Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, as part of their Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, they are providing support to any victims of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan, whether from the recent violence or from the conflict in Tigray.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There has been an escalation of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls in Sudan since 15 April. The UK has consistently condemned these crimes in our public statements, at the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council, and in our diplomatic lobbying. We continue to fund and provide support to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan that provides a crucial role in monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. We are liaising closely with them as they now set up and run their remote working mechanisms. On 4 May, the UK announced a £5 million initial package of humanitarian support to help address the urgent needs of people fleeing violence in Sudan, with £2.5 million allocated to Chad and £2 million to South Sudan. The UK is working with its partners to ensure strong gender and inclusion conflict analyses underpin all aspects of the crisis response.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take diplomatic steps to make experts available to support the collection, documentation and analysis of evidence of potential war crimes against children in Ukraine.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has allocated up to £2.5 million this year to support Ukraine's domestic investigations and prosecution of international crimes, including sexual violence and crimes against children. In Ukraine, we are providing personnel from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Team of Experts to support capacity building amongst prosecutors and the police as well as support to victims, including women and children.
The £1 million additional contribution that the UK has provided to the International Criminal Court will enhance capacity on investigations into crimes of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children, led by the Prosecutors' special adviser on crimes against and affecting children.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding (a) the UK and (b) all other donors pledged at the International Ministerial Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative 2022.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) International Conference, hosted by the Foreign Secretary in November 2022, was a key opportunity to turn the dial on global action to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). At the Conference, the Foreign Secretary launched the UK's new PSVI Strategy, backed by up to £12.5 million of new funding.
The UK also launched a new Political Declaration and secured endorsements from 53 countries and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Patten, as well as 40 national commitments detailing the tangible actions, including funding commitments, they will take to tackle CRSV.
The national commitments made by the UK and other countries can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-related-sexual-violence-political-declaration-at-the-2022-preventing-sexual-violence-in-conflict-initiative-conference/international-ministerial-conference-on-preventing-sexual-violence-in-conflict-initiative-2022-national-commitments
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the Government decided not to include Colombia as a priority focus country in its fifth UK Women, Peace and Security, National Action Plan on UN Resolution 1325.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the development of Women, Peace and Security National Action Plans (NAP) across the world. Whilst Colombia is not a NAP focus country, it is a FCDO Human Rights Priority country and a focus country in the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, through which we are providing support to help Colombia develop its first National Action Plan. This is in addition to our support through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), which has provided £74 million since 2015 to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia and improve stability and security.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure in their meeting of international justice ministers in March that (1) practical, and (2) financial, support is provided to ensure perpetrators of alleged war crimes against women and children in Ukraine are brought to justice.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The UK is committed to pursuing accountability for the atrocities being perpetrated by Russian forces against women and children in Ukraine. The £1 million voluntary contribution that the UK provided to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year will contribute to enhancing capacity with respect to investigations into crimes of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children, led by the Prosecutors’ special adviser on crimes against and affecting children. In Ukraine, we are providing personnel from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts to support capacity building amongst prosecutors and the police as well as support to victims, including women and children.
On 20 March 2023, Justice Ministers from around the world will convene in London. The Justice Ministers Conference is focused on enhancing practical and technical support to the ICC for its investigation into the situation in Ukraine.
One of the thematic sessions of the Conference is focused on supporting victims and witnesses of trauma. The session will explore strengthening support for ICC investigations into sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine, and sharing best practices to be adopted when interviewing children to avoid re-traumatisation during the evidence gathering process.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that survivors of all ages of war crimes in Ukraine, particularly sexual violence, are represented in discussions about the justice process for prosecuting war crimes in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has allocated up to £2.5 million this year to support Ukraine's domestic investigations and prosecution of international crimes, including sexual violence and crimes against children.
We have deployed a member of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative Team of Experts to support the Office of the Prosecutor General, including on conducting inclusive criminal justice processes aligned with international standards, with survivor voices and needs taken into account.
We are also funding UN Women to provide conflict-related sexual violence expertise and mentoring to the Ukrainian authorities, and we are funding local NGOs to help survivors to understand their rights and access justice.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they have given to embedding (1) conflict-related sexual violence expertise, and (2) child-specific expertise, in all (a) national, and (b) international, mechanisms currently investigating violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is providing £2.5 million to the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, to support Ukraine's domestic investigations and prosecution of international crimes, including sexual violence and crimes against children. We have deployed the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative team of experts to support the Office of the Prosecutor General. We are supporting the International Criminal Court in the provision of evidence collection and psychosocial support, and UN Women in providing conflict-related sexual violence expertise and mentoring to the Ukrainian authorities.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate entitled Conflict-related sexual violence, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24 January 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK Government welcomes the recent Council of Europe debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). As highlighted by the November 2022 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) International Conference, the UK recognises the value in continuing to highlight this agenda at all levels, including at international fora, to help ensure effective international efforts to prevent and respond to CRSV. Reflecting key themes from the debate, the new PSVI strategy centres the UK's response on four key strategic objectives - strengthening the global response, preventing CRSV, strengthening justice for all survivors and supporting survivors and children born of CRSV.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that international war crimes investigations are politically and financially supported to embed child-specific expertise throughout their investigations.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Child-specific expertise is an essential element of our support for international war crimes investigations. The UK's additional £1 million voluntary contribution to the International Criminal Court will contribute to enhancing capacity with respect to investigations into crimes of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children, led by the Prosecutors' Special Adviser on Crimes Against and Affecting Children. In Ukraine, we are providing personnel from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts to support capacity building amongst prosecutors and the police as well as support to victims, including children.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether participants at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference will be able to provide feedback on the conference.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Since the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Conference on 28-29 November 2022, FCDO has welcomed all forms of feedback. In December, we hosted an online feedback session for the survivors who attended and those engaged through the Survivor Advisory Group. Supported by the PSVI Survivor Champions, we are committed to ensuring survivors remain at the centre of PSVI policy development post-conference. Lessons learned exercises continue to be conducted, including specific lesson learning from the UK's efforts to deliver a survivor-centred conference. Lessons will be shared with wider teams to support the effective delivery of future international conferences.