Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the government of Rwanda is supporting the M23 militia and its incursions into and occupation of Congolese territory; what recent discussions they have had with the governments of France and the United States regarding this issue; and what, if any, representations they have made to the government of Rwanda.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is alarmed by further escalations of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and continue to raise this with DRC and Rwandan governments at every appropriate moment. The Minister of State (Development and Africa) met with President Kagame and Foreign Minister Biruta during his visit to Rwanda in late August, where he encouraged de-escalation and emphasised the need for a peaceful political solution. The UK continues to work closely with likeminded countries; our Great Lakes Envoy is currently on a UN-led trip to the region alongside French and US counterparts and will continue to encourage a return to regional political processes over military solutions.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they have provided to the organisation Remembering Srebrenica in each financial year since its establishment; and what plans they have to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide that was committed there.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government has provided funding for the Remembering Srebrenica programme as outlined in the table below:
Financial year | Amount awarded |
2013/14 | £170,000 |
2014/15 | £467,500 |
2015/16 | £332,500 |
2016/17 | £400,000 |
2017/18 | £400,000 |
2018/19 | £400,000 |
2019/20 | £400,000 |
2020/21 | £400,000 |
2021/22 | £250,000 |
2022/23 | £200,000 |
2023/24 | £150,000* |
*For the current financial year, £75,000 has been issued so far, with the final £75,000 tranche of funding expected to be released in March. This is subject to progress against key milestones as set out in Remembering Srebrenica’s workplan.
Regarding the 30th anniversary of the genocide, it is important that such a significant anniversary is appropriately commemorated, including by the UK Government.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations press release UN experts appalled by reported human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls, published on 19 February, concerning findings of reported human rights violations to Palestinian women and girls by Israeli security forces from (1) the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, (2) the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and (3) the Working group on discrimination against women and girls.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK condemns sexual violence unequivocally and without exception. These reports are deeply disturbing. Reports of sexual violence must be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.
Through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict programmes and dedicated funding totalling £60 million, we are leading work internationally to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and strengthen justice and support for all survivors.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the government of Sudan to prevent or limit atrocities, and protect civilians, while hostilities in that country continue.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our senior diplomats have used meetings with senior decision-makers in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other groups to raise concerns about credible reports of human rights violations and to push the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire, engage in a meaningful peace process, and grant immediate humanitarian access. The UK is also funding open-source investigation experts to use satellite imagery and social media to verify and preserve information relating to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the flow of finance and weapons to Sudan in breach of international sanctions, and what steps they are taking to limit and prevent that flow.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK condemns any actions that fuel the conflict in Sudan and welcomes the findings of the UN Panel of Experts' report on external support in Darfur. The UK expects all countries to comply with existing UN sanctions and continues to work closely with partners at the UN Security Council to enforce these. On 12 July 2023, the Minister for Development and Africa announced sanctions on six Sudanese entities under the UK's Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. Our sanctions policy is continually under review.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) funding, and (2) other support, the UK has provided to the United Nations Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Fact-Finding Mission was established by a UK-led resolution at the 54th Session of the Human Rights Council. As an independent mechanism, the UN regular budget funds the mission, which rules out the option of providing UK extra-budgetary funding. The UK provided funds to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): £350,000 between March 2022 and November 2022, and £650,000 from January 2023 to December 2023 to support OHCHR's wider work on Sudan. We will continue to raise the situation in Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council.