Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative regarding sexual violence in (1) Sudan, and (2) South Sudan.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The UK Government are working in both Sudan and South Sudan to address Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) International Conference was an important opportunity to raise awareness and work together on these issues. The Government of South Sudan was represented at the conference, endorsed the CRSV Political Declaration and made a national commitment to prevent CRSV in South Sudan. South Sudan's Defence Minister and several civil society actors participated in panels on CRSV prevention, reparations and peacebuilding. The Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict met the South Sudanese Ministerial delegation to press for urgent action to address CRSV in South Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what humanitarian support they have provided to combat violence against women and girls in Sudan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK continues to call for sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Sudan to end. We have raised our concerns at human rights violations in international fora such as the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council, and directly with the Sudanese authorities. The UK has also provided significant support to the Sudanese led-movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). Working with UN partners at the community level in Sudan, the UK has helped to change behaviours towards FGM by facilitating community dialogue, working with religious leaders and providing training for medical professionals.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners regarding the involvement of Eritrean Defence Forces in the renewed conflict in Tigray.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The breakdown of the truce between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian Government and the renewed involvement of Eritrea is catastrophic for Ethiopia. The UK encourages international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability.
On 22 September, in a meeting with Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Development raised the impact of renewed conflict on the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia and reiterated calls for a truce, restoration of humanitarian access to Tigray and for Eritrean forces to leave. Following this, the Minister for Africa tweeted about the escalation of fighting and the involvement of Eritrean forces, again calling on them to leave Tigray. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara continue to engage with parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray, given the renewed fighting in that region.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The breakdown of the truce between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian Government and the renewed involvement of Eritrea is catastrophic for Ethiopia. The UK encourages international efforts to de-escalate conflict, stressing the need for a political solution, humanitarian access and accountability.
On 22 September, in a meeting with Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Development raised the impact of renewed conflict on the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia and reiterated calls for a truce, restoration of humanitarian access to Tigray and for Eritrean forces to leave. Following this, the Minister for Africa tweeted about the escalation of fighting and the involvement of Eritrean forces, again calling on them to leave Tigray. Our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara continue to engage with parties to the conflict to deliver these messages.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Eritrea about the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) organising concerts and festivals in (1) London, and (2) other European capitals; and what assessment, if any, they have made of those events.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We are aware of the events organised by the Eritrean Government and ruling party in countries across Europe, including the UK. After one such event organised by the Eritrean Embassy in London in September, clashes between attendees and protestors resulted in several arrests. Following this event, the FCDO has encouraged the Eritrean Embassy to communicate with their dedicated police liaison officer to ensure that any future events pass off peacefully.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Ukraine to support female victims of rape or sexual violence in Ukraine in accessing full, prompt, and safe abortion, sexual and reproductive health treatments.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to tackling conflict-related sexual violence and we are working closely with the Ukrainian Government on this issue, including through specialist UK expertise to support investigations. As part of the UK's £220 million of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, we are helping ensure legal support and crisis accommodation for victims and supporting the effective documentation of gender-based violence cases. UK funding to the UN Populations Fund is also expanding the provision of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights in Ukraine.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide practical support for the investigation of alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is providing assistance to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court to support its investigations and has already made a £1m voluntary contribution funded through the cross-Government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). This contribution will increase the OTP's collection of evidence capacity. We are also supporting the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) to investigate war crimes committed in Ukraine through a £2.5 million support package. This is to be delivered through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory group (ACA), which was established in May in conjunction with the EU and US to support the OPG with the gathering of evidence and prosecution of war crimes. The package includes the deployment of Mobile Justice Teams to the scene of potential war crimes, training of up to 90 judges, forensic evidence gathering and support from UK experts in sexual violence in conflict.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in securing an international convention prohibiting the use of rape or sexual violence as a weapon of war, including enforceable and effective sanctions in response to any breaches.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
It is unacceptable that sexual violence and rape continue to take place in conflicts around the world and are, in some cases, used as a method of warfare. Among other things, rape can be a war crime, a crime against humanity and a form of torture. Rape is prohibited under international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international human rights law and UN Security Council resolutions.
The UK is stepping up its ambition to end the culture of impunity that has pervaded acts of Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). In the first instance, we are focused on addressing the gaps in implementation of existing laws at the national level. We are also seeking further concerted action on the Crimes Against Humanity (CAH) Convention, which is vital to strengthen the international legal architecture and prosecute atrocity crimes including some forms of CRSV. Both of these steps could pave the way for a CRSV Convention in due course.
The UK will host the international Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) conference in November 2022. This will be a key opportunity to show UK leadership and rally international support to agree further action on sexual violence in conflict to eliminate this crime, including stronger international action to promote accountability.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed the issue of Pakistan selling arms to the Myanmar military during his phone call with Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, on 1 June.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar. We are clear that countries should not sell arms to the Myanmar military. On 27 March, the UK coordinated a joint statement with 48 signatories that committed us to working to prevent the flow of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military. We have also worked with partners to secure strong language on stopping the flow of arms at the G7, UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council. Earlier this year, British High Commission Islamabad officials raised Pakistan's sale of arms to the Myanmar military with the Pakistani authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will campaign for the adoption of a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council’s 50th session that (1) extends the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, (2) describes and condemns human rights violations in Eritrea, and (3) sets benchmarks for improvement.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Eritrea remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the UK. As in previous years, we will work with likeminded partners - particularly the EU as penholders of the resolution - to ensure the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea is extended at the upcoming 50th session of the Human Rights Council via a robust and credible resolution. We fully support the work of the Special Rapporteur and welcome both his report and his establishment of a set of human rights benchmarks for Eritrea to meet in order to show improvement.
At the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur the UK urged Eritrea to prioritise National Service reform; release all those in arbitrary detention; guarantee freedom of religion or belief for all faiths; and protect freedom of expression. We also continue to call on the Government of Eritrea to 1) allow the Special Rapporteur to visit Eritrea and cooperate fully with his mandate, 2) engage and cooperate fully with the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts in Ethiopia, established by the Human Rights Council at the 33rd Special Session on 17 December 2021 to investigate human rights violations and abuses committed by all parties to the conflict in Ethiopia, and 3) engage constructively with the recommendations of the 3 November 2021 UN-Ethiopian Human Rights Commission joint investigation report.