PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Colombia (16 December 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Colombia with his EU counterparts in discussions of EU-Colombia trade agreements.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Our Embassy in Bogotá is part of the EU Human Rights Group, made up of all EU Member States with missions in Colombia and the European External Action Service. The group meets on a monthly basis in order to implement the Human Rights Strategy for Colombia, most recently on 2 December.

The EU Andean Free Trade Agreement aims to raise human rights standards and includes a legally binding clause allowing for revision of the agreement if Colombia does not comply with its human rights commitments. Colombia has responded to this with a 54 point action plan to reinforce its efforts to end impunity for human rights violations and to ensure its justice system is fully compliant with human rights law.

Answered by:
Lord Swire (Conservative)
5 January 2015