Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 December 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 29 December 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Friday, 5 January 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Algeria and Tunisia: Human Rights

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of recent developments in human and civil rights in (1) Tunisia, and (2) Algeria.

Answer: Through our annual Human Rights and Democracy Report we recognise where countries make progress but also where there is a decline in human and civil rights standards. Neither Tunisia nor Algeria are human rights priority countries but we continue to engage both countries on civil and human rights issues. At the UK-Tunisia Association Council meeting on 12 October 2023, the UK emphasised the importance of political participation, democratic freedoms and human rights. With Algeria, we engage directly with government officials and through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) universal periodic review process and follow-up recommendations. We welcome the recent visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

Secondary information