To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Colombian government to seek to ensure the safety of human rights activists and lawyers in Colombia. (311363)

We regularly raise serious concerns over human rights with senior Colombian Ministers. I visited Colombia in October 2009, and during a meeting with President Uribe, urged him to do more to improve the human rights situation. I also issued a joint statement with Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez, declaring that:

“the defence of human rights is necessary and legitimate for democracy, in a country like Colombia which is proud of being fully open and ready for international scrutiny on this subject”.

I also met the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs specifically to discuss human rights earlier this week.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also raised human rights concerns during a meeting with Minister Bermudez in December 2009.