argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Daniel Robert Kawczynski (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister will have seen the appalling scenes on the Polish-Belarus border and the way the brutal dictator Lukashenko is instigating hybrid warfare against Poland by using these vulnerable refugees in trying to get them across the border. Will she give me an assurance that our Government are doing everything possible to help our Polish allies stand up against this absolutely appalling conduct by the Belarus authorities?
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): I completely agree, and the UK is absolutely standing side by side with Poland. The UK and Poland have a long history of friendship and are NATO allies. Already a small team of UK armed forces have been deployed, following agreement with the Polish Government. They are exploring how we can provide engineering support to address the ongoing situation at the Belarus border. The UK regularly deploys military personnel to work with partners and allies across the world. The UK also led on a G7 statement condemning the Belarusian regime’s orchestration of irregular migration across the border, and as I have said, this will be discussed in Riga today.
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): We have already imposed over 100 sanctions designations, including on Lukashenko himself. We are absolutely committed to supporting the people of Belarus, and we stand together to impose costs on this regime for its blatant disregard of international commitments. The sanctions are imposed under our human rights sanctions regime as well. We keep all potential listings under close review, and we obviously continue to discuss these issues with international partners.
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): As Belarus’s closest ally, Russia is uniquely placed to exert pressure on the Belarusian authorities to end their campaign of repression and to engage in this dialogue, and we urge Russia to do so. There must be a transparent and peaceful process to allow Belarusians to determine their own future, and we want to see a reformed Belarus that has a good relationship with Russia and other European partners, but we have been consistently clear in engaging Russia with the fact that violence, harassment and arbitrary detention must stop.
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): The weaponisation of vulnerable refugees seeking to escape conflict in the middle east by Belarus is a gross infringement of their human rights. What are Her Majesty’s Government doing to raise and express international concern at this gross abuse?
Belarus — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an important point about abuse and humanitarian issues. We are supporting humanitarian partners to help alleviate the suffering of migrants at the border, including through our contributions to the disaster relief emergency fund, organised by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. We are also president of the G7, and on 18 November the Foreign Ministers signed a statement, on which we led, calling on the Belarusian regime to provide the international organisations with immediate and unhindered access so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered.
Nigeria: Religious and Other Violence — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on the increasing levels of (a) religious violence and (b) other violence in that country.
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK is committed to the global fight against poverty and promoting equality, and despite the seismic impact of the pandemic on the UK and the global economy the UK will still spend over £10 billion of aid in 2021. We remain one of the largest official development assistance spenders in the world, and we will review the impact of projects through the spending cycle, as is standard, in order to inform future spending decisions.
Nigeria: Religious and Other Violence — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on the increasing levels of (a) religious violence and (b) other violence in that country.
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): I am so sorry Nigeria is a very important country to the UK and we are deeply concerned by the increasing insecurity in Nigeria. I raised the question with the Foreign Minister Onyeama at a bilateral meeting at COP26 in Glasgow, and I hope to visit Nigeria myself next year to have further such discussions. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the UK is a staunch champion of the right to freedom of religion and belief, and in July 2022 we will host an international ministerial conference to energise collective efforts on this agenda.
Nigeria: Religious and Other Violence — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on the increasing levels of (a) religious violence and (b) other violence in that country.
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (Conservative, Centre-right): Is it not extremely regrettable that there is virtually no publicity in the west about what is happening to Christians in Nigeria, amounting almost to genocide? Can we not put more pressure on the Nigerian Government, and can we not proclaim the fact that black lives matter everywhere, not just in the west?
Nigeria: Religious and Other Violence — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on the increasing levels of (a) religious violence and (b) other violence in that country.
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Islamic State West Africa and Boko Haram cause immense suffering not only to Christians but often to those of all faiths who do not subscribe to their extremist views. We condemn all incidents of intercommunal violence in Nigeria. This can also have a devastating impact on communities, and religion can be a factor in the intercommunal violence, but the root causes are extremely complex, including competition for land, water and resources, criminality and failures of government, so the British high commissioner and her team are working closely with state governors and local community and faith leaders as well as non-governmental organisations active in peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund and Designation of Organisations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): The decision by the Israeli authorities to designate six Palestinian NGOs, and the evidence that forms the basis of those designations, is a matter for the Government of Israel. The UK maintains its own criteria for designation. We continue engagement with a number of those organisations on human rights issues and respect the role that NGOs and civil society organisations play in upholding human rights and democracy We are in contact with the Alliance for Middle East Peace regarding its concept of an international fund. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (James Cleverly), met it on 8 September to discuss that.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund and Designation of Organisations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): As I set out, the decision to designate these six Palestinian NGOs is a matter for the Government of Israel. The UK maintains its own criteria for designation. We continue engagement with a number of these organisations on human rights issues and respect the role of civil society organisations in upholding human rights and democracy. As I say, it is a matter for the Government of Israel, but we have our own position.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund and Designation of Organisations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): As I mentioned, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa met the executive director of ALLMEP on 8 September, and UK officials are in contact with it to better understand the concept of the international fund. The UK Government share the objective of increasing understanding and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund and Designation of Organisations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.
Michael Louis David Fabricant (Conservative, Centre-right): Most of us on the Conservative side of the House welcome the Government’s decision to proscribe the so-called political wing of Hamas, but will my right hon. Friend outline the pact that has been drawn up following the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to the United Kingdom a couple of days ago?
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Fund and Designation of Organisations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend said, the Foreign Secretary hosted the first UK-Israel strategic dialogue with Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid. They held substantial discussions on how to broaden and deepen our bilateral relationship, including by co-operation across science, technology, trade and innovation.
Cameroon: Human Rights — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The human rights situation in the north-west and south-west regions of Cameroon is deeply concerning. Around 2.3 million people need humanitarian support and my Department has planned £5 million of humanitarian aid this year, which will help those affected by the crisis. We are urging all actors, including the Cameroonian Government, to remain engaged in efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Cameroon: Human Rights — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): We will continue to work with partners, such as the US and France, to raise the north-west and south-west crisis in multilateral forums. We urge all parties to remain engaged with the Swiss-led process to promote a peaceful resolution to the crisis. As I said, our planned humanitarian aid to Cameroon this year will be £5 million, which will help to support the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross specifically for the most vulnerable populations in those regions.
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Diplomatic Relations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the effect of China’s human rights on the strength of diplomatic relations ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are clear that we want a relationship with China that allows us to manage disagreements, defend our values and preserve space for co-operation where our interests align. We have taken robust action in response to our serious concerns about human rights in China. For example, on Xinjiang, we have led international efforts at the UN, imposed sanctions and announced a range of supply-chain measures.
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Diplomatic Relations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the effect of China’s human rights on the strength of diplomatic relations ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): Taking a couple of points there, on Peng Shuai, we have called on the Chinese authorities to ensure her safety and we are following her case very closely. Everyone should be allowed to speak out without fear of repercussions. All reports of sexual assault, anywhere in the world, should be investigated. No decisions have been made by the Government on attendance of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics next year.
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Diplomatic Relations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the effect of China’s human rights on the strength of diplomatic relations ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.
George Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): It has now been published that, in a number of speeches back in 2014, President Xi drove his authorities to carry out the genocide that is going on in Xinjiang among the Uyghur. China is a country that has trashed an international treaty with the United Kingdom over Hong Kong and is arresting everybody who disagrees with it and persecuting them. What more does it take for my Government to make a clear decision that they will not attend the winter Olympics and will not allow officials to do so? The other day, the Leader of the House indicated that no tickets had been bought. That is not good enough. Can we now have a clear answer that we will not attend and neither will our officials?
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Diplomatic Relations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the effect of China’s human rights on the strength of diplomatic relations ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. We have taken robust action in relation to human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and we have imposed sanctions on those responsible. As I said, no decisions have been made on Government attendance at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in 2022.
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: Diplomatic Relations — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the effect of China’s human rights on the strength of diplomatic relations ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.
Amanda Anne Milling (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said in previous answers, we have taken robust action in response to our concerns. The hon. Gentleman raises a number of issues including that of Peng Shuai, the tennis player. We have imposed sanctions, but in terms of attendance at the winter Olympics, no decisions have been made.
Baltic States: Economic and Security Relationship — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK has a close working relationship with the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, collaborating together in NATO and in the Joint Expeditionary Force. The Foreign Secretary hosted the Baltic Foreign Ministers at Chevening on 11 October and they discussed working together to strengthen NATO, shared security concerns and UK-Baltic economic co-operation. The Foreign Secretary will discuss security of the Baltic states with her counterparts in Riga today.
Baltic States: Economic and Security Relationship — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Sally-Ann Hart (Conservative, Centre-right): The Governments of the Baltic states, as well as their citizens, suffer from persistent, strategic and aggressive Russian propaganda and misinformation, designed to undermine confidence in the Governments of the Baltic states, NATO and other institutions and to sow social and ethnic tensions. What steps is my hon. Friend taking to work with our NATO and European allies and with the Baltic states to help to build their cyber-capabilities, communication strategies and resilience?
Baltic States: Economic and Security Relationship — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK and Baltic states are close partners in international efforts to tackle disinformation. The UK’s counter-disinformation and media development programme is providing funding in this financial year across the Baltic states. The programme builds collective resilience to Russian information operations through strategic communications, exposing disinformation and supporting independent media and civil society.
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Ethiopia and continue to engage with and call upon all parties to press for a ceasefire. Since the state of emergency was declared, I have spoken with African Union High Representative Obasanjo, making clear our support for his mediation efforts, as well as with President Kenyatta of Kenya and AU Commissioner Bankole. I recently urged the Ethiopian State Minister Redwan to engage with these mediation efforts. Our Foreign Secretary spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister Demeke on 5 November and our ambassador has spoken with the President, Prime Minister Abiy and leaders in Tigray, consistently calling on all parties to stop fighting, declare a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to flow.
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, the situation is incredibly challenging. When I spoke to Minister Redwan, I urged him to end the mobilisation of civilians and ethnically targeted arrests. There is a growing risk of uncontrollable ethnic violence, which is doing huge long-term damage to the social cohesion of the country. As I said in my statement on 24 November, we may see the conflict move closer to Addis Ababa, and we are strongly urging all British nationals to leave now while commercial flights are readily available.
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Laurence Anthony Robertson (Conservative, Centre-right): As chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for Ethiopia, may I thank the Minister for all the work that she is doing on this terribly difficult issue? We recently saw the Prime Minister of Ethiopia taking up arms himself and urging others to do so, which demonstrates the seriousness of the situation. I do not think that it is an exaggeration to fear that the very existence of Ethiopia may be at stake and at risk. Does the Minister feel that the United Nations could be doing more to bring about peace in the country?
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman raises a number of points; I thank him for continuing to look at this serious situation. It is really important that we keep spreading the message that British nationals, whatever their circumstances, should leave Ethiopia now while the airport remains available and there are flights. We have asked all sides not to use inflammatory language; it is making the situation even more dangerous, and the impact on civilians is very severe We have provided humanitarian aid of up to £76.7 million in badly needed support for people in north Ethiopia, which makes us the second largest donor to the humanitarian response. That support has gone into Tigray, Afar, Amhara and eastern Sudan; it includes critical food aid, safe drinking water, medical care and support for women who have been victims of sexual violence.
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (Conservative, Centre-right): May I congratulate the Minister on the excellent job that she is doing of standing in for the Foreign Secretary A genocide is happening in Tigray. What work is the Minister doing with our partners in the United States, the EU and other western countries to send a message to Prime Minister Abiy that no international aid can be channelled through the Ethiopian Government until the genocide stops? Why does he still have that Nobel peace prize? Is it not high time that he was stripped of it?
Ethiopia: Tigray Crisis — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for his praise. I am not sure I am doing that brilliantly We are continuing to work extremely closely with our partners in the United States and the United Nations, and I met the African P3 partners during my recent visits to New York and Washington. It is particularly important that we are also supporting the efforts of Obasanjo, Bankole and President Kenyatta to bring all people to a ceasefire. As for the Nobel peace prize, that is a decision for the Nobel Committee itself.
Zimbabwe: Political Repression — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What representations she has made to the government of Zimbabwe on (a) the continued detention of opposition politician Makomborero Haruzivishe and (b) political repression in Zimbabwe.
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): We remain concerned about the political and human rights situation in Zimbabwe and our embassy is in contact with Mr Haruzivishe’s lawyers regarding his appeal. We regularly urge the Government to live up to their own constitution by ensuring that the Opposition, civil society and journalists can operate without harassment. I reinforced these messages to President Mnangagwa at COP26 on 1 November. The UK will continue to support the Zimbabwean people and to help Zimbabweans to secure their constitutional freedoms.
Zimbabwe: Political Repression — House of Commons, 2021-11-30
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What representations she has made to the government of Zimbabwe on (a) the continued detention of opposition politician Makomborero Haruzivishe and (b) political repression in Zimbabwe.
Victoria Grace Ford (Conservative, Centre-right): We are deeply concerned about the civil rights situation and about the reports of the recent death of the opposition MDC Alliance supporter Nyasha Zhambe Mawere on 26 November. We continue to urge the Government to carry out proper investigations and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. Our sanctions designations are holding to account those individuals who we believe to be responsible for human rights violations, and these include those responsible for the deaths of demonstrators in August 2018 and January 2019. Those restrictive measures are not targeted at or intended to impact the wider economy or the people of Zimbabwe; they are targeted at those who commit these atrocities.