The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised a closed roundtable discussion with the FCO Minister Tobias Ellwood MP to discuss what the UK Government is doing in its foreign policy to uphold and promote respect for international humanitarian law in connection with conflicts in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and to raise the related concerns of Parliamentarians.  The discussion was chaired by Ann Clwyd MP, PHRG Chair.

The PHRG would like to thank the Minister for a very constructive discussion and looks forward to continuing the dialogue with the FCO on these and other matters.  More generally, the PHRG will continue to follow developments in Syria, Yemen and Iraq very closely, to meet with civil society organisations to discuss their concerns, and to raise matters with relevant interlocutors.  In this connection, Ann Clwyd MP, PHRG Chair, has tabled EDM 894 – Humanitarian Situation in Syria – http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/894, and welcomes support for the EDM from fellow MPs.