To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the United Nations Human Rights Council on (a) political and civil rights, (b) freedom of the press and (c) food provision in Zimbabwe. (132606)

In my address to the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 13 March, I expressed the UK's utter condemnation of the violent repression of peaceful protesters on 11 March. The UK made a statement at the HRC on 29 March expressing our deep concern at events in Zimbabwe. We urged the Government of Zimbabwe to allow its people to express their political views without harassment, intimidation or violence and to repeal repressive legislation that curtails the freedom of the media, expression and association. We also confirmed our commitment to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans caused by the Government of Zimbabwe's misgovernance by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance and food relief.

In addition, we urged the UN special rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression and the UN special rapporteur on torture to visit Zimbabwe and report back to the HRC at its sixth session, and welcomed the commitment made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the judicial process against Mr Tsvangirai and his colleagues.

Also on 29 March, 50 UN member states supported a statement by the EU presidency at the HRC expressing concern at the situation in Zimbabwe and, at our request, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs briefed the UN Security Council in New York on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.