I refer the Hon Member to the statement issued by the Foreign Secretary on the fifth anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-fifth-anniversary-of-the-military-coup-in-myanmar) and the answers provided in the House of Lords in February in response to the similar set of Questions HL13818-20, HL13821, and HL13859.

The UK strongly condemns all human rights abuses in Myanmar. There must be accountability for the atrocities committed. In May, the UK coordinated a statement with partners calling for an immediate end to violence from all sides in Myanmar. In July 2024, the UK's joint declaration of intervention, together with Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, was accepted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya. The UK has provided £800,000 to the UN's Independent Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and established the Myanmar Witness programme to gather and preserve evidence of human rights violations in support of future prosecutions.

The UK Government is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. We do not judge there to be an infringement on the ability for Christians to live and practice in The Gambia at this time. In 2023, the British High Commission in Banjul supported a project funded by the Church of England which promoted religious tolerance by strengthening the linkages between the Gambian Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion or Belief and key civic organisations including the Christian community.

More broadly, the UK remains deeply concerned about the severity and scale of violations and abuses of FoRB in many parts of the world. Where FoRB is under attack, other human rights are often threatened too. The UK continues to recognise the issue of persecution of Christians globally on account of their faith, alongside recognising the persecution of other groups.

The UK's position is clear that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a human rights violation. The Deputy Foreign Secretary spoke to The Gambia's Foreign Minister on 9 April and met with the Minister for Public Services on 29 April, to relay the UK's deep concern about the progress in The Gambia's National Assembly of the bill that would legalise FGM. He highlighted the serious implications if the bill were to become law, including for The Gambia's international reputation. The UK continues to engage broadly through regular contact with senior Gambian Government officials and other stakeholders. We are working with international partners to coordinate and complement messaging and activity.

Female genital mutlilation (FGM) should be illegal. I [Minister Mitchell] spoke to The Gambia's Foreign Minister on 9 April to relay the UK's deep concern about the progress in The Gambia's National Assembly of the bill that would legalise FGM. I highlighted the serious implications if the bill were to become law, including for The Gambia's international reputation. The UK continues to engage broadly through regular contact with senior Gambian Government officials and other stakeholders. We are working with international partners to coordinate and complement messaging and activity.

The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence and a human rights violation. The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence and a human rights violation. We support a comprehensive approach to eliminating FGM that includes prevention and access to services, supported by the right laws and policies. Some National Assembly members in the Gambia have expressed a desire to repeal the ban on FGM. We have raised this with the Gambian Government, including the Foreign Minister, and with development partners. We provide funding to the UN Joint Programme for the Elimination of FGM, which operates in the Gambia. The programme works with governments to put in place viable national response systems, policies and plans for banning FGM, as well as empowering mothers, students and teachers to champion FGM elimination. We also work with NGOs who support and empower women and girls in the Gambia, including Wassu Gambia Kafo and Biniti Period.

We are aware of concerns that Myanmar is not meeting its obligations, under a Provisional Measures Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to protect the Rohingya. We are clear that Myanmar must comply with the Order. In November, we jointly filed a declaration of intervention at the ICJ in The Gambia's case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya, in order to set out our interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Genocide Convention before the Court. We will continue to use our UN Security Council leadership role to maintain a spotlight on Myanmar, including the Rohingya.

The UK is aware of concerns that Myanmar is not meeting its obligations, under a Provisional Measures Order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to protect the Rohingya. We are clear that Myanmar must comply with the Provisional Measures Order. On 15 November, the UK jointly filed a declaration of intervention at the ICJ in The Gambia's case alleging Myanmar has perpetrated genocide against the Rohingya, in order to set out our interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Genocide Convention before the Court. We reiterate that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya.

Since the overthrow of Yahya Jammeh in 2016, The Gambia has made progress on consolidating democracy, under the leadership of President Barrow, who won a second term of office in 2020. The UK welcomes the President's commitment to implementing broad constitutional reform. We and other partners are supporting the Government of The Gambia and civil society to achieve this aim. We are also supporting the Government through the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission to bring to justice those who committed crimes and human rights violations under the Jammeh regime.

The British High Commission in Banjul regularly raises good governance and democracy with the Government of The Gambia. We welcome President Barrow's commitment to passing a new constitution during his tenure. The UK-funded International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has facilitated peaceful and constructive dialogue between Gambian political, civil society, and religious groups to help progress the constitutional reform process. In association with the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, the UK also provides legislative support and judiciary training for parliamentarians to build capacity within the judiciary system.

The UK is providing support for the implementation of a number of recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in The Gambia. We have funded the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to facilitate peaceful and constructive dialogue between Gambian political, civil society, and religious groups to help progress the constitutional reform process. In association with the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, the UK also provides legislative support and judiciary training for parliamentarians to build capacity within the judiciary system. We are also supporting the Gambian Ministry of Justice to set up a special prosecutors office to ensure victims of Jammeh era crimes have access to justice.

African countries are amongst the least responsible for causing climate change, yet it is having a devastating impact. The UK is committed to working with African partners to drive long-term climate action; I discussed climate change when I visited Egypt in May 2023 for meetings of the African Development Bank. We will continue to work closely with the African Union Commission and Government of Kenya as Africa Climate Action Summit co-hosts and engage other partners in the run-up to and at the Summit itself.

The UK Government judges that the 2021 Presidential elections in The Gambia were free, fair and transparent, and an important milestone for The Gambia's democracy. We welcome President Barrow's commitment to passing a new constitution during his tenure. We are aware of the recent charges of treason against eight soldiers from The Gambia Armed Forces. The UK strongly condemns any attempts to overthrow democratically elected governments. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

The British High Commission in Banjul regularly raises good governance and democracy with the Government of The Gambia. The UK-funded International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has facilitated peaceful and constructive dialogue between political, civil society, and religious groups to help progress the constitutional reform process. In association with the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, the UK also provides legislative support and judiciary training for parliamentarians to build capacity within the judiciary system.