Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July, what plans they have to prevent any acts in contravention of the Genocide Convention from being carried out against the Yazidis.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We note the Yazidi Justice Committee's report on "State Responsibility and the Yazidi Genocide". The UK is supporting the Government of Iraq to take the necessary actions to secure justice for victims of Daesh's crimes in Iraq, including the Yazidis. The UK advocated strongly for the passing of the Yazidi Survivors Law in March 2021 and continues to advocate for the work of the Directorate of Yazidi Affairs, which is responsible for providing reparations to survivors and supporting judicial bodies hold perpetrators to account. UK Ministers regularly raise the importance of full implementation of the Yazidi Survivors law with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government, most recently by me in the week 4 July. In parallel, we have also provided £2 million to the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh (UNITAD).
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July; and what steps they plan to take in response.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We note the Yazidi Justice Committee's report on "State Responsibility and the Yazidi Genocide". The UK is supporting the Government of Iraq to take the necessary actions to secure justice for victims of Daesh's crimes in Iraq, including the Yazidis. The UK advocated strongly for the passing of the Yazidi Survivors Law in March 2021 and continues to advocate for the work of the Directorate of Yazidi Affairs, which is responsible for providing reparations to survivors and supporting judicial bodies hold perpetrators to account. UK Ministers regularly raise the importance of full implementation of the Yazidi Survivors law with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government, most recently by me in the week 4 July. In parallel, we have also provided £2 million to the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh (UNITAD).
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July, what steps they are taking to urge Syria to enact domestic legislation to ensure that the Genocide Convention is upheld in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria and to pursuing accountability for the most serious crimes. We use our position at the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council and our leadership of the regular Syria resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Syria, and consistently call for Syria to abide by international human rights conventions and norms. The UK Government supports efforts to pursue accountability for the most serious crimes committed in Syria, including through the UN Commission of Inquiry and the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism with which we signed an Memorandum of Understanding in March this year. These bodies were established with the express purpose of inquiring into and investigating potential war crimes. The UK has previously voted at the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court but such action has been blocked by Russia and China.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July, what steps they will take if Syria does not punish the perpetrators of genocide resident in that country; and what plans they have, if any, to urge the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria and to pursuing accountability for the most serious crimes. We use our position at the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council and our leadership of the regular Syria resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Syria, and consistently call for Syria to abide by international human rights conventions and norms. The UK Government supports efforts to pursue accountability for the most serious crimes committed in Syria, including through the UN Commission of Inquiry and the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism with which we signed an Memorandum of Understanding in March this year. These bodies were established with the express purpose of inquiring into and investigating potential war crimes. The UK has previously voted at the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court but such action has been blocked by Russia and China.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July; and in particular, the conclusion that Syria failed in its obligation to (1) prevent, and (2) punish, genocides against the Yazidis; and what steps they are taking to hold Syria to account.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We note the findings from the Yazidi Justice Committee report. The UK is supporting the Government of Iraq to take the necessary actions to secure justice for the Yazidi people and many other victims of Daesh's crimes. We regularly emphasise the need for dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians including religious and ethnic minorities.
We will continue to use our position at the UN, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and our leadership of the regular Syria resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Syria, to raise situations of concern and to deploy all appropriate tools available to the UN in dealing with potential mass atrocities. Our focus is always on securing an end to violence, protecting civilians and calling for accountability.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Yazidi Justice Committee State Responsibility and the Genocide of the Yazidis, published on 6 July, what plans they have to use dispute resolution mechanisms such as the International Court of Justice to ensure that (1) Syria, (2) Iraq, and (3) Turkey, adhere to their responsibilities under the Genocide Convention.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We note the findings from the Yazidi Justice Committee report. The UK is supporting the Government of Iraq to take the necessary actions to secure justice for the Yazidi people and many other victims of Daesh's crimes. We regularly emphasise the need for dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians including religious and ethnic minorities.
We will continue to use our position at the UN, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and our leadership of the regular Syria resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Syria, to raise situations of concern and to deploy all appropriate tools available to the UN in dealing with potential mass atrocities. Our focus is always on securing an end to violence, protecting civilians and calling for accountability.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to provide visas to Afghan women at risk, especially judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists and human rights defenders, and (2) to work with domestic and international partners on identifying such women.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), announced on 18 August, will provide those put at risk by recent events in Afghanistan with a route to safety. The scheme will prioritise:
In delivering the ACRS, the Government will work with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR and other international partners in the region to identify and resettle people at risk, including women and girls.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan women at risk, including judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists and human rights defenders, were resettled to the UK in August and September.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The United Kingdom evacuated around 5,000 Afghan nationals under the ARAP scheme and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges, and many others. Around half of those resettled were women.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what practical assistance they are providing to Afghan women, particularly judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists, human rights defenders and others at particular risk.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
A bespoke new safe and legal route will welcome Afghans most at risk who have been forced to flee the country, including women, girls and religious and other minorities given their particular vulnerability, to the UK. The ACRS will prioritise:
Those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights and freedom of speech, rule of law (for example, judges, women’s rights activists, journalists); and vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+).
Under Operation Warm Welcome, we are taking a cross-government approach to ensuring Afghans arriving in the UK are able to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate with their local communities.
All those brought to the UK under ACRS will have the right to work, access to education and healthcare and be able to apply for public funds. To ensure they will be supported properly, changes will be made to legislation so that, if necessary, people arriving under ACRS do not need to meet the habitual residence test.
They will also receive comprehensive integration support as they start their new lives in the UK. A package of support to acclimatise to the UK, learn English, and find work, will enable rapid self-sufficiency and social integration in UK communities.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have had assets frozen in the UK in the last five years; how many of those had assets frozen due to possible involvement with Islamic State; how many such cases have involved legal challenge by the individuals affected; and in how many such cases was the decision to freeze assets upheld.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020, 118 individuals and entities were designated in the UK under UN, EU and UK counter-terrorism financial sanctions regimes. Of these 118 individuals and entities, 110 were designated under the United Nation’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List and the EU Autonomous ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaida regime. We have not delineated between Al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliation for those designated during this period. Under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (“TAFA 2010”), the Treasury was required to report to Parliament, quarterly, on its operation of the UK’s counter-terrorism asset freezing regime mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1373. Previous reports can be found on the 2015 to 2020 quarterly report to Parliament page. We are not aware of any legal challenges that have been brought in the UK to designations made under these two regimes between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020.