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 government of Serbia’s response to recent demonstrations, including reports of incidents against peaceful protesters; and what steps they have taken to encourage that government to conduct a full, impartial, and swift investigation into reports of violence against demonstrators.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are closely following developments in Serbia, where large-scale peaceful street protests continue after the tragic collapse of a station canopy last November. When the Minister of State for Europe visited Belgrade in January 2025, he raised the worrying incidents of violence against peaceful protesters. It is important that these incidents are investigated swiftly. The Minister of State for Europe underlined the importance of respect for citizens' rights of freedom of expression and assembly, and of continuing responsible policing of protests. When the Minister of State for Europe visited Belgrade last month, he discussed with the Serbian government and others, the importance of respect for citizens' rights of freedom of expression and assembly, and the importance of peaceful dialogue on all sides.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support measures to document the locations of reported mass graves in Gaza; and what representations they have made to, or received from, the International Commission on Missing Persons regarding the protection of such sites, conducting investigations, and facilitating the reliable identification of human remains.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have not made, or received, representations from the International Commission of Missing Persons. It has not been possible to send equipment to Gaza, required to conduct such investigations.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have (1) made representations to, or (2) received representations from, other Commonwealth member states about Rwanda’s alleged involvement in destabilising activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Foreign Secretary has spoken with President Kagame, and I have spoken to the Rwandan Foreign Minister and High Commissioner in the UK, to call for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomatic talks. We have urged Rwanda that there would be a strong response to an attack on Goma from the international community. The Foreign Secretary also raised eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo with the Kenyan, and South African Foreign Ministers, with whom he expressed condolences for their 14 peacekeepers killed. I have also spoken to the Ugandan Foreign Minister, emphasising the importance of a coordinated international response. The UK has further engaged with other Commonwealth partners at official level to push for an end to the killing and a return to peaceful negotiations.
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 Commonwealth Secretariat regarding Rwanda’s compliance with Article 2 of the Commonwealth Charter in the light of allegations of Rwanda's support for the M23 rebel group.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is engaging with the Commonwealth Secretariat to ensure they continue to urge immediate de-escalation, a return to negotiations and the respect of human rights and dignity, as was outlined in the Secretary General's recent statement. The UK condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces, as well as all human rights abuses by armed groups in DRC.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review (1) the provision of UK aid to, or (2) other forms of co-operation with, Rwanda in light of its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK condemns the occupation of Goma and other territories in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces as an unacceptable breach of DRC's sovereignty and the United Nations Charter which poses a fundamental risk to regional stability. We have been clear with Rwanda that this would provoke a strong response from the international community and called for the immediate withdrawal of all Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory. We are considering all options with partners.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Official Development Assistance has been dedicated to peacebuilding and mediation support programmes in each year between 2016 and 2025.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending on civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution, as defined by the Development Assistance Committee within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (sector code 15220), has declined in real terms in every year from 2016-2022 and has dropped from 2.7% to 0.8% of total ODA between 2016 and 2023. At the same time the prevalence of conflict has increased. Last September at the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister said, "We must put new energy and creativity into conflict resolution and conflict prevention, reverse the trend towards ever-greater violence, [and] make the institutions of peace fit for purpose." Data for subsequent years is not yet available.
Bilateral UK ODA spent on Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220), 2016 - 2023 (£millions) | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220) | 360.6 | 303.7 | 277.1 | 198.7 | 164.7 | 144.9 | 115.4 | 128.2 |
Total UK ODA (£millions) | 13,377 | 14,051 | 14,542 | 15,176 | 14,478 | 11,423 | 12,786 | 15,344 |
% of total UK ODA | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
Source: Statistics on International Development Totals may not sum due to rounding |
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the efforts of the government of Switzerland in convening a meeting of the parties to the Geneva Conventions.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to be respected around the world. 196 States have ratified the Conventions and have obligations to respect and adhere to their provisions. Our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva met Swiss Government officials in December to discuss their plans to convene a meeting of High Contracting Parties. We are considering how to engage in preparations for the meeting, and await further information on its scope, objectives and timing.
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 United Nations Fact-Finding Mission's report Findings of the investigations conducted by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan into violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and related crimes, committed in the Sudan in the context of the conflict that erupted in mid-April 2023, published on 23 October, documenting the sexual violence committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces during the Sudanese civil war.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In October 2023, the UK led efforts at the UN Human Rights Council to establish the independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to gather and preserve evidence of credible human rights violations and abuses in Sudan. We further lobbied for the FFM's renewal in October 2024. The UK uses its position as penholder at the UN Security Council and as leader of the Sudan Core Group at the Human Rights Council to highlight human rights abuses and to call on both warring parties to adhere to their commitments in the Jeddah Declaration to adhere to international law as well as to their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration to protect civilians. During a UN Security Council meeting on 19 December, we condemned RSF attacks in North Darfur and called on both warring parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. The UK also supports the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and wider UN agencies and efforts to investigate and restrain Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) cases. We will continue to use findings from the FFM to raise awareness of human rights violations in Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the government of Sudan to prevent atrocities in that country; and whether they plan to deploy any members of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict team of experts to Sudan or neighbouring countries.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is widespread and underreported in Sudan. Cases have increased significantly since the start of the conflict. As part of the UK's Official Development Assistance to Sudan and neighbouring countries, which now stands at £226.5 million, we provide support to survivors of SGBV through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. On 26 September, the UK convened an event at the UN General Assembly with Dutch and Swiss partners to address SGBV in Sudan, drawing international attention to the plight of women and girls. We have also pivoted our existing programmes to focus more on prevention, protection and care for rape survivors, including the provision of clinical treatment, dignity kits and psycho-social services. While there is no plan to deploy members from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict team of experts at this time, we continually keep all available levers to prevent and respond to SGBV in Sudan under review.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the £113 million aid package for Sudan announced in November will be committed to addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is widespread and underreported in Sudan. Cases have increased significantly since the start of the conflict, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan. As part of the recent £113 million uplift, we will continue to support the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) which provides flexible, multi-sector support to NGOs, including the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs). We have pivoted our existing programmes to focus more on prevention, protection and care for rape survivors, including the provision of clinical treatment, dignity kits and psycho-social services. While there is no plan to deploy members from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict team of experts at this time, we continually keep all available levers to prevent and respond to SGBV in Sudan under review.