Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government why they will not nominate a candidate to the elections for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and what assessment they have made of the risk for the United Kingdom's reputation as a champion for women.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ministers consider a range of factors when deciding whether to nominate a UK candidate for election to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, including the time and resources to mount a campaign, the potential benefits and the impact on other international elections.
This Government is committed to championing the rights of women and girls both domestically and internationally. Our leadership is demonstrated through the progress we have made on tackling violence against women and girls, launching the Women's Health Strategy and our International Women and Girls Strategy, published last year.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel regarding the safety of UK and international non-governmental organisations delivering humanitarian aid and medical help in safe zones in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The safety of humanitarian personnel and healthcare workers in Gaza is critical to enable aid to reach those who need it most. We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected. Too many civilians have been killed and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
The Foreign Secretary underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities during his visit to Israel on 24 January.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that four UK medical staff were injured in a bombing of the facilities of International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The safety of humanitarian personnel and healthcare workers in Gaza is critical to enable aid to reach those who need it most. We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected. Too many civilians have been killed and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
The Foreign Secretary underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities during his visit to Israel on 24 January.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel regarding the protection of civilians during the Gaza conflict.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have reiterated the vital steps needed for a sustainable, permanent ceasefire in their contacts with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli political leaders, including during the Foreign Secretary's visit to Israel on 24 January. There must be a reduction in civilian casualties. All parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be nominating a candidate to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in the forthcoming elections.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The next election for members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women will take place in June 2024. The Government has not put forward a candidate.
Ministers consider a range of factors when deciding whether to nominate an independent candidate for election to an international body such as the CEDAW Committee, including the time and resources to mount a campaign, the potential benefits and the impact on other international elections.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be sending a civil society representative to the Commission on the Status of Women in March; and if so, how they will be selected.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK government does not include civil society representatives on the delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The Government works closely with civil society representatives before, during and after CSW. We held our pre-CSW consultation event on 25 January which was attended by approximately 40 civil society representatives. The relationship that the Government delegation has with civil society representatives at CSW is often held up as a model of good practice.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be sending a youth delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women in March; and if so, how they will be selected.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK government does not include youth representatives on the delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The Government works closely with civil society representatives before, during and after CSW. We held our pre-CSW consultation event on 25 January which was attended by approximately 40 civil society representatives. The relationship that the Government delegation has with civil society representatives at CSW is often held up as a model of good practice.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Minister for Women will be attending the Commission on the Status of Women in March.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Government delegation attending the Commission on the Status of Women has not yet been decided.