Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster on 15 September (HL2938), whether representatives of the British High Commission in Lusaka have established (1) where the Right Reverend Dr Trevor Mwamba is being held, (2) his condition and treatment, and (3) whether he has regular access to his legal representatives; and, if not, whether they will seek that information from the government of Zambia.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our British High Commission in Lusaka engages frequently with the Zambian government and other stakeholders. We emphasise the importance of transparency and the following of due process, including in relation to the detention of Bishop Trevor Mwamba and others.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster on 15 September (HL2937), what information they have received concerning the factual basis for the treason charge brought against the Right Reverend Dr Trevor Mwamba; whether they have sought specific assurances that he will receive due process and a fair and prompt trial; and what response they have received.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our British High Commission in Lusaka engages frequently with the Zambian government and other stakeholders. We emphasise the importance of transparency and the following of due process, including in relation to the detention of Bishop Trevor Mwamba and others.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster on 15 September (HL2936), whether their engagements with the government of Zambia have included representations specifically concerning the detention of, and treason charge against, the Right Reverend Dr Trevor Mwamba; and, if so, when those representations were made, and at what level.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our British High Commission in Lusaka engages frequently with the Zambian government and other stakeholders. We emphasise the importance of transparency and the following of due process, including in relation to the detention of Bishop Trevor Mwamba and others.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster on 14 September (HL2941), whether any of their engagements with the government of Zambia have included a specific request for a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the death of Mutotwe Kafwaya; and, if so, what response they received.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our British High Commission in Lusaka engages frequently with the Zambian government and other stakeholders, urging transparency and the following of due process, including in relation to the death of Mutotwe Kafwaya. Further meetings are being arranged.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 6 July (HL1287), whether their reference to the “clear protections” provided by international humanitarian law means that they consider the law sufficiently clear regarding the responsibilities of armed forces towards civilian casualties in areas under their effective control; and, if so, what they consider those responsibilities to be.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a cornerstone of the UK's commitment to the rule of law. The Government draws upon a range of expertise and sources to inform our approach towards IHL, such as the Chatham House report of 11 June 2026. We are committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out under IHL for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities. We believe IHL provides a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of hostilities and sets out the balance of considerations, informed by the operational context, that must be addressed by parties to the conflict with a view to upholding the principles of distinction, proportionality, and rule of precaution.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 6 July (HL1289), which recommendations in the Chatham House report, published on 11 June 2026, Addressing the Crisis of Medical Care in Armed Conflict they (1) accept, (2) partially accept, or (3) reject; and what steps they plan to take in response to those that they accept.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a cornerstone of the UK's commitment to the rule of law. The Government draws upon a range of expertise and sources to inform our approach towards IHL, such as the Chatham House report of 11 June 2026. We are committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out under IHL for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities. We believe IHL provides a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of hostilities and sets out the balance of considerations, informed by the operational context, that must be addressed by parties to the conflict with a view to upholding the principles of distinction, proportionality, and rule of precaution.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 6 July (HL1288), whether their statement that international humanitarian law provides “clear protections” means that they consider the law sufficiently clear on what constitutes a hostile act by a wounded or sick person receiving medical treatment; and, if so, what definition of a hostile act they apply in that context.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a cornerstone of the UK's commitment to the rule of law. The Government draws upon a range of expertise and sources to inform our approach towards IHL, such as the Chatham House report of 11 June 2026. We are committed to upholding and promoting the clear protections set out under IHL for the wounded and sick during armed conflict, as well as medical personnel and facilities. We believe IHL provides a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of hostilities and sets out the balance of considerations, informed by the operational context, that must be addressed by parties to the conflict with a view to upholding the principles of distinction, proportionality, and rule of precaution.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 1 July (HL1362), which international initiatives specifically addressing conflict-related sexual violence the United Kingdom currently leads or co-leads; and, for each initiative, what are the UK's role, objectives and expected measurable outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Central funding to tackle CRSV has been protected at £3.85 million per year for the next three financial years, through to April 2029. The Government has also stepped up our support to survivors of CRSV this year in contexts including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Whilst our work on CRSV and gender-based violence runs through different programmes in these countries, we announced a multi-year £20 million programme to specifically support survivors of CRSV to access medical and psychological support in Sudan. In March, the UK announced £7.3 million in extra humanitarian support to communities affected by escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the wider region. This includes £2 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross providing emergency healthcare, including trauma surgery and specialist support for survivors of sexual and gender‑based violence in the DRC.
Survivor reach is calculated using implementing partners' monitoring data against agreed programme results frameworks. The form of assistance and duration vary according to programme design. Partners are required to apply agreed reporting methodologies and safeguards which minimise double counting.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 27 June 2025 (HL8607), whether the indicative multi-year allocations referred to in that Answer were subsequently published; and what funding has been allocated to Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative programmes for each financial year from 2026–27 onwards.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Central funding to tackle CRSV has been protected at £3.85 million per year for the next three financial years, through to April 2029. The Government has also stepped up our support to survivors of CRSV this year in contexts including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Whilst our work on CRSV and gender-based violence runs through different programmes in these countries, we announced a multi-year £20 million programme to specifically support survivors of CRSV to access medical and psychological support in Sudan. In March, the UK announced £7.3 million in extra humanitarian support to communities affected by escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the wider region. This includes £2 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross providing emergency healthcare, including trauma surgery and specialist support for survivors of sexual and gender‑based violence in the DRC.
Survivor reach is calculated using implementing partners' monitoring data against agreed programme results frameworks. The form of assistance and duration vary according to programme design. Partners are required to apply agreed reporting methodologies and safeguards which minimise double counting.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 5 March 2025 (HL5277), what funding has subsequently been allocated to programmes addressing conflict-related sexual violence in (1) Sudan, and (2) the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and how those allocations compare with the previous financial year.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Central funding to tackle CRSV has been protected at £3.85 million per year for the next three financial years, through to April 2029. The Government has also stepped up our support to survivors of CRSV this year in contexts including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Whilst our work on CRSV and gender-based violence runs through different programmes in these countries, we announced a multi-year £20 million programme to specifically support survivors of CRSV to access medical and psychological support in Sudan. In March, the UK announced £7.3 million in extra humanitarian support to communities affected by escalating conflict in eastern DRC and the wider region. This includes £2 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross providing emergency healthcare, including trauma surgery and specialist support for survivors of sexual and gender‑based violence in the DRC.
Survivor reach is calculated using implementing partners' monitoring data against agreed programme results frameworks. The form of assistance and duration vary according to programme design. Partners are required to apply agreed reporting methodologies and safeguards which minimise double counting.