Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Malta about the implementation of the recommendations of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia relating to the protection of journalists, media freedom and the rule of law.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly discusses media freedom, the protection of journalists and the rule of law with the government and interlocutors in Malta. In October 2025, Our British High Commissioner discussed the continuing legacy of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Malta's reform record with the Maltese Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
In March 2026, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Americas, visited Malta and gave an interview to the Times of Malta in which he called for full implementation of the public inquiry recommendations. He met journalists, civil society representatives, and the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation to discuss media freedom and the implementation of the inquiry's recommendations. After the September 2026 verdict in the trial of the individual accused of commissioning the assassination, the UK and Finland, as Co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition, note the outcome and called for the full and timely implementation of the public inquiry's recommendations.
Our High Commission in Malta consistently supports independent media in Malta. As part of this work, we have brought together Maltese journalists and journalism students to learn from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. We have also facilitated an annual Daphne Caruana Galizia memorial lecture to highlight the importance of press freedom.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make future UK assistance for education and reconstruction in Syria contingent upon demonstrable progress towards a national curriculum that promotes pluralism, respect for religious and ethnic minorities, gender equality, peace education and inclusive citizenship, to support an inclusive and stable political transition in Syria.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Supporting the rights of women and minority groups in Syria is a UK priority which we promote through our humanitarian work and via our support to the education sector. The UK's 'Syria Education Programme' has delivered quality, inclusive education to over 980,000 primary aged children in Northwest Syria since 2018, improving learning outcomes with a strong focus on gender equity and disability inclusion. We are providing technical assistance to the Syrian Ministry of Education to enhance national education policy and planning, building on areas of our technical expertise including inclusive education. We will continue to advocate that the process of curriculum change in Syria should be transparent and consultative, and, with other development partners, will continue to monitor significant changes.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider that Israel’s continued refusal to permit the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention since October 2023 is compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law; and, if not, what practical consequences will follow for their future engagement with Israel.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Baroness to the answer of 16 April 2026 to Question HL6417.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent escalation of fighting in El Obeid, Sudan; what steps they are taking, including through international partners, to help prevent further escalation; and what action they are taking to protect civilians and ensure the safe, rapid, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to El Obeid and other conflict-affected areas of Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 9 July in response to Question HL1347.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the objectives of the UK sanctions regime are compatible with UK-based public policy professionals and lobbyists representing, directly or indirectly, the interests of foreign political entities associated with persons designated under UK sanctions; and what assessment they have made of risks to the integrity of the UK's sanctions regime.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK's sanctions regimes are a key foreign policy and national security tool, used to deter and disrupt malign behaviour and demonstrate support for international norms.
Designations are targeted, lawful and transparent, with due process protections and the ability to challenge them. The Government keeps sanctions under review to ensure they remain effective, proportionate and aligned with policy objectives, including how they interact with professional service providers and others exposed to sanctions risk. UK sanctions must be complied with by any individual, business or organisation undertaking activities in the UK, as well as UK nationals and UK-incorporated entities operating anywhere in the world.
A robust compliance and enforcement framework, alongside engagement with industry, helps identify and mitigate risks, maintaining the credibility and integrity of each regime.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 1 August 2025 (HL9685), what assessment they have made of reports since of abductions, disappearances and conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls from minority communities in Syria, in particular from the Alawite community; and what recent representations they have made to the Syrian authorities about this.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK firmly supports the documentation and investigation of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Syria. We remain concerned about allegations around forced abduction, and we have consistently emphasised to the Syrian Government that civilians must be protected from violence, and those responsible held to account. Over half of UK humanitarian programming in Syria was focussed on women and girls in FY 2024/25 with 271,000 women reached with VAWG-related support.
On the international stage, during the UK's UN Security Council Presidency in February, we focused on the rights of women and girls, delivering a joint statement calling for women's full, equal and meaningful participation and an end to discriminatory Assad-era laws. The UK continues to engage with both the Government of Syria and civil society to press for a genuine political transition that protects the rights of all Syrians, including women.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 1 August 2025 (HL9687), how much funding was allocated in (1) the last financial year, and (2) this financial year, to support women’s rights organisations in Syria in relation to (a) gender equality, and (b) participation in political and public life; and which organisations they have supported.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK firmly supports the documentation and investigation of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Syria. We remain concerned about allegations around forced abduction, and we have consistently emphasised to the Syrian Government that civilians must be protected from violence, and those responsible held to account. Over half of UK humanitarian programming in Syria was focussed on women and girls in FY 2024/25 with 271,000 women reached with VAWG-related support.
On the international stage, during the UK's UN Security Council Presidency in February, we focused on the rights of women and girls, delivering a joint statement calling for women's full, equal and meaningful participation and an end to discriminatory Assad-era laws. The UK continues to engage with both the Government of Syria and civil society to press for a genuine political transition that protects the rights of all Syrians, including women.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have raised with (1) European counterparts, and (2) G7 members, reports of abductions and gender-based violence against women and girls in minority communities in Syria; and whether they plan to make joint representations to the Syrian authorities on this matter.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK firmly supports the documentation and investigation of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Syria. We remain concerned about allegations around forced abduction, and we have consistently emphasised to the Syrian Government that civilians must be protected from violence, and those responsible held to account. Over half of UK humanitarian programming in Syria was focussed on women and girls in FY 2024/25 with 271,000 women reached with VAWG-related support.
On the international stage, during the UK's UN Security Council Presidency in February, we focused on the rights of women and girls, delivering a joint statement calling for women's full, equal and meaningful participation and an end to discriminatory Assad-era laws. The UK continues to engage with both the Government of Syria and civil society to press for a genuine political transition that protects the rights of all Syrians, including women.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 November 2025 (HL11857), what (1) progress they have made, and (2) further investigations they plan, in assessing allegations that foreign nationals participated in killings during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s; and in particular, in light of the ongoing investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office and reports in The Times on 17 June that some participants may have been British nationals, what steps they have taken with (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina, and (2) Italy, to establish whether any British nationals were involved.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
This Government welcomes the efforts of prosecutors in Italy and elsewhere to investigate these very serious allegations and ascertain the facts. The UK continues to support international and domestic mechanisms for prosecuting war crimes. We will, wherever needed, cooperate with the governments of Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and other relevant authorities to ensure justice is done. The UK remains in close contact with BiH authorities to address the legacies of past conflicts and prevent their recurrence. I met Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković on 1 June to reaffirm UK support and condemn divisive rhetoric by some BiH politicians. These allegations remind us of the enduring need to confront impunity, for the sake of lasting peace and reconciliation.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 15 June (HL555), what assessment they have made of the implications of the United Nations Secretary-General's report Conflict-related Sexual Violence, published on 21 April and available on the UN website, including the decision to list Israeli security forces, for the conduct of United Kingdom foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Further to the response provided on 15 June to Question HL555, the Government is now considering the implications of the published report and will set out our position in the usual way at in the UN Security Council Open Debate planned for July.