Women’s Representation in Peace Processes

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Tuesday 30th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bellingham (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister in her substantive reply mentioned Sudan. She will be aware that, during this appalling conflict, rape is being used habitually as a weapon of war, and quite atrociously also against minors. This constitutes among the most significant crimes against humanity: war crimes. Can she assure the House that everything possible is being done to identify those culprits, so that when peace eventually comes to that troubled nation, those people will face justice?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

If only it was just Sudan—but it is not. The noble Lord asked about Sudan specifically. We have instigated and funded a fact-finding mission so that testimonies can be gathered and the relevant data can be held, so that accountability can happen. He is absolutely right about the horrific nature of these crimes. The grotesque way in which rape is committed and the mutilation of women that takes place as part of this horrifies us all, and we must use every mechanism we can to prevent it.