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 (HL1363), what changes have resulted from the initiatives listed as milestones in the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Strategy 2022–2025 in relation to (1) survivors’ access to support and reparations, (2) the investigation, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators, and (3) the adoption and implementation of relevant national laws and policies.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) national, and (2) international, investigators and prosecutors to (a) investigate, and (b) charge, conflict-related rape and other sexual violence as torture offenders where the applicable legal elements are satisfied.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
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 (1) the outcomes from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative since July 2024, and (2) how successful the Initiative has been in tackling conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
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 about the adequacy of existing international legal frameworks for addressing conflict-related sexual violence; and what changes to their policy or international engagement have resulted.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given on 17th September to Questions HL3116-3121 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament). Recent conflicts have demonstrated that the principal challenge is often not the absence of international legal frameworks, but ensuring their effective implementation, including through survivor-centred investigations, documentation and accountability. The Government has therefore strengthened its policy and international engagement in these areas, including through our work with justice providers, and promotion of the Murad Code and the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
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.