all forms of exploitation and abuse of dignity, to be heard by the world; endorses their demands for an international fact-finding mission to Iraq, to be organised by the UN High Commission for Human Rights with the participation of international human rights organisations, to investigate the crimes against women, help the Iraqi authorities to identify the perpetrators and work to stop these crimes; further notes that the Kurdistan National Assembly has passed legislation to outlaw violence against women; and hopes that the Iraqi Parliament could follow suit.","date":"2008-02-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"35001","proposer":"10785","edm":"833","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Rights And Iran","text":"That this House welcomes the recent report from Human Rights Watch on the clampdown by the Iranian government on independent activism; condemns the Iranian government's practice of holding certain women's rights activists, union and labour activists, teachers, journalists, scholars, students and other peaceful political activists under detention without trial under the security laws set out in the Islamic Penal Code entitled Offences Against the National and International Security of the Country, especially at Section 209 of Tehran's Evin Prison; further condemns the ill-treatment of detainees under interrogation at Evin 209, including the use of blindfolding, solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, and other forms of physical and psychological abuse; further condemns the detainees' lack of access to legal counsel and lack of access to telephone calls or visits with family members; and calls upon the UK Government to press the Iranian government to bring Evin 209 under transparent supervision, to amend its security laws to define national security and breaches against it in narrow terms that do not infringe upon the right to free speech, and to allow all detainees access to legal counsel throughout the period of their detention and trial.","date":"2008-01-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34962","proposer":"10169","edm":"797","session":"2007-08","title":"Armenian Genocide","text":"That this House unreservedly condemns the desecration of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Cardiff on Holocaust Memorial Day 2008; congratulates all bodies which have recognised the truth of the Armenian Genocide including The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, The Aegis Trust, The European Parliament, The National Assembly of Wales, The Edinburgh, Ealing and Gwynedd Councils, The United Nations Association Wales, The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and the Kurdish parliament in exile; and calls upon the UK Government formally to recognise the 1915 genocide of Armenians and Assyrians.","date":"2008-01-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34894","proposer":"10133","edm":"732","session":"2007-08","title":"Humanitarian Situation In Gaza (No. 2)","text":"That this House is appalled at the continued and wholly preventable humanitarian crisis in Gaza; unreservedly condemns Israel for cutting off fuel supplies and preventing other vital supplies entering from Israel; and calls upon the Government to make all efforts to ensure that Israel lifts the siege with immediate effect.","date":"2008-01-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34779","proposer":"11589","edm":"626","session":"2007-08","title":"Right To Marry In The UK","text":"That this House expresses concern at the Home Office Certificate of Approval scheme which provides that only those immigrants seeking to marry at an Anglican church in England or Wales are exempt from the scheme; considers the requirement of permission to marry in the UK for immigrant members of other religions, or no religion, or in other parts of the UK, not only to be discriminatory but to be a violation of Articles 8, 9 and 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights; notes that this questionable scheme applies to immigrants regardless of the fact that they may be in the UK lawfully as recognised refugees or foreign students and cannot in any case obtain any immigration advantage by marrying; recognises the Court of Appeal decision in the case of Baiai and Others that the Home Office Certificate of Approval scheme is unlawful; regrets that the Home Office has since raised the fee for Certificate of Approval applications to \u00c2\u00a3295 per person; and calls on the Home Office to rescind this scheme.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34786","proposer":"10001","edm":"633","session":"2007-08","title":"Criminalising Prostitution And Action Against Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation","text":"That this House is concerned by recent comments made by Ministers and former Ministers regarding prostitution in the UK; notes that calls to ban prostitution in order to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation appear to be ill thought-out; understands that Government raids on prostitution establishments as part of Operation Pentameter have not found a vast number of trafficked workers but rather that women working in such establishments are more likely to be made vulnerable by debts incurred during migration, or by poverty that drives them into sex work; further notes that women who are recognised as victims of trafficking are given few rights to protection or residency under current legislation; and calls on the Government to rethink its approach to prostitution by focusing on protecting women from exploitation and by offering suitable alternatives to prostitution for those who wish to leave it.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34787","proposer":"10001","edm":"634","session":"2007-08","title":"Children In Immigration Detention","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government persists in detaining children and their families in immigration removal centres; notes that recent work by Save the Children, Bail for Immigration Detainees, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Legal Action for Women, Refugee Council and the Children's Commissioner of England among others have found that detention centres are not suitable places for children to live; further notes that despite these objections children continue to be held in detention centres, at times for over 28 days; believes that holding children and families who are extremely vulnerable and in need of social and psychological help contravenes a plethora of human rights principles and laws; and calls on the Government to bring an end to the appalling practice of detaining children and vulnerable people.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34791","proposer":"11963","edm":"638","session":"2007-08","title":"Carmen Mayusa","text":"That this House notes that Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist; further notes that Carmen Mayusa from the Colombian health workers union ANTHOC has been detained since 11th May 2006 and is still awaiting trial; further notes that Carmen Mayusa was arrested for involvement with campaigns against the privatisation of the Colombian health service and for the human rights of trade unionists; is concerned that Carmen Mayusa is just one of many trade unionists held without trial in Colombian prisons; further notes that often such trade unionists are kept in custody for more than a year before they are released without trial or receive lengthy prison sentences; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Colombian authorities to ensure that Carmen Mayusa and all other trade unionists incarcerated for trade union activity are released immediately and that the continued harassment of Colombian trade unionists ceases.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34777","proposer":"10133","edm":"624","session":"2007-08","title":"Civilians In Gaza","text":"That this House notes the financial pledges of around \u00c2\u00a37.4 billion from 90 countries to be made to Palestine in the follow-up to the formal re-launch of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations last month in Annapolis; notes with considerable alarm Israel's overnight extrajudicial killings of 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in a series of air attacks, bringing the number of extrajudicial killing operations launched since September 2000 to at least 256, killing at least 612 Palestinians; and calls upon the Government to apply what pressure it can to ensure Israel ceases these extrajudicial killings which have become symbolic of its disregard for international law in Articles 6 and 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.","date":"2007-12-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34722","proposer":"10428","edm":"577","session":"2007-08","title":"Human Rights In Privately Run Care Homes","text":"That this House is concerned about the recent judgement of the House of Lords regarding the human rights of residents of privately-run care homes in the UK; believes that whilst it was never the intention of either the British Government nor European legislation that any care home resident should suffer in this way, the fact is that they have; and calls upon the Government immediately to bring forward legislative proposals to correct this serious and unfair anomaly forthwith.","date":"2007-12-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34704","proposer":"10177","edm":"561","session":"2007-08","title":"Death Of Joseph Musasizi Kifefe","text":"That this House regrets the recent death in detention of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) member Mr Joseph Musasizi Kifefe; notes that the deceased was the subject of early day motion 1448 of Session 2006-07, Safety of Ugandan Opposition Members which received the support of more that 60 hon. Members; also notes that in addition to 19 opposition members, including their leader Dr Kizza Besigye, who are out on bail, the following suspects have not appeared in court since their arrest in March 2003: Deus Mande, Amon Byarugaba, Didas Atunga, Asiimwe Steven, Okello Dagama, Aloro Moro, Mabe Akollo, Yassin Nuru, William Mamenero, Matte Simon, Muchimba Zephanias, Kyarisima Matsiko, Kiliope Isaac, Abbey and Cosma Komakech; and calls on the British and Ugandan governments to ensure that Mr Musasizi Kifefe's death is fully investigated and that Dr Kizza Besigye and other opposition members are immediately brought to court and convicted or released.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34708","proposer":"10371","edm":"565","session":"2007-08","title":"Archbishop John Sentamu","text":"That this House congratulates the stand taken by the Archbishop of York on the Andrew Marr show on the BBC last Sunday when he cut up his dog collar and vowed not to wear this symbol of his faith again whilst the tyrant Robert Mugabe remains in office; applauds the strong and inspirational leadership he has given since his appointment to the see of York; and calls on African leaders in a position of influence with the Zimbabwe regime, particularly in the states adjoining Zimbabwe, to follow his lead.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34714","proposer":"10133","edm":"571","session":"2007-08","title":"Bolivia","text":"That this House recognises the ongoing development of democracy in Bolivia and the improvements in the rights of indigenous people throughout the country; declares its strong support for the Morales government, despite the political tensions that it faces whilst debating a new constitution; and welcomes the statements made by the EU and all neighbouring countries in support of peaceful democratic dialogue and discussion and rejecting all attempts to violate the government's stability and the institutional bodies elected by the people.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34716","proposer":"10383","edm":"573","session":"2007-08","title":"Kurdish Democratic Society Party","text":"That this House calls upon the Government to express in the strongest terms to the Turkish government its dismay at the targeting by the Turkish judiciary of the Human Rights Association, and at the indictment of the leaders of the Kurdish political party, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), thus overturning the wishes of the people as expressed in the general election of July 2007 and ending the DTP's parliamentary representation; and urges the Government to seek a European Union initiative to express opposition to this unwarranted interference in the democratic process, a measure which is incompatible with Turkey's aim for full membership of the European Union.","date":"2007-12-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34696","proposer":"11798","edm":"555","session":"2007-08","title":"Bangladesh","text":"That this House is concerned at the circumstances surrounding the detention in Bangladesh of both the former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina; urges the caretaker Government to ensure that all allegations against these ladies are closely scrutinised to ensure that there are no malicious or politically motivated denunciations; further notes the allegations of the apparent suppression of political free speech which has culminated in the recent jailing of four Bangladeshi university professors; and calls on the caretaker Government to ensure that lawful protest and freedom of political expression is allowed.","date":"2007-12-11","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34659","proposer":"11265","edm":"519","session":"2007-08","title":"Zimbabwe","text":"That this House commends the gesture made by the Archbishop of York in cutting up his clerical collar in protest against Robert Mugabe's brutal destruction of Zimbabwe; and urges the Government to redouble its efforts to end Mugabe's reign of terror.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34664","proposer":"10383","edm":"524","session":"2007-08","title":"Student Arrests In Iran","text":"That this House notes with great concern the increase in repression against student activists protesting against the dictatorship and for social justice in Iran; further notes that around 30 students and other activists have been arrested, including a number who stayed away from their universities after warnings from the intelligence ministry; urges the Iranian government to release these student activists and to drop all sabotage charges against them; and calls upon the UK Government to press the Iranian government to respect basic human rights and the relevant international standards and treaties.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34634","proposer":"10077","edm":"501","session":"2007-08","title":"Referendum In Venezuela","text":"That this House notes the results of the referendum in Venezuela on 2nd December, in which proposed constitutional changes narrowly failed to be endorsed by 51 per cent. to 49 per cent.; further notes that President Hugo Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez quickly accepted the result and congratulated the opponents of the proposed constitutional changes on their success; believes that this election is one example of the vibrancy of the democratic process in Venezuela and of President Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez's commitment to democracy; further notes that this was the 12th national vote in Venezuela since 1998 when Hugo Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez was first elected; believes this commitment to democracy is in contrast to the way that opponents of the Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez government have sought to overthrow it through non-democratic means including a military coup in 2002; is concerned by the false claims that were made by opponents of Venezuela's elected government in the run-up to the referendum that the vote may not be free and fair and believes that these have been shown to be unfounded; further notes that Hugo Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez's current term as President runs to 2012 and offers its ongoing support to his government's policies of advancing social inclusion and equality; and is confident that Hugo Ch\u00c3\u00a1vez will continue to lead the fight against neo-liberalism in Latin America, supported by all those who wish to end the exploitation of the people and environment of that continent.","date":"2007-12-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34609","proposer":"10208","edm":"476","session":"2007-08","title":"Media Freedoms In China","text":"That this House notes with concern that the Chinese government has not granted domestic journalists the freedom to travel and report at liberty during the 2008 Olympic Games; further notes that the media liberties granted to foreign journalists are due to expire on 17th October 2008; recognises concerns expressed by foreign journalists that they are still being searched and interrogated by Chinese officials; further notes that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee promised when it was bidding for the Games that there would not be any restrictions on media reporting or the movement of journalists before and during the Olympics including in occupied Tibet; and calls on the Government to urge the International Olympic Committee to put pressure on the Chinese government to ensure that both foreign and domestic journalists are granted the complete liberty to report the truth at the Beijing Olympics without fear of intimidation or detention.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34614","proposer":"10001","edm":"481","session":"2007-08","title":"Roma Children In Slovakia","text":"That this House is troubled by Amnesty International's report on the educational plight of Roma or Gypsy children in Slovakia; notes that Roma children are barred from attending certain schools on the grounds that they are `not clean enough' or will cause the school to `lose all the white children'; further notes the Open Society Institute's findings that a Roma child is 28 times more likely than a Slovak child to be sent to schools for children with learning difficulties where classes are also segregated; condemns the continuing persecution of the Roma community in central and eastern Europe; and calls on the Government, through the Committee of Ministers, to ensure that the Slovakian government's education policy observes the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and abolishes segregated schools and classes.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34615","proposer":"10123","edm":"482","session":"2007-08","title":"Somalia","text":"That this House notes with dismay the consequence of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in December 2006 and the installation of an unpopular regime which followed; is dismayed at the continuing conflict and the displacement of many hundreds of thousands of civilians; further notes that shortages of shelter, food, water and healthcare have plunged Somalia back into a grave humanitarian crisis; considers that the United States actively prompted the Ethiopian invasion and that what has happened represents another disaster for the foreign policy of President Bush; and calls on the Ethiopians to leave, the present government in Somalia to leave office, and the United Nations to intervene to broker peace and a new government, and make arrangements for humanitarian relief to flow unfettered.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34616","proposer":"10123","edm":"483","session":"2007-08","title":"Detention And Treatment Of Sheikh Hasina","text":"That this House is concerned at the continuing detention in Bangladesh of former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Sheikh Hasina; notes the BBC News Report of 3rd December 2007 that the main witness against her, her cousin Mr Sheikh Selim has sought to withdraw his statement, with his lawyer Syed Rezaur telling the court that Sheikh Selim was tortured repeatedly when he was on remand, and that at one stage, he could not bear the pressure and agreed to give the confessional statement; further notes that reports of interrogation under torture to obtain confessions in Bangladesh are well documented by international human rights organisations, such as Human Rights Watch; and on this basis is concerned that the case against Sheikh Hasina is politically motivated and risks not being a fair trial.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34620","proposer":"10900","edm":"487","session":"2007-08","title":"YOUNG CARERS AND CARERS' RIGHTS DAY 2007","text":"That this House notes the cross-party welcome given to members of the Young Carers' Forum at the All-Party Parliament Carers' Group; congratulates the Forum on its work on behalf of young carers, in particular its involvement in the consultation events for the New Deal for Carers; and, as part of this year's Carers' Rights Day, endorses their call for care services for the whole family, the training of professionals who deal with young carers and ensuring that young carers have a chance of a normal childhood.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34624","proposer":"10118","edm":"491","session":"2007-08","title":"CARERS' RIGHTS DAY","text":"That this House welcomes Carers' Rights Day on 7th December, recognises the contribution of millions of carers to the support of vulnerable, disabled and frail people throughout the United Kingdom; acknowledges the support provided by the Government through the carer's allowance and the recent increases in the allowance to \u00c2\u00a346.80 and the earnings limit to \u00c2\u00a395; and calls on the Government to mark Carers' Rights Day by making further improvements in the allowance system by applying a taper to reductions in the allowance when the earnings limit is reached and by including pensioners and those on incapacity benefit in the carer's allowance system.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34572","proposer":"11707","edm":"443","session":"2007-08","title":"Karen Reissmann And Manchester Mental Health And Social Care Trust","text":"That this House notes with concern the sacking of Karen Reissmann, a senior practitioner nurse, from the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust; is concerned that she was unjustifiably dismissed for speaking out against proposed changes to services which many staff believe would result in a worse service to patients; recognises the right of all citizens to freedom of speech; condemns Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust for disciplining Karen Reissmann for exercising her right; and calls on Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust to reinstate Karen Reissmann with immediate effect.","date":"2007-11-29","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34536","proposer":"10564","edm":"414","session":"2007-08","title":"Detention Of Palestinian Legislators","text":"That this House notes with increasing disquiet the continuing detention without trial of many democratically elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council by Israel including the seizures of Hatim Qafisheh on 6th November 2007 and Maryam Saleh and Khalid Tafish on 11th November 2007 and the further extension of arrest without charge of the Minister of Public Works, Abder-Rahman Zeidan on 26th November 2007; considers democracy to be the most powerful response to those who hold that there is a military solution to the conflict; further considers that the unreasonable detention of so many Palestinian legislators perpetuates and deepens the conflict by indicating to Palestinians that they have little or nothing to gain from following the political path; and calls upon the Government to demand of Israel that these legislators be released without delay.","date":"2007-11-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34497","proposer":"11923","edm":"376","session":"2007-08","title":"Tortured Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House expresses concern at the detention of asylum seekers who have been tortured; and calls upon the Home Department to reform the asylum system to allow new arrivals in detention with a history of torture to be quickly identified and released, to reaffirm its commitment to detain asylum seekers who have been tortured only in `exceptional circumstances' to introduce pre-screening medical checks to identify torture survivors before they are detained and to end the present standard practice of detaining unsuccessful asylum applicants together with foreign national prisoners facing deportation.","date":"2007-11-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34486","proposer":"10076","edm":"366","session":"2007-08","title":"Israeli Settlements In The Occupied Territories","text":"That this House calls for a complete freeze on all Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Territories; welcomes the Israeli announcement to partially freeze settlement construction prior to the Annapolis meeting; however, notes that despite the transfer of Israeli civilians into the Occupied Territories being illegal under international law, the Israeli settler population in the West Bank has grown steadily by around 5.5 per cent. each year to a total of 450,000; acknowledges that this is significantly higher than the population growth rate inside Israel (1.8 per cent.); further notes that Israel has failed to take any action to dismantle the 106 outposts which it accepts are unauthorised; calls on the Government to urge Israel to immediately and permanently cease all settlement expansion in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights, including construction for so-called natural growth and the construction of infrastructure supporting the settlements, bypass roads and the barrier, and the provision of Government subsidies and other incentives for settlers; regards with serious concern the devastating impact on the Palestinians' freedom of movement caused by the settlements which dissect the West Bank into fragmented enclaves; and considers that the settlements are a serious threat to a viable independent Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution.","date":"2007-11-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34491","proposer":"10177","edm":"371","session":"2007-08","title":"Sustainable Political Settlement For Darfur","text":"That this House welcomes the first phase of the AU-UN Darfur peace talks; underlines the importance of a political solution to the situation in Darfur; notes that the talks are hindered by rebel fragmentation and represent the beginning of a rolling process; therefore urges the international community to continue to work towards greater unity among opposition movements to enable an inclusive second phase of negotiations and work with all parties to find forums conducive to negotiations by all; argues that it is essential for all stakeholders, including Arab communities, to be represented at the talks if peace is to be sustained; and notes this requires increased efforts on civil society inclusion, continued UK support for Darfur-Darfur dialogue, improved communication and reporting mechanisms and an enhanced capacity within the Joint Mediation Support Team.","date":"2007-11-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34467","proposer":"10022","edm":"347","session":"2007-08","title":"Imprisonment Of Rungyee Adak In Tibet","text":"That this House notes with concern the eight year prison sentence handed down to the Tibetan nomad Rungyee Adak by the Chinese authorities for taking up a microphone at the annual Lithang horse-racing festival and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and for the release of the Panchen Lama; and urges the UK Government to raise the injustice of his case, and particularly in the run-up to the Olympic Games, to continue to pressurise the Chinese government to respect fundamental human rights and basic civil and religious freedoms in Tibet, including the right to self-determination.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34471","proposer":"11607","edm":"351","session":"2007-08","title":"Former British Detainees In Saudi Arabia","text":"That this House believes that James Lee, Sandy Mitchell, Dr William Samson and Les Walker were tortured into falsely confessing to the murder of Christopher Rodway by the Saudi Arabian authorities and were wrongly convicted of the crime in 2001; notes that Amnesty International has reported that `justice cannot be done nor seen to be done' in Saudi Arabia; is concerned that the four men have struggled to find full-time employment because of their murder convictions; strongly regrets that the UK Government backed the Saudi regime in the House of Lords by arguing that its officials were protected by state immunity while simultaneously claiming that it `condemns torture in all its forms and works to eradicate it wherever it occurs'; firmly believes that the UK Government has a duty to defend its citizens when they have been mistreated by a foreign dictatorship which has such a blatant disregard for human rights; and calls upon the Government to support moves to clear the names of the four men.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34474","proposer":"10133","edm":"354","session":"2007-08","title":"Rape Victims In Saudi Arabia","text":"That this House is appalled that a 19 year old victim of gang rape has been sentenced to 200 lashes by Qatif General Court in Saudi Arabia; notes that her sentence was doubled because she spoke to the media; further notes that after representing her Abdulrahman Al-leikeim had his attorney's licence revoked; and therefore calls upon the Foreign Secretary to make the strongest possible representations to the Saudi Arabian Government over this grotesque abuse of women's rights.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34476","proposer":"10304","edm":"356","session":"2007-08","title":"Khaled Al-Mudallal And The Right To Education","text":"That this House is concerned at the situation facing Bradford University student Khaled Al-Mudallal who has been detained in Gaza since June 2007 as a result of restrictions on his movement imposed by Israeli authorities; notes that, according to Israeli human rights organisation Gisha, Mr Al-Mudallal is one of an estimated 670 students who have visas and places to study outside Gaza but have been prevented from leaving; further notes that Gisha is legally challenging the restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on Mr Al-Mudallal, and has pointed out `that Mr Al-Mudallal has not been able to leave Gaza, not because he has chosen not to, but because he is prevented from doing so'; recognises that Mr Al-Mudallal has a British residency permit allowing him to stay in the UK to study until 2010; believes that Mr Al-Mudallal should be allowed back to Bradford to complete his degree in business and management; and urges the Government to make representations to the Israeli government to allow Khaled's right to leave Gaza to continue his education at the University of Bradford and for the rights of all Palestinian students to access education.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34478","proposer":"10526","edm":"358","session":"2007-08","title":"Oxford Union And British National Party","text":"That this House supports the call by the right hon. Member for Oxford East for the Oxford Union to retract its invitation to Nick Griffin, the British National Party leader, and the Holocaust denier, David Irving, to address the Union; applauds the decision of the hon. Members for the Rhondda, Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Rotherham, Ealing North and others to withdraw from speaking engagements in protest at the decision of the Union President and former Conservative future Chairman, Luke Tryl, to provide a platform for racists and anti-Semites despite widespread objections from present and former members of the Oxford Union and calls on other hon. Members, including the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon, to do the same; notes the threats from far-right groups to target any anti-racist demonstrators; and calls upon the Conservative Party leader and the acting Liberal Democrat leader to make their views known on the issue.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34452","proposer":"11923","edm":"334","session":"2007-08","title":"Imran Khan","text":"That this House expresses grave concern at the arrest of Imran Khan, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party; condemns the decision of President Musharraf to impose a state of emergency; and urges the President to lift all restrictions on freedom and opposition parties and to restore the constitution and hold democratic elections as soon as possible.","date":"2007-11-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34405","proposer":"11823","edm":"294","session":"2007-08","title":"Japanese Comfort Women","text":"That this House notes that up to 200,000 women, euphemistically known as comfort women, were forced into sexual servitude before and during World War II by the Japanese Imperial Army; condemns the system of sexual slavery instituted by the Japanese military, which is both a war crime and a crime against humanity; expresses deep concern that after 62 years, survivors of Japan's sexual slavery system are still waiting for justice; welcomes the visit of Gil Won Ok and Ellen van der Ploeg who were among many women used as wartime sex slaves by the Japanese military and who are seeking justice, reparations and a full apology; is dismayed that during their lifetime, survivors have suffered physical and mental ill-health, isolation and shame, and often extreme poverty; and calls upon the UK Government to urge the Japanese government to apologise publicly to the victims for its past actions, provide formal and complete reparations and admit its responsibility in all public records.","date":"2007-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34416","proposer":"10372","edm":"305","session":"2007-08","title":"Humanitarian Situation In Gaza","text":"That this House expresses grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the decision by the State of Israel to declare it a hostile entity; notes that this further isolated the 1.5 million Palestinian residents of this occupied territory, 1.1 million of whom have to survive on food handouts; further notes that shortages of medical supplies are reported by the United Nations; considers that future Israeli measures could involve cutting off crucial supplies including food, fuel, electricity and water; believes that such measures would not deter the firing of Kassam rockets but would have a devastating effect on the humanitarian situation in Gaza with a detrimental impact on public health; further believes that the continued political and economic isolation of Gaza will jeopardise the prospects for a lasting peace and for any future negotiations to be credible and successful; and therefore calls upon the UK Government to make the strongest possible representations to the Israeli government that such measures are wholly unacceptable and tantamount to collective punishment and a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.","date":"2007-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34422","proposer":"10754","edm":"311","session":"2007-08","title":"UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY","text":"That this House notes 20th November as the day on which the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and, in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child; further notes that at least 37 other countries have a dedicated Children's Day, as recommended by the General Assembly, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children; congratulates 11 Million, formerly the Office of the Children's Commissioner, for launching the first ever 11 Million Takeover Day on 23rd November 2007 encouraging institutions to offer children and young people the chance to take over leadership responsibilities from adults for the day; and furthermore calls on this House to designate a day during which the ideals and objectives of the Convention are promoted throughout the United Kingdom, including children's rights and responsibilities, and on which the achievements of children and young people are celebrated.","date":"2007-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34423","proposer":"10133","edm":"312","session":"2007-08","title":"Western Sahara","text":"That this House welcomes the ongoing UN-sponsored negotiations between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as called for in Security Council resolution 1754; reaffirms that Morocco's unilateral proposal of autonomy is contrary to the principle of self-determination; expresses its deep concern about the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by Moroccan occupying forces in Western Sahara; and calls upon the Government to remain active in ensuring the release of all Saharawi prisoners of conscience, open up the territory for international observers and media and engage in supporting UN efforts to achieve a just solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.","date":"2007-11-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34384","proposer":"10383","edm":"277","session":"2007-08","title":"Oaxaca","text":"That this House notes that despite recommendations regarding torture, rapes, disappearances, murders and other human rights violations in Oaxaca, issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (October 2006), the International Civil Commission for Human Rights Observation (December 2006), and Amnesty International (2005 and August 2007), and the concern expressed by hon. Members and MEPs who met teachers and indigenous representatives from Oaxaca, police, military and paramilitary and others connected to Oaxaca, Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz and the federal forces of President Felipe Calder\u00c3\u00b3n continue to act with impunity; further notes that the family and friends of Indymedia journalist Brad Will murdered in Oaxaca a year ago, backed by members of the US Congress, are pressing for justice; recognises that the latest arbitrary detentions took place on 2nd November, Day of the Dead, as people peacefully laid wreaths for the victims of the repression; further recognises that the repression in Mexico must be condemned as strongly as that in Burma or Pakistan; and therefore urges the Government to use its influence to press for all those responsible to be brought to justice, and for protection to be given to those who have received death threats after bringing these violations to public attention, in particular Jaqueline Lopez Almaz\u00c3\u00a1n, Leyla Centeno, Alejandro Cruz L\u00c3\u00b3pez, Samuel Hern\u00c3\u00a1ndez Morales, the family of Emeterio Merino Cruz, Castulo Lopez Pacheco and Ulises Reynosa Guerrero.","date":"2007-11-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34318","proposer":"10022","edm":"216","session":"2007-08","title":"Detention And Conviction Of Rongyal Adak","text":"That this House notes with concern the detention and subsequent conviction of Rongyal Adak, a respected Tibetan nomad, simply for calling publicly for the return of the Dalai Lama to his native country after 48 years in exile; condemns the brutal action of the Lithang police in response to the protests against his arrest, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets; further notes with alarm the intensifications of effort by the occupying power, China, to suppress the free expression by Tibetans of their religious beliefs; observes that the free access provided to journalists to Tibet by China as part of that country's Olympic bid is not being honoured; and calls on the British Government to raise with the Chinese authorities the case of Rongyal Adak, and to demand that access to Tibet by journalists be allowed unimpeded.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34322","proposer":"10224","edm":"220","session":"2007-08","title":"Access To Healthcare","text":"That this House notes the commitment by the Home Office and the Department of Health to a joint review of overseas visitor access to the National Health Service, now due for publication in December 2007; recalls the findings of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' Tenth Report of Session 2006-07 that the current arrangements for overseas visitor access deny healthcare to vulnerable individuals, including asylum seekers and their children, resulting in various breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights; applauds the Trade Union Congress's NHS Together campaign to defend the achievements of the free NHS; and supports the charity coalition campaign co-ordinated by the charity Medact against any measures that would compel general practitioners, and other primary care staff, to be forced to charge refused asylum seekers or other vulnerable foreign nationals for NHS care.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34334","proposer":"10716","edm":"232","session":"2007-08","title":"Imprisonment Of Mordechai Vanunu","text":"That this House notes with concern the continued imprisonment of Mordechai Vanunu, who completed 18 years in prison in Israel in 2004 after revealing details of Israel's nuclear weapons programme; further notes that since 2004 he has been subject to severe restrictions, including a ban on international travel; condemns the decision by the Israeli government to sentence Mr Vanunu to a new term of six months in prison for speaking to foreign nationals; further notes that he has been adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; and calls upon the Government to put necessary diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu and allow him the freedom to travel.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34312","proposer":"10383","edm":"210","session":"2007-08","title":"British-Based Mining Companies","text":"That this House notes that London is the world's biggest centre for mining investment and that the activities of mining companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) are causing significant concern around the world; further notes that some former residents of Tabaco, Colombia, forcibly displaced for the expansion of the Cerrejon coal mine, are still seeking a community relocation agreement from the current owners of the mine, Anglo American, BHPBilliton and Xstrats, all of which raise substantial funds on the LSE; further notes that BHPBilliton continues to control mining leases in protected areas of Kalimantan in Indonesia despite the damage to the environment and local communities that developing such a mine would cause and that communities in the Philippines feel that their legal opposition to BHPBilliton is being ignored or undermined, in an atmosphere of human rights abuses against anti-mining advocates; commends the London Mining Network and its member groups for drawing attention to these matters; and calls on British-based mining companies and the UK Government to ensure that mining projects not be allowed to proceed without recognition of land title for mining-affected communities, demonstrable public acceptance by those directly affected and, in the case of indigenous peoples, recognition of their legal right to free prior informed consent in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.","date":"2007-11-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34257","proposer":"10586","edm":"161","session":"2007-08","title":"Chen Guang Cheng","text":"That this House notes the four years and three months' imprisonment of 34 year old Chen Guang Cheng, a blind Chinese human rights activist; further notes his crime consisted of acting on behalf of women undergoing forcible abortions and sterilisations; further notes that 130,000 women undergo forcible abortions per year as part of the coercive one-child policy; further notes that after Cheng's case failed in the Beijing courts he was subsequently imprisoned on trumped up charges of damaging public property and organising villagers to disrupt traffic; further notes that his attorneys were detained and prevented from appearing and that neither witnesses nor evidence were presented for the defence; further notes the detention in September by Chinese police of Yuan Weijing, the wife of Chen Guang Cheng, to prevent her from going to the Philippines to collect a human rights award on his behalf for his `irrepressible passion for justice in leading ordinary Chinese citizens to assert their legitimate rights under the law'; further notes with shame that the Chinese policy is supported with British taxpayers' money through government grants made to the United Nations Population Fund, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International, all of which finance Chinese family planning yet have failed in 20 years to change the policy of coercive abortion and sterilisation; and calls on the Government to cancel all grants to groups providing money to countries with coercive family planning policies as well as demanding that Mr Cheng be released from prison without delay.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34268","proposer":"10754","edm":"172","session":"2007-08","title":"Child Victims Of Trafficking","text":"That this House acknowledges ECPAT UK and UNICEF's concern that child victims of trafficking, even after they are identified and placed in care, remain a highly vulnerable group within our society, highlighted in the recent report, Rights here, rights now: Recommendations for protecting trafficked children; congratulates the Three Small Steps campaign to Support Child Victims of Trafficking; and calls upon the Government to withdraw the general reservation on immigration and nationality on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to ratify the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings without delay and in order to ensure monitoring and accountability to Parliament to appoint an independent Child Trafficking Rapporteur.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34204","proposer":"11312","edm":"114","session":"2007-08","title":"Palestinian Olive Groves","text":"That this House notes that olive groves are an important part of the Palestinian economy; further notes that the separation wall currently being constructed by Israel separates many Palestinian farmers from their olive groves and that the United Nations has stated that one million trees will be inaccessible or access restricted behind the barrier once the route is completed; recognises that economic progress is vital for peace; and calls upon the Government to make strong representations to the government of Israel to allow Palestinian farmers full access to their olive groves.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34209","proposer":"10222","edm":"119","session":"2007-08","title":"Events In Armenia Between 1915 And 1923","text":"That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians and over half a million Assyrians between 1915 and 1923 was an act of genocide; further believes that it is in the long-term interests of those countries involved to acknowledge this; and calls upon the Government to join others in formally recognising these events as constituting genocide.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34231","proposer":"11427","edm":"141","session":"2007-08","title":"Persecution Of Iranian Trade Unionists","text":"That this House condemns the attempted assassination on 18th October 2007 of Iranian trade union activist Majid Hamidi by three masked gunmen; notes that Iranian labour activists are convinced that armed attacks of this type are done with the knowledge of the Iranian government; shares their concern that this represents a considerable escalation in persecution of trade unionists, which they have called a Colombianisation of the situation in Iran; notes the continuing imprisonment of independent trade union activists such as Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Tehran bus workers' union, as well as Mahmoud Salehi and Ebrahim Madadi, documented on the Labourt Start website; and calls upon the UK Government to press the International Labour Organisation to raise this issue as a matter of urgency with the Iranian government.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34233","proposer":"13934","edm":"143","session":"2007-08","title":"Hindu Human Rights In Kazakhstan","text":"That this House is deeply concerned about the harassment and human rights abuses taking place in Kazakhstan against the minority Hindu communities; further notes that the local Kazakhstan government has demolished housing belonging to 100 Hindus without following any procedure, protocol or observance of human rights and has officially ordered the demolition of a Hindu temple and dairy farm that continues to be under threat; notes that despite these violations of human rights Kazakhstan is seeking to Chair the Organisation of Safety and Co-operation in Europe, a body that safeguards human rights in Europe; calls on the British Government to exert pressure on the Kazakhstan government to guarantee and promote human rights and religious freedom in Kazakhstan, return confiscated land, homes and property to Hindus and their religious institutions and compensate them for destroyed property; and urges the British Government to work with its European partners to prevent Kazakhstan chairing the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe and to end human rights abuses in Kazakhstan.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34139","proposer":"10527","edm":"49","session":"2007-08","title":"Christian Holy Days And Commercial Activities","text":"That this House notes that neither Good Friday nor Christmas Day are included in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 on the grounds that they are traditional days of rest and worship; further notes that the restrictions under the Sunday Trading Act 1994 do not apply to either of these important days in the Christian calendar; recognises that competitive pressures find many Christians in a position where they feel compelled to work on these days, and that many Christians view commercial activities on these days as showing a disregard and disrespect for their religion; and therefore calls upon the Government to review existing legislation relating to the holiest days in the Christian calendar and bring forward change that will protect Christians from being compelled to engage in commercial activities on Good Friday and Christmas Day.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34149","proposer":"10439","edm":"59","session":"2007-08","title":"FIRST MINISTER'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH BURMESE JUNTA","text":"That this House welcomes the recent visit of representatives of the opposition movement in Burma to the Scottish Parliament; expresses its support for their campaign for freedom, justice and democracy in Burma; believes that all countries that share those values should put maximum pressure on the army generals at the head of the Burmese regime; notes that Burma has been heavily criticised by the United Nations for its crackdown on anti-government protests last month and the deaths and suffering caused to unarmed civilians; is therefore outraged that the First Minister of Scotland's most recent communication with the Burmese junta has been to ask for its help and support for his campaign for observer status for Scotland at the United Nations rather than in support of the international response to this crisis; believes that the First Minister could have avoided this situation if he had followed the agreed concordat with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and had discussed his letter to Burma with the FCO before it was sent; reiterates its wholehearted support for the pro-democracy protesters in Burma and condemns the oppressive actions of the military junta past and present; and calls on all political institutions, including the Office of the First Minister, to fully support international efforts to bring peace and democracy to Burma.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34156","proposer":"10258","edm":"66","session":"2007-08","title":"Trafficked Children On African Cocoa Plantations","text":"That this House notes with concern that trafficking of children is a growing problem in the production of cocoa and that at least 15,000 Malian children have been trafficked on to cocoa and coffee plantations in Cote d'Ivoire; welcomes the UK's support for the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and ILO programmes elsewhere; notes with dismay the lack of progress by the cocoa industry in implementing a monitoring and certification process and its inability to be able to guarantee the absence of trafficked labour on cocoa production lines; and calls upon the Government and the cocoa industry to provide a Traffick Free Guarantee, as suggested by the Stop the Traffick coalition, for all cocoa products.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34178","proposer":"11494","edm":"88","session":"2007-08","title":"Land Rights Of Indigenous People","text":"That this House welcomes the Government's support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in September 2007, as well as its acknowledgement at that time that `indigenous peoples have suffered many historic injustices and continue to be amongst the poorest and most marginalised peoples of the world'; believes that these injustices will be brought to an end and their poverty alleviated only if the land rights of indigenous peoples are recognised and respected; further believes that a major step forward in achieving this is International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Tribal and Indigenous Peoples, which puts those rights on a firm legal footing; regrets the Government's current refusal to ratify the Convention on the ground that there are no indigenous people in the UK; notes that this has not prevented other European countries like Spain and the Netherlands from ratifying the Convention; recognises that it is particularly important for the UK to do so because British interests are often involved in overseas projects which affect the lives of these peoples; and calls upon the Government to ratify Convention 169 without further delay.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Human rights","id":"34191","proposer":"11963","edm":"101","session":"2007-08","title":"Arrest Of Colombian Trade Unionist","text":"That this House notes with extreme concern the arrest on 27th October 2007 by the Colombian authorities of opposition candidate Moises Delgado and trade union leader Eliberto Poveda in the region of Sumapaz; notes that the detention of Mr Delgado occurred only a day before he was due to be a candidate in Colombia's regional elections and that he was one of a number of opposition candidates to be incarcerated in the run up to the election in what appears to be an attempt to subvert the democratic process; further notes that numerous trade unionists have been detained in Colombia and held for months and sometimes years without being convicted of any crime; and calls upon the UK Government to make urgent representations to the Colombian government on the fate of these two men and to consider an immediate freeze in UK military assistance to Colombia until such time as the Colombian authorities begin respecting the human rights and legitimate political activity of the Colombian people.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]