Combating Atrocity Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, I will add to the paeons of praise for the noble Lord, Lord Alton, and all his tireless campaigning. He is the epitome of the phrase “campaigning Peer”. His treatment by foreign governments demonstrates just how effective his campaigning is; he has done some very important work, of which we are all in awe. I look forward to working with him in the new Session on tackling some of the most appalling crimes committed by state actors, terror groups and others across the world.

The Official Opposition are unequivocal: atrocity crimes should never go unpunished, wherever they take place. As my noble friend Lady Sugg reminded us, the previous Government took a number of steps to tackle global war atrocities—not least of which in Ukraine, following the appalling crimes that have been committed in that conflict, including in Bucha. The images from there are impressed on all our memories, and the victims of those crimes deserve justice. I am very proud that the last Government, working with our US and EU partners, established the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine. That work is ongoing. I know that my noble and learned friend Lady Prentis of Banbury continues to play an active role in the efforts to bring the perpetrators of war crimes in that conflict to justice.

We on this side of the House will always back the Government when they are supporting efforts to prosecute atrocities and genocide committed in other countries. I am pleased to say that Britain’s values and principles of law are respected across the world, and from that flows respect and legitimacy. It is surely right that we use our high reputation in justice as a force for good on the international stage. Given the important role that Britain has established over many years, we have a unique contribution to make in many parts of the world affected by instability, terrorism and war.

In that context, I ask the Minister to update the House on the Government’s current assessment of the terrible situation in Sudan. We were all appalled by the massacre at the El Fasher hospital. As many others have said in this debate, the conflict in Sudan has left hundreds of thousands of people dead, and indeed millions affected by famine. The UK has long experience in supporting the prosecution of atrocities and war crimes perpetrated abroad. In addition to the diplomatic efforts made by the Government to seek an end to the conflict, what steps are Ministers taking to ensure that the UK can support the prosecution of atrocities committed in that conflict?

Another important point—emphasised by my noble friend Lady Sugg—is that we should never forget that atrocities are not committed just in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Sudan. Sadly, there are many states that are committing atrocities against their own people in the world today. It would not be right for us to discuss those atrocities perpetrated by states without reflecting on China’s treatment of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, as the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, did so effectively. The evidence is clear, and we must all be united in our condemnation of China’s actions.

Across this House, we all cherish our freedoms. China appears to have no regard for the rights and freedoms of the Uyghur people, and we firmly support the campaign for justice of the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool. Can the Minister reassure the House that the Government will continue to hold the Chinese Government to account for their persecution of the Uyghur people? Can he reassure the House that the Government will work to ensure that our procurement processes are robust in prohibiting the purchase of the products of slave labour, however difficult they are to identify?

On Hong Kong, what are the Government doing to monitor the Chinese state’s actions against Hong Kongers? We all want to see Jimmy Lai released, so can the Minister update the House on the representations that the Government are making to the Chinese Government for his release? Of course, at the same time it is also important to protect the residents of Hong Kong who have come to the UK since China breached the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Can the Minister update the House on the steps that the Government are taking to support those people in the UK?

Finally, now that the internet has been partly restored, the evidence of massacres perpetrated by Iran against its own people is growing. The images of families seeking to identify their loved ones who have been killed by the regime, which we saw earlier this year—there have been some recent images released as well—are profoundly moving. Can the Minister say whether the Government are taking steps to support any evidence gathering in relation to these atrocities? Does he believe that there will be an opportunity to hold the perpetrators to account in the coming years?

Britain has an important role to play in championing the causes of tolerance, freedom, respect and justice across the world. We cannot discuss all areas of conflict today, although many have been raised. Many people are still suffering in an increasingly unstable world, and I support so many of the heartfelt sentiments that have been expressed across the House in our debate today. We must never waver in our ambition to stamp out hatred, discrimination, atrocities and genocide across the world, and, where it does occur, we must not flinch in our efforts to deliver justice for the victims. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response, and particularly how he will justify the actions of the Government in light of his previous statements. I look forward to his statements.