Sudan

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Thursday 17th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is right. I should have talked in response to an earlier comment about the strength of the diaspora community here in the UK and their fierce desire to see peace return to their beloved country.

We are working closely with others to try, and that was the purpose of the conference we held earlier this year: to bring together Gulf states and others from across the world who want to see this situation improve, to consider what we can do together that would have an impact on the ground in Sudan. There are those who have more influence than others in this situation, and we are talking to them, as well as doing what we can ourselves, in the hope that at some point arms do not find their way into the hands of people who are using them against civilians, refugees and aid workers. My fear is that, until that happens, we will see the violence continue. As ever, the devastating consequences are felt most hard by women and the populations least able to protect themselves in Sudan.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will know of my interest in the issue of preventing sexual violence in conflict, as I led on that and have visited Sudan. What engagement has taken place with SRSG Patten at the UN? There should be a refocusing of support for survivors at the heart of this. Let us not forget that this is not just about two warring parties; unfortunately, a lot of the women who take refuge in places like Darfur, tragically, sadly and abhorrently, have to suffer the same consequences again and again.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right, and we are deeply concerned about that. I also commend the Duchess of Edinburgh for the work she has done; she has visited the border too and heard for herself the traumatic accounts that he alluded to in his question. My noble friend Lord Collins works through the UN on the issues that he is talking about, and we are working with our multilateral partners to provide the support that he is right to remind us will be needed for a long time for the women he has referred to.