Since protests began in December we have consistently called on the Sudanese authorities to release all political detainees, stop the use of violence against peaceful protestors, remove all restrictions to freedoms, and allow for a credible political dialogue in a conductive environment with all key Sudanese actors. Our statement of 9 April, made with our partners Norway and the United States, made this clear in the strongest terms. In addition, I made clear to the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 13 March that the use of force against protestors was unacceptable and must end.

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​I spoke to Sudanese Foreign Minister Dirdiri on 23 January and 13 March to express the strength of our ongoing concern at the use of violence, the decision to declare a state of emergency and to urge the government to respect the rights of the Sudanese people. In addition, I raised our concern regarding the response to protests in Sudan, including the use of lethal force, with the Sudanese Foreign Minister and emphasised the importance of respect for the rule of law and for human rights. Most recently the Sudanese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office on 7 March to register the depth of our ongoing concern at recent declarations which further erode human rights. We remain deeply concern at the human rights implication of the Government of Sudan's response to protests. We continue to monitor the situation and consider the best means to support human rights improvements in Sudan, including through official engagement, public messaging, and international fora.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the Government of Sudan's response to recent protests in Sudan. Further to an 8 January Troika (UK/ISA/Norway) (plus Canada) statement, on 9 January the British Ambassador spoke to Sudan's Acting Foreign Minister to reiterate our deep concern at the level of violence used by the Government of Sudan to disperse peaceful protests. He also urged the government to respect the Sudanese people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to ensure those responsible for the deaths of protestors are held to account. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Our ​Embassy in Khartoum has regular contact with the activists and political leaders involved in Asim Omar's case. We continue to raise the issue with the Government of Sudan as part of our bilateral dialogue, most recently in a meeting at the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 December. We have made clear our strong opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.

Our Embassy in Khartoum works closely with the Government of Sudan, opposition groups, and political activists to support our human rights agenda.

We have a renewed dialogue with the Government of Sudan. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the US Government have now lifted sanctions in relation to Sudan. I met the Sudanese delegation in October as part of the renewed dialogue. We had a human rights workshop at the centre of that dialogue, and we continue to press with the special rapporteur on human rights for progress on exactly these issues.

We continue to be concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan, including restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and sexual and gender based violence, especially in the conflict areas of Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Priority Country. Improving human rights is a key objective in our engagement with Sudan. The launching of a Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Sudan in March 2016 has provided a means of discussing human rights issues and encouraging Sudan to meet their international obligations. The third session of the Dialogue (in March 2017) included a significant human rights element, with the FCO's Head of Human Rights and Democracy representing the UK.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) has not recently met with his counterparts in Sudan and South Sudan. However, Sudan and South Sudan are human rights priority countries for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We regularly raise our concerns with senior Ministers in both governments and, where relevant, in the United Nations.

In Sudan, our Embassy staff regularly attend trials of human rights defenders and human rights is a key objective for our biannual UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue. In South Sudan, the UK provides funding to programmes that support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. During a visit to South Sudan in May 2017, my noble Friend, the Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns (the Prime Minister's former Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict) raised numerous human rights related issues with members of the government and encouraged them to take action.

There are a number of concerns about Sudan, one of which is the use of chemical weapons. The United Nations has looked into the issue in detail, and to date there is no firm evidence that that is taking place, but we will continue to investigate.

Despite some improvements, the security situation in Sudan remains concerning, particularly in Darfur and the Two Areas. In South Sudan the security situation is much worse as fighting continues across the country and the humanitarian situation becomes is increasingly desperate.

The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it. Each claim for asylum is carefully considered and where we find individuals are in need of our protection, asylum is given. However, to be eligible for international protection, a person must be located outside of their country of origin.

We have repeatedly raised our concerns about this appalling case with the Government of Sudan. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for International Development, and I all issued statements calling for Meriam Ibrahim to be released immediately. We also raised our concerns directly with the Government of Sudan: I highlighted this case in a letter to Presidential Assistant Professor Ghandour; the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), raised it with the Sudanese Foreign Minister; and our ambassador in Khartoum has raised it on multiple occasions with other Ministers and senior officials.

Britain fully supports the African Union (AU) High Level Implementation Panel, which is facilitating negotiations between both countries in Addis Ababa, and to which it has provided political, financial and technical support. We continue to make clear to both countries that they must comply fully and without preconditions with all the provisions of the AU road map of 24 April 2012, and UN Security Council resolution 2046, which endorses that road map.