Sudan

Baroness Coussins Excerpts

Thursday 27th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Coussins (CB)]

My Lords, I too thank the right reverend Prelate for tabling this debate. Earlier this year, the UN reported an 80% increase in the risk of women and girls in Sudan being the victims of sexual assault. They are suffering indescribably from flagrant daily rape, sexual slavery and torture, with children being forced to watch the abuse of their mothers, and even vice versa—all with impunity.

The UK has been a global leader in campaigning against sexual violence in conflict. Together with our position as penholder for Sudan at the Security Council, we have an unprecedented responsibility to step up even more than we have already. The UNFPA is the UN agency responsible for promoting sexual and reproductive health. Across Sudan, it has provided 51 safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence, as well as dozens of mobile health teams. Yet these centres are no longer always safe havens, with over 540 attacks on health facilities reported over the last two years. Supplies and equipment are frequently looted, and health workers, patients and ambulances have been targeted with violence and intimidation.

The UNFPA receives no funding whatever from the UN’s regular budget. It is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from Governments, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, foundations and individuals. Yet unprecedented funding cuts by many leading donors, notably the United States, are jeopardising the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of women and girls.

Training for front-line medical workers has also been halted, leaving thousands of women without access to safe spaces that provide medical, legal and psychosocial support. The UNFPA is calling for $120 million for its work in Sudan. In the Northern State, its programmes and safe spaces are funded by Canada, the European Union, Japan, Norway and Sweden. Will the Minister ensure that the UK is added to this list of contributors to the UNFPA with immediate effect? As penholder, this will put maximum pressure on other member states to do likewise. We have a very positive track record indeed of insisting on accountability for sexual violence in conflict in our role as penholder for Colombia. Please let us do the same for the women and girls in Sudan.