Gaza: UN Commission of Inquiry Report

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Thursday 18th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report published on 16 September, which found that Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza against Palestinians, and what action they are taking in response.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government’s long-standing position remains that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made following a judgment by a competent national or international court. However, officials are carefully considering this report, and it will be taken into account in the regular assessments made by the Government of the compliance with international law by Israel in Gaza. We have been extremely clear that what is happening in Gaza is appalling. We continue to call on Israel to change course immediately by halting its ground offensive and letting a surge of humanitarian aid in without delay.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer and the indication that the Government are carefully considering the report from the United Nations which was published earlier this week. In that light, can my noble friend the Minister outline what steps the Government have taken and will take pursuant to Article 1 of the 1948 genocide convention and in compliance with the binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice on 26 January 2024 and 24 May 2024 to ensure that the slaughter of people and devastation of communities in Gaza are stopped?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We respect and will always continue to adhere to the convention that the noble Baroness refers to, but it will remain the Government’s position—I genuinely think that this is right—that we do not ascribe genocide; it is for a competent court to do that. That is the right way to tackle these issues. By calling this genocide, we do not save a single life, feed a single child or restore medical services to a single community. It is important—it really matters—that the attribution of genocide is made by a competent court. That will remain this Government’s position, and it has been the very long-standing position of the United Kingdom Government.

Syria: Druze Community

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Thursday 17th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are working very closely with actors on the ground, not least civil society organisations, and support all the things that need to be done in order to achieve accountability. That does matter. I thank the noble Lord opposite for the cross-party nature of our position on this. That is incredibly helpful and something that I hope can continue.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, watching the scenes as they unfold in Syria, I suggest that it is important that we provide support and solidarity to underpin the very fragile democracy that is now in place there. Will the Minister comment on the possibility of the UK Government working with other countries within the G7 to establish an international fund to underpin that democracy, rebuild human relationships and reconciliation and address famine and starvation in Syria and the wider Middle East?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is vital that the international community comes together to support emerging stability in Syria. We are very willing to do that, and we are engaged in that process, but we need to support the Governments of countries that have been supporting Syrians away from their home for very many years now, at great cost to themselves and with great pressure, sometimes, on their societies. Jordan has done a huge amount over very many years. We work closely with the Government of Jordan. This truly is a moment when the international community, beyond some of the usual actors, needs to come together, co-ordinate and make sure that we do everything we possibly can to secure the future of Syria.

Moldova: Russian Interference

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Thursday 6th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises a very interesting question, the answer to which I do not have for him today, but I will take it away because he makes a very strong case.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, when I worked with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Moldova some six years ago, I detected and had a strong sense that there was a high level of fear among the Moldovans because of Russian influence and aggression. Will my noble friend the Minister continue to provide assurances to your Lordships’ House that the UK Government will provide all support, along with EU partners, in building democracy there in a practical and political way?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Yes we will, and we do need to be practical because this is urgent. The next elections are happening in a matter of months’ time. The results last time were impacted by Russian activity, estimated to be about 10% to 15% of the ballot. This is intolerable for any democracy, and the UK must stand firm and stand up for what is right, including our democratic values.

COP 29: United Kingdom Delegation

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Thursday 21st November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The UK has been consistent in seeking a peaceful resolution. We take every opportunity that we can to move that forward.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, earlier this morning, I chaired a meeting of indigenous peoples from Colombia, Peru and Indonesia. They welcomed the fact that the UK Prime Minister was in Baku, because there is an urgent need to discuss climate change mitigation and how to deal with corporates—many of them from the UK and other large countries—that undertake enormous amounts of wood felling to pursue their particular business, at the expense of indigenous people. Therefore, in the interests of climate change mitigation internationally, would my noble friend meet me and those groups and campaigners who are directly involved on this issue in the UK?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are not going to get any improvement in stemming the loss of biodiversity or deforestation without working with indigenous communities. I was very pleased to meet Domingo Peas, the head of Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, on a recent visit to Ecuador, looking at just this topic. I would be very happy to meet representatives alongside my noble friend.

Patrick Finucane

Debate between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Tuesday 30th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Foster, for her welcome. I note, as she did, that today is the start of investigations into what happened in Omagh. On her point about all victims being treated with equal respect and concern, of course she is right.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend to the Front Bench. I recall the murder of Patrick Finucane. It was one of the most heinous murders in Northern Ireland back in the late 1980s, like many other murders right across the piece. I hope that the Government will find a solution for Geraldine Finucane and her family because no doubt they are tortured as a result of such a murder. Yesterday, I welcomed the Government’s decision to withdraw the previous Government’s decision to take the High Court to court in relation to the ruling over the amnesty decision. In that respect, there are other outstanding cases. Will the Government withdraw the application by the previous Secretary of State for a judicial review of the decision of the coroner in the case of Sean Brown to confirm that state agents were involved in his murder, as they were in other murders in Northern Ireland?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend Lady Ritchie for her question and completely agree with her comments about the heinous nature of the murder of Pat Finucane. I remind noble Lords that one of the first meetings the Secretary of State held was with Geraldine Finucane. That signals something about his intention to deal with this issue with the greatest care. It is important that a way forward is found with families and victims that can command as wide a degree of support as possible in the circumstances. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State will consider all the issues that my noble friend Lady Ritchie has raised.