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Written question asked by Liz McInnes (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 July 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 July 2019. It was answered by Harriett Baldwin (Conservative) on Monday, 22 July 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will make the eradication of torture in detention settings a priority for the Government's engagement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answer

We are aware of the report undertaken by Freedom from Torture. We remain concerned at the human rights situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which includes sexual and gender based violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, extrajudicial killings, inhumane and degrading treatment and restrictions to democratic space. We continue to call upon the government of the DRC to exercise restraint and proportionality in any security response, and to investigate and hold to account those accused of committing acts of violence, including members of the security forces.

The UK continues to work to improve the human rights situation in the DRC, including by helping to educate human rights defenders and by promoting conflict resolution. The UK also helps fund the United Nation Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), which tracks human rights abuses and violations in DRC. We have also financed projects in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), gender inequality, improving democratic participation and through DFID programmes we are supporting security reforms. We continue to raise human rights and rule of law in our regular discussions with the DRC government. When I met the President during my visit to DRC in May I encouraged him to fulfil his inauguration commitment to improve the lives of the Congolese people and address the human rights situation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
277755
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Politics and government Torture Democratic Republic of the Congo
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk