Asia and Oceania Archives - House of Lords Library

Global gender equality in political life

Tuesday, 23 March, 2021

As part of its sustainable development goals, the United Nations (UN) has called for women to achieve full and effective participation in political life by 2030. Currently, women account for 25.5% of national representatives worldwide. The UN has said that with the current rate of action gender parity will not be reached for another 130 years. This article considers which countries are leading on political gender parity and what barriers to full participation remain.

Global gender equality in political life

Rwanda 2021: Looking ahead to the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Wednesday, 10 March, 2021

In 2020, the Commonwealth postponed its 26th Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has since announced that the meeting will take place in June 2021.

Rwanda 2021: Looking ahead to the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

UK Bilateral Defence Cooperation

Tuesday, 09 March, 2021

The Government has said that it intends to publish its integrated review on security, defence, foreign policy and development this month. As part of this, the Government is considering how the UK can work more effectively with its allies. The UK engages in various bilateral defence relationships. This article considers some of those relationships and highlights details of the integrated review.

In Focus

Tackling modern slavery in the Commonwealth

Monday, 01 March, 2021

It is estimated that there are around 40.3 million victims of modern slavery worldwide. Of these, about 40% are thought to live in the Commonwealth. In the last few years, the UK Government has distributed £200 million in aid to fund international projects to tackle modern slavery. It has also committed to tackling modern slavery in supply chains. Campaigners have said that progress on the issue amongst Commonwealth governments overall has been slow.
In Focus

Safeguarding the rights of the global LGBTI+ community

Friday, 04 December, 2020

Covid-19 has impacted the work of LGBTI+ organisations around the world. This article looks at a recent report by the Baring Foundation which calls for increased spending by the UK Government on global LGBTI+ rights and outlines the current spending commitments in this area.
- In Focus
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia and Oceania
- Communities
- Europe
- Middle East
In Focus

UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Monday, 23 November, 2020

On 26 November 2020, the House of Lords is due to debate a trade deal, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UK and Japan. This article looks at the deal and the scrutiny it has received from the House of Commons International Trade Committee and the House of Lords International Agreements Sub-Committee.
In Focus

Korea: Remembering the UK’s contribution

Thursday, 11 June, 2020

The Korean war began 70 years ago. This article summarises how the UK was involved in the conflict, including the extent of its contribution in support of the United Nations response. It also summarises how Parliament was kept informed of developments at the time.
Research Briefing

Hong Kong: National Security Legislation

Friday, 29 May, 2020

There has been concern over what Beijing’s decision to implement a national security law in Hong Kong could mean for freedoms in the territory.
In Focus

Coronavirus: Regulation of live animal markets

Friday, 22 May, 2020

Coronavirus is believed to have originated in a ‘wet market’ selling wild animals in the city of Wuhan in China. This has provoked debate about the relationship between unsanitary conditions in some markets and the spread of diseases from animals to humans. The article summarises international efforts to regulate live animal markets, particularly those in Asia and Africa.
Research Briefing

Coronavirus, Hong Kong and UK Government Support

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

Hong Kong has had 118 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease and three deaths as at 10 March 2020. Hong Kong’s government has sought to contain the virus through strict quarantine and travel restrictions and by closing some public services, including schools. However, concerns have been raised about the social and economic impact of the measures taken.
Research Briefing

India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

This House of Lords Library Briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming debate to ask Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the impact of India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, passed on 11 December 2019, on UK citizens, and what representations they have made, if any, to the government of India as a result”.
Research Briefing

Coronavirus: A Public Health Emergency

Wednesday, 05 February, 2020

The coronavirus was declared a public health emergency on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), only the sixth such emergency since 2009. The declaration followed reports on 31 December 2019 of an unknown virus causing a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China. The virus was later identified as a new strain of coronavirus (Cov). This House of Lords Library briefing provides information about: the virus, including its spread and impact; what action the WHO and UK Government have taken; and the problem of disinformation in relation to the disease.
Research Briefing

Lord Sinha of Raipur and the Government of India Act 1919

Friday, 13 December, 2019

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared to mark the 100th anniversary of the Government of India Act 1919 receiving royal assent and the role of the peer of non-European descent, Lord Sinha, in piloting the Act through the Lords.
Research Briefing

World Cities Day, 31 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October, 2019

This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information to mark the upcoming World Cities Day on 31 October 2019.
Research Briefing

Hong Kong: Political Unrest and Citizenship Offers

Friday, 18 October, 2019

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared ahead of a debate due to take place on 24 October 2019 on the motion moved by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) that “this House takes note of the recent political unrest in Hong Kong, and of the calls to offer residents of Hong Kong citizenship in another country”.
- Research Briefing
- Asia and Oceania

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