Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

UK-Andean Trade Agreement: Human Rights

02 February 2022 · 4 other contributors · 3,826 words

Opened by Tony Lloyd Lab Rochdale

Responding minister: Penny Mordaunt

Foreign AffairsBusiness & Trade

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Tony Lloyd raised concerns about uk-andean trade agreement: human rights in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about human rights violations in Colombia and Peru under the UK-Andean Trade Agreement.
  • Requests made for the Government to suspend the trade agreement until measures are in place to ensure human rights observance.
  • Clarification sought on the progress of establishing domestic advisory groups for monitoring labour standards and human rights commitments.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Government to suspend the Andean trade agreement until effective measures are in place to ensure human rights observance. I also request information on the progress of establishing domestic advisory groups for monitoring adherence to labour standards and human rights commitments. Furthermore, I seek clarification on the information received from our embassy in Bogotá regarding human rights abuses.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Tony Lloyd Lab Rochdale

I am concerned about the human rights situation in Colombia and Peru under the UK-Andean Trade Agreement. In Colombia, over 196 human rights defenders were killed in 2021, with 10 murders occurring within the first 24 days of this year. Additionally, 22 trade unionists were murdered last year, making it one of the most dangerous places for workers' rights globally. Since the 2016 peace agreement, more than 1,200 Colombian social leaders have been estimated to be murdered, with state repression and police killings escalating during protests.

Other contributors (4)
  • Chris Law SNP Dunfermline and West Fife

    My hon. Friend Chris Law expressed strong support for the debate, emphasizing the outrage of trade unionists being murdered for their activities in Colombia.

  • Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington

    My hon. Friend agrees that addressing human rights issues should be a priority in free trade agreements, citing the recent murder of José González Marín, an agricultural workers' union representative, as an example of ongoing violence linked to these agreements. Reported 40 community activists killed and 13 massacres this year in Colombia and asked for assurances that human rights will be the top agenda item in discussions with Colombian authorities.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    The hon. Gentleman highlights the need for not just words but actions in ensuring respect for human rights and democratic principles, emphasizing that continuing to trade with countries that abuse these rights is unacceptable.

  • Patrick Grady Lab Glasgow North

    Added Dr Luz Marina Arteaga, a social leader from Colombia who was murdered for standing up for her community's rights, to the record and emphasised the necessity of accountability mechanisms in trade deals.

Government Response

Penny Mordaunt

I start by thanking the hon. Member for Rochdale (Tony Lloyd) for securing this important and well-attended debate, which has caused me to take some time to look at the tragic details of cases involving human rights abuses in Andean countries. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office considers these countries a priority due to ongoing human rights concerns and employs various tools, including official development assistance programmes and trade dialogues, to address issues such as violence against trade unionists, protestors, and environmental campaigners. We have spent £68 million through the conflict, stability and security fund to support peace agreement implementation in Colombia and have put in place a multi-million pound project to help transform the approach taken by the Colombian national police on human rights. The UK's trade agreements with these countries include binding provisions on labour and environmental standards, monitored through annual Trade and Sustainable Development committees. Additionally, we are establishing a public expression of interest for a domestic advisory group (DAG) that will monitor FTA implementation. The minister outlines how the government is engaging regularly with Andean country partners at various levels to raise human rights issues and ensure compliance.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy