That this House welcomes the Government's proposal to legislate for the establishment of a single Commission on Equality and Human Rights as a step towards a comprehensive, unified approach to equalities; believes that there is strong support for measures to harmonise anti-discrimination legislation, providing a comprehensive framework of rights to ensure that all areas of discrimination are fully covered; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward legislation to this effect as soon as possible.

That this House welcomes the Government's proposal to legislate for the establishment of a single Commission on Equality and Human Rights as a step towards a comprehensive, unified approach to equalities; believes that there is strong support for measures to harmonise anti-discrimination legislation, providing a comprehensive framework of rights to...

That this House celebrates the signing of a historic comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army; recognises that this ends Sudan's 21 year civil war and introduces major protocols on power and wealth, strategic and regional development leading to elections in three years and a referendum on self-determination for the south in six years; congratulates all parties to the peace process, and in particular notes the painstaking, unsung diplomacy undertaken by UK personnel over many years; welcomes the UK Government's commitment to ??100 million of assistance to Sudan this year, including a ??50 million contribution to the UN's 2005 work plan for Sudan and Eastern Chad; remains gravely concerned about the conflict and gross human rights abuses occuring in Darfur and urges all sides and international partners to find a swift resolution based on the principles of the comprehensive peace agreement; hopes for the return of millions of refugees to their homes, and looks forward to the diverse people and cultures and huge resources of what is currently the largest country in Africa making a major contribution to peace and development across the continent as well as to all parts of Sudan.

That this House celebrates the signing of a historic comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army; recognises that this ends Sudan's 21 year civil war and introduces major protocols on power and wealth, strategic and regional development leading to elections in...

That this House welcomes the historic ruling of the House of Lords on 16th December, granting the appeal of nine individuals detained at HMP Belmarsh and elsewhere under Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; notes that the House of Lords has quashed the derogation under Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights; further notes the Declaration of the House of Lords that Part IV of the ATCSA 2001 is incompatible with the ECHR; further notes the resignation of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission special advocate, Ian McDonald QC; recalls the strong reservations on this Part expressed by the Joint Committee on Human Rights of both Houses and of the Privy Councillor Review Committee; further notes the concerns of domestic and international non-governmental organisations; believes that derogation from international human rights obligations is injurious to the standing of Britain in the world and causes profound damage to community relations domestically; further believes that detention without trial represents a breakdown of the rule of law and can only hinder protection of public safety and security; further believes that detainees must be promptly charged and brought before a court of law or released and returned to their families; and urges Her Majesty's Government to bring forward legislative changes to the Act in order to conform to the judgement of the House of Lords and respond to the concerns of the JCHR and Privy Councillor Review Committee.

That this House welcomes the historic ruling of the House of Lords on 16th December, granting the appeal of nine individuals detained at HMP Belmarsh and elsewhere under Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; notes that the House of Lords has quashed the derogation under Article...

That this House welcomes the Council of Europe's initiative to draft a Convention on action against Trafficking in Human Beings, as this will be the first international treaty which sets out States' obligations to respect and protect the rights of trafficked people; strongly urges all governments to support the measures in the Convention to provide trafficked people with advice, emergency medical and material assistance and a reflection period sufficient to allow them to recover and make an informed decision about their future, including cooperation with prosecution efforts; is extremely concerned by proposals which would give EU legislation precedence over the Convention, and that would allow states to make reservations to the Convention, and that seek to limit the mandate of the treaty monitoring body preventing necessary activities such as country visits; and urges the UK Government strenuously to resist these proposals and others which would weaken the assistance and protection provisions of the Convention and go against its stated aim of developing an international standard which improves on the protection currently afforded to trafficked people.

That this House welcomes the Council of Europe's initiative to draft a Convention on action against Trafficking in Human Beings, as this will be the first international treaty which sets out States' obligations to respect and protect the rights of trafficked people; strongly urges all governments to support the measures...

That this House notes with distress the treatment of Catholic Bishop Julius Jia by the Chinese Government; recognises the important work he has done in the community establishing an orphanage in 1991 for unwanted children; expresses its dismay at his treatment by the Chinese Government who ban him from worshipping and subject him to house arrest; notes that he has spent more than 20 years in jail, being arrested on more than 30 occasions; further notes that as Christmas approaches this is a particularly dangerous time for Bishop Jia; and calls on the Chinese Government to promote religious tolerance and allow Bishop Jia and Catholics across China to practise their faith.

That this House notes with distress the treatment of Catholic Bishop Julius Jia by the Chinese Government; recognises the important work he has done in the community establishing an orphanage in 1991 for unwanted children; expresses its dismay at his treatment by the Chinese Government who ban him from worshipping...

That this House notes the growing consensus in favour of clearly defined legal rights for migrant workers which is evident in reports and opinions published by bodies as diverse as the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Commission, the Select Committee on International Development and the Trades Union Congress; and calls on the Government to provide a robust legal framework for the establishment of rights for migrant workers by ratifying the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families (1990).

That this House notes the growing consensus in favour of clearly defined legal rights for migrant workers which is evident in reports and opinions published by bodies as diverse as the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Commission, the Select Committee on International Development and the Trades Union Congress;...

That this House calls on the Chinese Government immediately to release from detention and incarceration all Falun Gong practitioners held for the peaceful practice of their beliefs, to permit the resumption of public and private Falun Gong practice, to remove all mention of superstitious sects, secret societies and evil religious organisations (Article 300) from the PRC Criminal Law, to abolish the inherently arbitrary re-education through labour system and to allow anyone who has been deprived of his liberty the right to a court hearing and process; further calls on the Chinese Government to re-issue invitations to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom to visit China on terms consistent with their mandates, to permit domestic and foreign observers to attend all trials including those of Falun Gong practitioners as provided for under international human rights standards, and to implement the recommendations of the UN Committee against Torture; and urges the Chinese Government to revise regulations that effectively censor the media and the internet and that interfere with the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information in accordance with international human rights standards.

That this House calls on the Chinese Government immediately to release from detention and incarceration all Falun Gong practitioners held for the peaceful practice of their beliefs, to permit the resumption of public and private Falun Gong practice, to remove all mention of superstitious sects, secret societies and evil religious...

That this House takes note of Protocol No. 14 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending the Control system of the Convention, Cm. 6370, presented to Parliament on 15th November, in the last Session of Parliament; and requests that her Majesty's Government does not ratify it until the Joint Committee on Human Rights has considered and reported on its implications.

That this House takes note of Protocol No. 14 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending the Control system of the Convention, Cm. 6370, presented to Parliament on 15th November, in the last Session of Parliament; and requests that her Majesty's Government does not...

That this House expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe; further notes with concern that the policy of quiet diplomacy has failed and that human rights abuses now abound in that country; notes the recent introduction of the NGO Bill which seeks to ban civic organisations operating in the areas of governance and human rights; highlights the illegal detention of MDC MP Roy Bennett; draws attention to the need for international pressure to be brought to bear to ensure accurate voter registrations; and calls upon the African Union, the SADC countries and the United Nations to bring pressure to bear upon Robert Mugabe to allow free and fair elections in March 2005.

That this House expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe; further notes with concern that the policy of quiet diplomacy has failed and that human rights abuses now abound in that country; notes the recent introduction of the NGO Bill which seeks to ban civic organisations operating...

That this House is deeply concerned by the arrest on 25th September and continued detention of Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja, Executive Director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and prominent Bahraini human rights activist, reportedly as a result of critical comments made against the Government of Bahrain during a symposium on poverty sponsored by the Centre; is deeply alarmed by the attempted dissolution of the Centre and the freezing of its assets; hopes that these events do not signal an end to the recent reforms welcomed in Bahrain; and calls upon the British Government to raise these matters with the Government of Bahrain as a matter of urgency.

That this House is deeply concerned by the arrest on 25th September and continued detention of Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja, Executive Director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and prominent Bahraini human rights activist, reportedly as a result of critical comments made against the Government of Bahrain during a symposium on...

That this House is concerned by the imprisonment of Dr Wang Bingzhang, a leading figure in the formation of the Chinese Alliance for Democracy, in the People's Republic of China, since his life sentencing by a Chinese Communist Court in February 2003 for political subversion; condemns the treatment suffered by Dr Wang whilst serving his sentence, which has seen him subjected to solitary confinement and deprived of family visitation rights for more than six months; is concerned at Dr Wang's increasing deterioration in health following his hunger strike in protest against his conditions, believes that no individual should be imprisoned for wishing to spread ideas of freedom and democracy; and calls upon the Government to work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour, who has promised her personal intervention in this matter, to put pressure on the Chinese Government to release Dr Wang from custody so that he may receive adequate medical attention.

That this House is concerned by the imprisonment of Dr Wang Bingzhang, a leading figure in the formation of the Chinese Alliance for Democracy, in the People's Republic of China, since his life sentencing by a Chinese Communist Court in February 2003 for political subversion; condemns the treatment suffered by...

That this House notes the growing consensus in favour of clearly defined legal rights for migrant workers which is evident in reports and opinions published by bodies as diverse as the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Commission, the Select Committee on International Development and the Trades Union Congress; and calls on the Government to provide a robust legal framework for the establishment of rights for migrant workers by ratifying the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families (1990).

That this House notes the growing consensus in favour of clearly defined legal rights for migrant workers which is evident in reports and opinions published by bodies as diverse as the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Commission, the Select Committee on International Development and the Trades Union Congress;...

That this House notes that almost three years have now elapsed since the Home Secretary ordered the detention of a number of foreign nationals suspected of terrorism under Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, and that 12 men still remain interned in HMP Belmarsh; recalls the strong reservations expressed in the reports of the Newton Committee and of the Joint Committee on Human Rights; further notes the concerns of respected domestic and international non-governmental organisations; believes that derogation from international human rights obligations is injurious to Britain's standing in the international community and causes profound damage to community relations; further believes that detention without trial represents a breakdown of the rule of law and can only hinder protection of public safety and security; and urges Her Majesty's Government to find an acceptable alternative so that detainees can be tried before a court or released and re-united with their families without delay.

That this House notes that almost three years have now elapsed since the Home Secretary ordered the detention of a number of foreign nationals suspected of terrorism under Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, and that 12 men still remain interned in HMP Belmarsh; recalls the...

That this House welcomes the launch of the Refugee Project and deplores the scapegoating of asylum seekers and refugees; believes that freedom of movement for all is a fundamental human right; welcomes voluntary migration but resolutely opposes forced migration; notes that the vast majority of refugees and asylum seekers are fleeing from conflict, or from social or economic oppression; recognises the role that UK overseas investment, particularly arms sales and large-scale infrastructure projects such as dams and oil pipelines, can play in forcing people to leave their homes and in supporting oppressive regimes; notes how further support for such regimes through the war on terror is effectively criminalising whole refugee communities; notes the subsidy that the British Government provides through the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the World Bank for many projects which result in forced migration; and urges the government to take action to prevent UK involvement in forced migration and its root causes.

That this House welcomes the launch of the Refugee Project and deplores the scapegoating of asylum seekers and refugees; believes that freedom of movement for all is a fundamental human right; welcomes voluntary migration but resolutely opposes forced migration; notes that the vast majority of refugees and asylum seekers are...

That this House expresses concern that the human rights of many of the 2,500 children and young people, as well as 8,500 18 to 21 year olds currently held in custody, are being violated; therefore welcomes Community Care Magazine's Back on Track Campaign and its demands for an immediate end to the practice of remanding children and young people in adult prisons, an end to the degrading and humiliating practice of strip searching and the inappropriate use of control and restraint, an increase in the provision of services for children and young people who need treatment for mental health problems on substance abuse; and supports Community Care's calls for the Government to ensure that resources allocated to provide access to social workers in young offenders institutions are being properly administered and to ensure that no young people assessed 'as vulnerable' are sent to young offenders institutions and are instead placed in secure training centres or local authority secure children's homes, or, if places are unavailable that their sentences be deferred.

That this House expresses concern that the human rights of many of the 2,500 children and young people, as well as 8,500 18 to 21 year olds currently held in custody, are being violated; therefore welcomes Community Care Magazine's Back on Track Campaign and its demands for an immediate end...

That his House welcomes the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Equalities; notes the considerable progress made by the Government in this area, including its intention to establish a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights; regrets that UK equality legislation is not consistent across the strands of discrimination and is thus unnecessarily complex whilst failing to protect all sectors equally; is concerned that this patchwork of law will undermine the new Commission's ability to enforce and promote equality; and calls on the Government to take the opportunity to simplify, harmonise and extend equality law when it legislates to set up the new Commission.

That his House welcomes the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Equalities; notes the considerable progress made by the Government in this area, including its intention to establish a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights; regrets that UK equality legislation is not consistent across the strands of discrimination and...

That this House notes that it is now a year since the massacre of up to 100 democracy activists and the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi; believes that the regime's so-called road map to democracy is a sham and that there is no meaningful process inside Burma to bring about democracy; supports the decision of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy to boycott the National Convention; agrees with the Foreign Secretary's statement on 25th June 2003 that the regime responds only to direct pressure; and calls on the Government to deliver on its pledge in June 2003 that it would increase sanctions on the regime if there was not rapid progress to restore democracy.

That this House notes that it is now a year since the massacre of up to 100 democracy activists and the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi; believes that the regime's so-called road map to democracy is a sham and that there is no meaningful process inside Burma to bring...

That this House supports the recommendation of the International Development Select Committee's Second Report of Session 2003-04 that Israel's preferential terms of trade with the EU should be suspended until Israel lifts the movement restrictions placed on Palestinian trade; notes that the EU-Israel Association Agreement is an extensive free trade agreement which includes the liberalisation of goods and services, the free movement of capital, rules on competition, economic and social co-operation, political dialogue and cultural co-operation and came into force on 1st June 2000; further notes that Israel has long been in violation of the aspect of the agreement which states that relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights in relation to their internal and international policy; is concerned that Israel's restrictions on the movement of Palestinian goods, its destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and its total control of the Occupied Palestinian Territory's borders are denying Palestinian exporters access to EU markets; recognises that EU exports to Israel, which are greater in value than EU imports from Israel, might suffer retaliatory action; but shares the view of the International Development Select Committee that the EU's short-term economic self-interest with one trading partner should not take precedence over a direct challenge to its trade policy in the region and its trade obligations to the Palestinian Authority; and therefore urges the United Kingdom Government to propose the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to the EU Council of Trade Ministers.

That this House supports the recommendation of the International Development Select Committee's Second Report of Session 2003-04 that Israel's preferential terms of trade with the EU should be suspended until Israel lifts the movement restrictions placed on Palestinian trade; notes that the EU-Israel Association Agreement is an extensive free trade...

That this House congratulates the women in Zimbabwe for their action on International Women's Day in demonstrating their opposition to the Zimbabwean Government which has stripped them of their rights and made their families destitute.

That this House congratulates the women in Zimbabwe for their action on International Women's Day in demonstrating their opposition to the Zimbabwean Government which has stripped them of their rights and made their families destitute.

That this House notes with concern that Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world in which to be a trade unionist with 184 people killed in 2002 for their trade union activities, more than the rest of the world combined; further notes that the overwhelming majority of abuses against trade unionists are carried out by paramilitary organisations which have documented links to the Colombian state security forces; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to freeze all military and security assistance to Colombia until the bonds between the state and paramilitary forces are severed, in accordance with the policies of Colombia, UK and international human rights organisations and trade unions, such as the TUC-backed Justice for Colombia coalition and development charity War on Want.

That this House notes with concern that Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world in which to be a trade unionist with 184 people killed in 2002 for their trade union activities, more than the rest of the world combined; further notes that the overwhelming majority of abuses...