Ethiopia and Eritrea
Debate between Baroness Helic and Lord Lemos
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord. I too pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for his work and commitment. His commitment was extended to helping me with the answers to these questions, so I have benefited from his enormous experience and loyalty.
On the question of protecting women and girls from violence caused by conflict, the conflict in Tigray, as the noble Lord says, has left deep emotional and psychological wounds, particularly among women who have survived conflict-related sexual violence. Recognising the urgent need for trauma healing, the UK is providing direct funding to CARE International to support locally-led initiatives addressing this crisis. We are also working with partners to provide support to survivors of gender-based violence and provide humanitarian cash to the most vulnerable households in Amhara. Last year, we reached over 776,000 people in the region. We continue to encourage Eritrea to endorse the declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict.
Baroness Helic (Con)
My Lords, I welcome the Minister and thank him for his Answer. A recent report from Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability on the Horn of Africa documents mass rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy in Tigray, allegedly committed by Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers. It calls for an international investigation into a possible crime of genocide. What steps are the Government taking to support such investigations?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for that question. I have set out the Government’s concerns about these issues and the priority that we attach to them. With regard to the wider claims of genocide, the noble Baroness will be aware that there are international protocols on this which this Government follow.