Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has taken steps to provide aid to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Palestine.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by allegations of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians. The UK has consistently called for these reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors, and for all parties to take a survivor-centred approach. Lord Collins, who was appointed as the Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) on 15 November, attended the Conference of the International Alliance on PSVI in Colombia on 25-26 November and made a clear recommitment to the UK's support of PSVI. The UK is committed to alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank through partner agencies. Assistance includes support to pregnant women, distribution of dignity kits for women and girls, and mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The UK's partners, UNICEF, UNRWA, WFP and the ICRC, have gender sensitive strategies in place, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
In October, the UK successfully led the mandate renewal of the Human Rights Council UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan (FFM), which independently investigates credible evidence of human rights violations and abuses in Sudan, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The FFM has found that SGBV, in particular rape and gang rape, is widespread and continues to occur on a large scale across Sudan. Findings from the FFM, as well as evidence from the UK-funded Sudan Witness project which collects open-source evidence of harms against civilians, have informed our programming in Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, we have pivoted existing programmes to increase focus on SGBV prevention and response. In doubling the UK's aid commitment to Sudan to £226.5 million, more funding to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund will also enable increased support to survivors. In addition, on 26 September, the UK convened an event at the UN General Assembly with Dutch and Swiss partners to address conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan, drawing international attention to the plight of women and girls and stressing the importance of survivor-centred, local and women-led response efforts. The UK also co-led a Resolution at the UNSC with Sierra Leone on the protection of civilians which failed to pass due to a Russian veto.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has taken steps to provide aid to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is widespread and underreported in Sudan. Cases have increased significantly since the start of the conflict, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan. As part of the UK's Official Development Assistance to Sudan and neighbouring countries, which now stands at £226.5 million, we provide support to survivors of SGBV through partners such as UNICEF, the Danish Refugee Council and the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. On 26 September, the UK convened an event at the UN General Assembly with Dutch and Swiss partners to address conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan, drawing international attention to the plight of women and girls and stressing the importance of survivor-centred, local and women-led response efforts. The UK also co-led a Resolution at the UNSC with Sierra Leone on the protection of civilians which failed to pass due to a Russian veto. We have also pivoted our existing programmes to focus more on prevention of SGBV, protection and care for rape survivors, including the provision of clinical treatment, dignity kits and psycho-social services.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department supports an (a) impartial, (b) independent and (c) transparent investigation into alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and human rights in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West
The UK has been deeply saddened by the violence and loss of life in Bangladesh. The interim government has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary State for Business and Trade speak regularly on a range of issues. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme for serious and systemic violations of human rights, labour rights and environmental obligations. We are monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely and raising matters regularly with the Government of Bangladesh in London and via our High Commission in Dhaka.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK has provided training to the (a) Bangladeshi police, (b) Bangladeshi military and (c) Rapid Action Battalion.
Answered by Catherine West
UK ministers expressed concern at the violence used by the police against largely peaceful protests in July 2024. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The interim government has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order. The UK has provided short term training to sections of the police in Bangladesh. The UK has provided professional military education to Bangladesh military officers as part of our defence relationship. The UK does not currently provide training to the Rapid Action Battalion.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on reports of (a) violence towards protestors, (b) unlawful killings, (c) torture, (d) the shutting down of the internet and mobile services and (e) other forms of repression in that country.
Answered by Catherine West
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Bangladeshi counterparts on the (a) student protests and (b) human rights situation in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Catherine West
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.