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.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the 2021 Ethiopia scoping mission by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We worked with partners on the recommendations of the 2021 PSVI Team of Experts (ToE) scoping mission to Ethiopia. We enhanced domestic capacity to monitor and document CRSV cases, facilitated a PSVI ToE-led workshop for civil society, commissioned research into the dynamics of CRSV, collaborated with external partners to increase CRSV data analysis and coordination, and embedded longer-term gender expertise. We also provide financial support for gender-based violence services in Ethiopia, including psychosocial support to survivors and enhancing protection work.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to reviewing the Geneva Conventions and legal standards for humanitarian treatment and protection of civilians during war.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to be respected around the world. International Humanitarian Law provides the minimum level of compliance required by parties to armed conflict. However, parties to the Geneva Conventions can choose, as the UK does, to implement policy that goes beyond these legal obligations, providing greater protection for civilians during war. Promoting IHL compliance is the cornerstone of UK humanitarian policy, as is evidenced by our activities recorded in the UK Voluntary Report on the Domestic Implementation of IHL.
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 humanitarian and healthcare situation in Gaza; and what representations, if any, they have made to the government of Israel regarding the reported systematic targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and reports of continued destruction of health infrastructure, civilian detentions and deaths are deeply troubling. It is unacceptable that northern Gaza now has no fully functioning hospitals after strikes on Kamal Adwan hospital resumed this week. On 5 November, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Middle East raised the UK's grave concerns that Kamal Adwan continues to come under fire with the Israeli Ambassador. This Government has been clear that Israel must do much more to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, including the medics northern Gaza desperately needs. The Foreign Secretary raised this with the then Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, on 28 October. We continue to work with our international partners including at the UN to put pressure on Israel to show the world it is complying with international humanitarian law.
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 role of the government of Uganda in supporting armed groups allegedly responsible for human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, considering the aid and economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Uganda.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have consistently condemned in the strongest terms the actions of all armed groups including the UN-sanctioned M23 and reiterated our full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We call on all parties to respect UN obligations and international law. Counter-terrorism and regional security is a shared priority for the UK and Uganda. We prioritise supporting engagements in Uganda that contribute to stability. Uganda has an important role to play, including by working with the government of the DRC on the joint Operation Shujaa to counter the Daesh-aligned Allied Democratic Forces in Eastern DRC.
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 Rwandan cross-border military operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, considering the responsibilities of Rwanda under the UN Charter and International Law.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are closely monitoring the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including any cross-border military operations. We continue to privately engage with both DRC and Rwanda at the highest levels to encourage de-escalation of violence and meaningful engagement in political peace processes. We call on all parties to respect UN obligations and international law. The Foreign Secretary raised the conflict in eastern DRC with the Rwandan Foreign Minister in October. I visited Rwanda in September, where I encouraged delivery on commitments made under the ceasefire brokered by Angola as part of the Luanda peace process.
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 role of Rwanda in the exploitation and forcible extraction of natural resources, such as coltan, gold and diamonds, and other precious minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Illicit mining remains a problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and supports the models of armed groups, exacerbating the conflict and its humanitarian consequences. We are determined to work with partners to find solutions, particularly given the increasing global reliance on the DRC's critical minerals for the green energy transition. The UK supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which aims to improve transparency and governance in the mining sector.