Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to recent reports about the treatment of Palestinian detainees in places of detention in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, what assessment they have made of Israel's compliance with (1) Articles 2 and 11–16 of the UN Convention Against Torture, (2) Articles 7, 9 and 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and (3) Articles 27 and 32 of the Fourth Geneva Convention; what impact that assessment has on their analysis of the risk of UK-licensed goods being used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law; and whether they will consider the suspension of extant export licences to Israel, including the Israel Prison Service.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We are deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment and sexual violence against detainees. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in Palestine, in Israel, and wherever it occurs in the world. The UK has consistently called for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We have repeatedly made private and public representations on the treatment of detainees with our Israeli counterparts. The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support, if any, they have offered or provided to the authorities of Israel through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative to strengthen prevention, documentation, and investigation of sexual violence in detention settings.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We are deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment and sexual violence against detainees. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in Palestine, in Israel, and wherever it occurs in the world. The UK has consistently called for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We have repeatedly made private and public representations on the treatment of detainees with our Israeli counterparts. The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
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 reports alleging sexual violence and other forms of abuse against male and female detainees in Israeli prisons; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding mechanisms to ensure accountability for such acts.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We are deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment and sexual violence against detainees. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in Palestine, in Israel, and wherever it occurs in the world. The UK has consistently called for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We have repeatedly made private and public representations on the treatment of detainees with our Israeli counterparts. The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to deploy experts from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative to support the documentation of sexual violence and the protection of survivors in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is appalled at the severe impact of the conflict in Sudan on women and girls, including widespread sexual violence.
Through our leadership roles at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, we have championed evidence collection and accountability. On 6 October, the UK led efforts to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), the only independent mechanism preserving evidence of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. We also fund a specialist Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigator within the FFM and are deploying a UK secondee to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Darfur investigation.
On 1 November, the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £5 million to support critical humanitarian services in Sudan, £2 million of which will be specifically allocated to bolster responses which focus on supporting the survivors of rape and sexual violence. This is in addition to the £120 million in UK funding already allocated for Sudan this year, including support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
We directly support women and girls through our programming, including the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme which provides sexual and reproductive services to women, girls, persons living with disability and men, with UK aid delivered in camps for IDPs and elsewhere. Through our Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) programme, the UK is providing an additional £4.95 million until March 2026 to support 100,000 women and girls with a range of services to prevent and respond to FGM, child marriage and gender-based violence. This brings the total UK support delivered through this programme to £19.95 million.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding has been (1) paid, and (2) pledged, to local women's organisations providing medical and psychosocial support to survivors of sexual violence in Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is appalled at the severe impact of the conflict in Sudan on women and girls, including widespread sexual violence.
Through our leadership roles at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, we have championed evidence collection and accountability. On 6 October, the UK led efforts to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), the only independent mechanism preserving evidence of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. We also fund a specialist Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigator within the FFM and are deploying a UK secondee to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Darfur investigation.
On 1 November, the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £5 million to support critical humanitarian services in Sudan, £2 million of which will be specifically allocated to bolster responses which focus on supporting the survivors of rape and sexual violence. This is in addition to the £120 million in UK funding already allocated for Sudan this year, including support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
We directly support women and girls through our programming, including the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme which provides sexual and reproductive services to women, girls, persons living with disability and men, with UK aid delivered in camps for IDPs and elsewhere. Through our Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) programme, the UK is providing an additional £4.95 million until March 2026 to support 100,000 women and girls with a range of services to prevent and respond to FGM, child marriage and gender-based violence. This brings the total UK support delivered through this programme to £19.95 million.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have received verified evidence from the United Nations or other credible sources confirming the widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan; and what action they are taking to support the investigation and documentation of such crimes.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is appalled at the severe impact of the conflict in Sudan on women and girls, including widespread sexual violence.
Through our leadership roles at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, we have championed evidence collection and accountability. On 6 October, the UK led efforts to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), the only independent mechanism preserving evidence of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. We also fund a specialist Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigator within the FFM and are deploying a UK secondee to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Darfur investigation.
On 1 November, the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £5 million to support critical humanitarian services in Sudan, £2 million of which will be specifically allocated to bolster responses which focus on supporting the survivors of rape and sexual violence. This is in addition to the £120 million in UK funding already allocated for Sudan this year, including support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
We directly support women and girls through our programming, including the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme which provides sexual and reproductive services to women, girls, persons living with disability and men, with UK aid delivered in camps for IDPs and elsewhere. Through our Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) programme, the UK is providing an additional £4.95 million until March 2026 to support 100,000 women and girls with a range of services to prevent and respond to FGM, child marriage and gender-based violence. This brings the total UK support delivered through this programme to £19.95 million.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the safety of women and girls in camps for internally displaced people in Darfur and along Sudan's borders, following reports of widespread sexual assaults and forced marriages.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is appalled at the severe impact of the conflict in Sudan on women and girls, including widespread sexual violence.
Through our leadership roles at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, we have championed evidence collection and accountability. On 6 October, the UK led efforts to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), the only independent mechanism preserving evidence of atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. We also fund a specialist Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) investigator within the FFM and are deploying a UK secondee to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) Darfur investigation.
On 1 November, the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £5 million to support critical humanitarian services in Sudan, £2 million of which will be specifically allocated to bolster responses which focus on supporting the survivors of rape and sexual violence. This is in addition to the £120 million in UK funding already allocated for Sudan this year, including support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
We directly support women and girls through our programming, including the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme which provides sexual and reproductive services to women, girls, persons living with disability and men, with UK aid delivered in camps for IDPs and elsewhere. Through our Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) programme, the UK is providing an additional £4.95 million until March 2026 to support 100,000 women and girls with a range of services to prevent and respond to FGM, child marriage and gender-based violence. This brings the total UK support delivered through this programme to £19.95 million.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Foreign Secretary’s letter to the International Development Committee regarding arms exports to Israel dated 1 September, what steps they are taking in accordance with the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article I of the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide where there is a serious risk.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the noble Baroness to the responses I gave on this matter in the house on 18th September.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard the United National Security Council Resolution 2736 on 13 June 2024 calling for an end to the siege of El Fasher, and the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 13 August condemning the atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces, what steps they are taking (1) to ensure the safe delivery of food and medical supplies to civilians, (2) to press for accountability for sexual and gender-based violence identified by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, and (3) to strengthen the Sudan sanctions regime, including measures to curb the supply of arms, drones and mercenaries.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The crimes committed in Sudan demand accountability. This is why, as a member of the Human Rights Council Core Group for Sudan, the UK led the establishment of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in October 2023. We are currently working with partners to secure an extension to its mandate in October. The FFM is essential if the facts concerning alleged violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law are to be thoroughly investigated. This year, the UK is also supporting the deployment of a specialist sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) investigator to the FMM. This contribution ensures expert input on SGBV to strengthen accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. Beyond the UN, the UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court's ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, including SGBV and CRSV.
As UN Security Council (UNSC) penholder on Sudan we have negotiated products calling for all member states to abide by their obligations under the Darfur arms embargo, first imposed in July 2004. This month, we worked closely with the US and UNSC members to renew the UNSC arms embargo regime. The UK proposed language to strengthen the regime, expressing concern about conflict related sexual violence (CRSV). This was incorporated into the text, and the resolution was subsequently adopted by consensus. As a permanent member of the UNSC, the UK also supported the imposition of UN sanctions on two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) generals for their crimes against civilians in Darfur in November 2024. In addition, there is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has also frozen the assets of nine commercial entities linked to the warring parties. Although we do not speculate on future sanctions designations as it would undermine their effectiveness, 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 whether they have raised the issue of abuses committed against women from minority communities in Syria with the United National Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; and if so, what action has followed.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We work closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and have a longstanding partnership with her office. Officials have discussed conflict-related sexual violence around the world including Syria. With UK funding, both UN Action and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict plan to undertake work in Syria to explore opportunities to improve services for survivors of conflict related sexual violence, including psychosocial and legal support.