Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they support the further development of international legal standards relating to the protection of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what gaps, if any, they have identified in existing international legal frameworks relating to accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what aspects of international law relating to conflict-related sexual violence they consider would benefit from further clarification, development or strengthening.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from recent conflicts regarding the adequacy of existing international legal frameworks in addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what contribution the United Kingdom is making to international discussions on the future development of international law relating to conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of international sanctions regimes in addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prohibited under international law and can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act of genocide. The Government considers that existing international legal frameworks provide an important basis for preventing and responding to CRSV, but challenges remain in ensuring accountability and tackling impunity. The UK therefore supports efforts to strengthen the international legal architecture, including through negotiations towards a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention. The UK has played an active role in these discussions and engaged survivors and civil society to help ensure future developments reflect survivor-centred approaches and strengthen accountability.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation in the report Addressing the Crisis of Medical Care in Armed Conflict, published by Chatham House in June, that aspects of international humanitarian law relating to medical care in armed conflict would benefit from further clarification and development.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government has read and noted the findings of the Chatham House report, and we remain firmly committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out in International humanitarian law (IHL) for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities.
We also support international efforts to strengthen the implementation of IHL and to address challenges relating to the protection of healthcare in conflict. That includes:
- Participating in the International Committee of the Red Cross' Global Initiative to galvanise global commitment to IHL, by helping to shape international discussions around the Initiative, including in its work on protection of hospitals;
- Promoting the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL at Domestic Level (2024) - a comprehensive overview of the UK's IHL frameworks, including on the protection of civilian infrastructure - which provides practical support to other states seeking to improve their own IHL compliance; and
- Engaging actively with partners to support relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions in this area, and using our position at the United Nations and other fora to call out IHL violations, support independent investigations where appropriate, and press for those responsible to be held to account in accordance with international law.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether international humanitarian law provides sufficient clarity on what constitutes a hostile act by a wounded or sick person receiving medical treatment.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government has read and noted the findings of the Chatham House report, and we remain firmly committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out in International humanitarian law (IHL) for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities.
We also support international efforts to strengthen the implementation of IHL and to address challenges relating to the protection of healthcare in conflict. That includes:
- Participating in the International Committee of the Red Cross' Global Initiative to galvanise global commitment to IHL, by helping to shape international discussions around the Initiative, including in its work on protection of hospitals;
- Promoting the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL at Domestic Level (2024) - a comprehensive overview of the UK's IHL frameworks, including on the protection of civilian infrastructure - which provides practical support to other states seeking to improve their own IHL compliance; and
- Engaging actively with partners to support relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions in this area, and using our position at the United Nations and other fora to call out IHL violations, support independent investigations where appropriate, and press for those responsible to be held to account in accordance with international law.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether international humanitarian law provides sufficient clarity regarding the responsibilities of armed forces towards civilian casualties in areas under their effective control.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government has read and noted the findings of the Chatham House report, and we remain firmly committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out in International humanitarian law (IHL) for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities.
We also support international efforts to strengthen the implementation of IHL and to address challenges relating to the protection of healthcare in conflict. That includes:
- Participating in the International Committee of the Red Cross' Global Initiative to galvanise global commitment to IHL, by helping to shape international discussions around the Initiative, including in its work on protection of hospitals;
- Promoting the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL at Domestic Level (2024) - a comprehensive overview of the UK's IHL frameworks, including on the protection of civilian infrastructure - which provides practical support to other states seeking to improve their own IHL compliance; and
- Engaging actively with partners to support relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions in this area, and using our position at the United Nations and other fora to call out IHL violations, support independent investigations where appropriate, and press for those responsible to be held to account in accordance with international law.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether international humanitarian law provides sufficient clarity on the circumstances in which healthcare facilities lose protected status during armed conflict.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government has read and noted the findings of the Chatham House report, and we remain firmly committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out in International humanitarian law (IHL) for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities.
We also support international efforts to strengthen the implementation of IHL and to address challenges relating to the protection of healthcare in conflict. That includes:
- Participating in the International Committee of the Red Cross' Global Initiative to galvanise global commitment to IHL, by helping to shape international discussions around the Initiative, including in its work on protection of hospitals;
- Promoting the Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL at Domestic Level (2024) - a comprehensive overview of the UK's IHL frameworks, including on the protection of civilian infrastructure - which provides practical support to other states seeking to improve their own IHL compliance; and
- Engaging actively with partners to support relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions in this area, and using our position at the United Nations and other fora to call out IHL violations, support independent investigations where appropriate, and press for those responsible to be held to account in accordance with international law.