Every parliamentary written question tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–5 of 5 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Taliban's decision to permanently ban women and girls from education.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 January in response to Question 103187.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Taliban's decision to shut down the internet in at least 11 provinces in Afghanistan.
The Taliban's decision to shut down internet services from 29 September to 1 October was deeply concerning. It risked crippling Afghanistan's economy, causing significant issues with the delivery of vital UK aid, and cutting off vulnerable communities. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials continue to assess the impact that any future connectivity restrictions in-country would have on UK interests, including on our resettlement and relocations work and our ability to deliver life-saving aid.The UK Government is committed to using its prominent position in multilateral forums to hold the Taliban to account for their repressive policies. Last month, the UK hosted a meeting of G7+ Special Representatives for Afghanistan: this provided an important opportunity for the UK to discuss vital issues of shared concern with key partners and highlight publicly our deep concern about the Taliban's continued denial of the Afghan people's most basic human rights.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 40390 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.
The government has now published the independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender commissioned by the previous government. We are considering the findings in light of ongoing policy work in this area.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office recognises that high quality disaggregated data is needed to meaningfully understand and evaluate our impact across our broad portfolio of international work. Our Inclusive Data Action Plan details our approach to ensure that data is disaggregated by age, disability, sex and geography.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of women and girls in that country.
We have repeatedly condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls' rights, both bilaterally and internationally. As the Foreign Secretary has said, exclusion of women from all aspects of public life is a tragic setback for Afghanistan.Officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan continue to press Taliban acting ministers and Afghan officials on human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Officials visit Kabul regularly, raising issues directly with senior members of the Taliban, including the unacceptable violations of the rights of women and girls. Since 4 December officials have been raising the issue of the Taliban ban on women accessing medical education and training in Afghanistan.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Taliban's decision to (a) ban women from medical training and (b) prohibit male medics from treating female patients.
The UK is deeply concerned at reports of a ban on women accessing medical training in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn this and urge the Taliban to reverse this decision. Female health workers are critical to treating women-focused health issues such as reproductive health. These decisions are yet another affront to girls' right to education and will threaten the lives of countless women and girls who will be denied critical medical care, as well as their future children. Our ongoing support to those Afghans most in need is more essential than ever, and we remain committed that at least 50% of those reached by UK aid are women and girls.