To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Northern Ireland Office was asked to sanction the visit to Uganda in September and October 2009 by the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and whether the cost of the visit was met by the Commission. [HL1329]

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) was not asked to sanction the visit and there was no requirement for the NIO's approval to be sought. The NIO was informed that an invitation had been received and accepted. The chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission visited Uganda from 27 September to 4 October 2009 at the invitation of the Irish ambassador to Uganda. The purpose of the visit was to share lessons from working in societies coming out of conflict, and it included meetings with the Ugandan Human Rights Commission and the British ambassador to Uganda. Costs were covered by the Irish Government.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Northern Ireland Office was asked to sanction the visit to East Timor by the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in November and December 2009; and whether the cost of the visit was met by the Commission. [HL1330]

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) was not asked to sanction the visit and there was no requirement for the NIO's approval to be sought. The NIO was informed that an invitation had been received and accepted. The chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission visited East Timor from 26 November to 6 December 2009, at the invitation of Nuala O'Loan, the Irish Government's Special Envoy to East Timor. The focus of the visit was on gender-based violence in conflict situations, using UN Security Council Resolutions (1325 and 1820) to take forward this work. Costs were covered by the Irish Government.