Sri Lanka Human Rights 2022-11-08
2022-11-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need to address ongoing human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, particularly regarding Tamils. The MP has chairpersonship of an all-party parliamentary group on Tamils and has heard from concerned constituents.
What diplomatic steps is he taking to help address human rights concerns in Sri Lanka? I am clear that the economic situation in Sri Lanka allows human rights abuses against Tamils to continue, welcome UK's efforts in UN for peace, accountability, justice but what assurances can my right hon. Friend give me that any economic support given will be dependent on progress implementing UN resolutions?
The UK works with international partners, including at the Paris Club, to facilitate economic support for Sri Lanka through an IMF programme. The IMF can only impose conditionality linked to economic policy or tackling balance of payments challenges; it cannot impose political or human rights-linked conditionality.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assurances that any economic support will be contingent on progress in implementing the UN resolutions were not given
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP, as the chair of an all-party parliamentary group on Tamils, is concerned about ongoing economic challenges in Sri Lanka that enable further human rights abuses against Tamils. The UK has been active in the UN to address these issues.
Welcoming UK's efforts in the UN for peace, accountability and justice, what assurances can my right hon. Friend give me that any economic support given will be dependent on—and expected to come with—progress implementing the UN resolutions?
The UK works with international partners, including at the Paris Club, to facilitate economic support for Sri Lanka through an IMF programme. The IMF can only impose conditionality linked to economic policy or tackling balance of payments challenges; it cannot impose political or human rights-linked conditionality.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assurances that any economic support will be contingent on progress in implementing the UN resolutions were not given
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a concern that suppression of human rights often correlates with the persecution of Christians and other faiths. The question addresses whether these issues are considered in any deals made with Sri Lanka.
Very often, the suppression of human rights walks hand in hand with the persecution of Christians and those of other faiths; when human rights are suppressed, so too are Christians' rights to their beliefs. Within any deals that the Minister has with Sri Lanka, will she ensure that issues of human rights and the persecution of those with Christian beliefs and other beliefs are taken into consideration?
My noble Friend Lord Ahmad spoke with the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister in August, continuing to highlight the importance of an inclusive approach for political stability and progress across issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to consider religious freedom concerns in dealings with Sri Lanka was not given
Response accuracy