Conflict in Sudan
Debate between Baroness Berger and Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is extraordinary and has almost become normalised in this conflict. We will work through our partner agencies, in particular the UN but others too, to make sure that evidence is gathered and testimonies are taken in the right way that means they can be used when proceedings are able to be brought—soon, I hope.
Baroness Berger (Lab)
My Lords, earlier this year, UNICEF released a report entitled Sudan’s Child Rape and Sexual Violence Crisis, which gave some harrowing accounts of armed men raping and sexually assaulting children as young as one. I listened very closely to what my noble friend the Minister said. Specifically, what is British aid doing either to support those children who have already been victims or to ensure that no future child is affected in Sudan in this way?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
My noble friend is right. Some of the accounts that we have heard are completely harrowing. I will never forget being told some of these stories, sitting in a tent in Adré and looking into the eyes of a mother who told me her account of what has happened. We need to make sure that accountability is achieved. We also need to make sure that we work with some of those armed groups, even now, to try to make the case—futile though that often seems, you have to start somewhere—for the need to adhere to international humanitarian law. That is not happening by any stretch of the imagination at the moment. We are clear about what we stand for and on the rules of conflict that we expect, but this is not going to stop until the leaders of these armed groups decide that they would prefer a political solution, which involves dialogue, coming to a conclusion and the election of a civilian Government. These things feel a very long way off at the moment, but until they are achieved we will continue to see the darkest shade of hell that I have ever had to bear witness to. I fear for what happens to those communities in Sudan, particularly those women and those very young children.
Palestinian Territories: Development Support
Debate between Baroness Berger and Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I am afraid that there is nothing in my tone this afternoon that has been in any way lecturing or hectoring. I have been clear about our reasons for reaching a position where we feel that we have to consider recognising the state of Palestine. We will do that in the right way, in the situation that I have described and that the Prime Minister has described at great length, at the General Assembly at the end of September.
Baroness Berger (Lab)
My Lords, one of the most important things we can do to help create a Palestinian state that we all want to see is the Government’s work to support reform of the Palestinian Authority, which should form an embryonic state. What update can the Minister provide us specifically on Michael Barber’s vital work supporting governance reform of the PA?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
I think the noble Baroness’s question is incredibly constructive and it is our view that the Palestinian Authority is the only viable leadership for a future Palestinian state. As she said, Sir Michael Barber has been doing work for some time now on trying to improve capacity and to work with the Palestinian Authority on issues such as taxation, civic space and democratic reform, all things that we fully accept need to happen in order for a future Palestinian state to be safe and successful.