Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the rights and needs of all ages of women, especially older women, in their engagement at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is committed to affirming the principles of the Beijing Declaration and promoting the rights and freedoms of women and girls across the world. We will seek opportunities throughout the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to highlight the rights and needs of older women throughout the UK delegation's engagement. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Office for Equality and Opportunity will consult with a range of civil society organisations, including organisations representing older women, before and during CSW itself.
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 of attacks and sexual violence against the Kurds in North East Syria; and what discussions they have held with the governments of Turkey and Syria about these attacks.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to my written ministerial statement HLWS1285, made on 28 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 new government of Syria regarding the protection and political inclusion of the Kurds and other minorities in the new government.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to my written ministerial statement HLWS1285, made on 28 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 allegations of sexual and gender based violence against women and girls from ethnic minority groups in Syria, including abduction as sex slaves, and how the UK is supporting documentation, survivor assistance, and accountability in the context of those allegations, including in remote areas.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 1 August 2025 to the question HL9684.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington 13 January 2026 (HL13296), what plans they have to support the network of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office discontinued funding to this specific programme at the end of the 2024/25 financial year, but - as set out in my previous answers - we remain committed to UK leadership in driving forward the Women, Peace and Security agenda, through other programmes in the Commonwealth and beyond, and through our role as penholder on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 29 December 2025 (HL12894), what specific plans they have, if any, to develop the work of the network of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We remain committed to UK leadership in defending and driving forward the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, including through our role as penholder on UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The UK's WPS National Action Plan sets out the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's commitment to improving women's full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in political dialogue and peace processes.
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 the Myanmar military's reported airstrike on a hospital in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, on the night of 10 December, killing a reported 34 people; and what steps they have taken in response.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, and I would add that the Minister for the Indo-Pacific commented on this airstrike on 11 December, urging an end to attacks on civilians, and that the UK remains determined to ensure that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law in Myanmar will be held to account.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop the network of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As set out by the Foreign Secretary in her speech on 24 November marking twenty-five years of the UN's Women Peace and Security agenda, the UK is committed to tackling gender inequality and violence against women and girls wherever it occurs around the world, and we will continue to place female empowerment at the heart of our international work.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have appointed the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and if so, when they will announce that appointment.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 27 November to Question HL11898.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the announced staff cuts at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps they will take to ensure that gender and conflict considerations will remain central to the UK’s diplomatic and development work.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. The FCDO plans to publish indicative Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations for the next three years in the coming months, which will continue to reflect our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.