Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, that "there seems to be a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes," by Israel in Gaza; and whether they have made any representations to the United Nations about that statement.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has taken note of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We are clear that there must be meaningful investigations into possible violations of international humanitarian law by all sides, including those abuses committed by Hamas and other militant groups. We call on all parties to cooperate with the UN Commission of Inquiry, which must be balanced and impartial. We have not responded directly to the UN on this statement but we have commented publicly on a number of the issues raised in it. The UN Commission of Inquiry has yet to complete its work, so it would be wrong to pre-determine its findings.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the statement by the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights that Israel's latest military offensive in Gaza "could amount to war crimes".
Answered by Lord Popat
We have taken note of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We have not responded directly but we have commented on a number of the issues she has raised. The UK is deeply concerned by the continuing bloodshed in Gaza. It is tragic that so many innocent civilians, including women and children, have been killed and injured. The UK has consistently made clear that Israel must act proportionately, exercise restraint, and take every step to minimise civilian casualties, in line with International Humanitarian Law. The urgent priority now is to stop the bloodshed, re-impose a cease-fire and work to find a longer term solution. All our efforts will be concentrated on that objective.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Preventing Sexual Violence (PSVI) summit earlier this year, what representation, if any, have they made to the government of Burma with regards to sexual violence and rape in that country to ensure perpetrators are held accountable and brought to justice.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
We continue to raise our strong concerns about reports of rape and sexual violence in Burma with senior members of the Burmese government and military. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), met Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on 13 June 2014. He publicly stated that Burma’s attendance at the Summit was a signal of their support to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and readiness to take action against perpetrators, including members of the military. We welcomed the Burmese government’s attendance at the Summit and have made clear that concrete action is needed, including a credible action plan that involves the military. Our Ambassador in Burma has also raised this with U Thant Kyaw following the Summit.
It is our view that the investigation of human rights abuses in Burma is the responsibility of the Burmese government. We have made clear to the Burmese government that all allegations of human rights abuses must be dealt with through clear, independent and transparent investigative and prosecutorial processes which meet international standards.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Preventing Sexual Violence (PSVI) summit earlier this year, what action they are taking to support the establishment of an international investigation to end sexual violence and rape in Burma.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
We continue to raise our strong concerns about reports of rape and sexual violence in Burma with senior members of the Burmese government and military. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), met Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on 13 June 2014. He publicly stated that Burma’s attendance at the Summit was a signal of their support to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and readiness to take action against perpetrators, including members of the military. We welcomed the Burmese government’s attendance at the Summit and have made clear that concrete action is needed, including a credible action plan that involves the military. Our Ambassador has also raised this with U Thant Kyaw following the Summit.
It is our view that the investigation of human rights abuses in Burma is the responsibility of the Burmese government. We have made clear to the Burmese government that all allegations of human rights abuses must be dealt with through clear, independent and transparent investigative and prosecutorial processes which meet international standards.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of on-going allegations of rape against military officials in Burma, what conditions, if any, were agreed with the government of Burma on ending the use of rape as a weapon of war prior to any training provided by the British Armed Forces.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
To date, the UK has only provided one educational course to the Burmese military: ‘Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context’ - a non-combat, academic course delivered to 30 military officers and government officials in January 2014. The course covered the importance of good governance in defence and professionalism in a nation’s Armed Forces, the observation of human rights obligations and preventing sexual violence. We did not make provision of this course conditional; such education and our exchanges with the Burmese military are themselves aimed at changing mindsets.
We regularly address the issue of sexual violence by the Burmese army with the Burmese government and with the military. We continue to make clear that where serious crimes have been committed, those who have perpetrated them should be held accountable for their actions. We lobby on preventing sexual violence in conflict areas, on encouraging the Burmese military to step back from politics, and on action to tackle human rights issues such as the use of child soldiers. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised the issue of rape and sexual violence with the Burmese army's Commander-in-Chief and military northern commander during his visit to Burma in January. Mr Swire also urged the Burmese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, who attended the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit in the UK in June 2014, to ensure a quick and credible action plan to implement the Declaration on Ending Sexual Violence.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of how civilians in Gaza can best be protected.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The UK is deeply concerned by the high levels of civilian casualties. We have called on all those involved in the current crisis to avoid any action which risks civilian casualties in line with humanitarian law. The Government assesses that civilians can best be protected through the agreement of an immediate ceasefire that ends the current bloodshed, opens up humanitarian access, and allows displaced people to return to their homes. The British Government is working closely with international partners in order to secure this goal.Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Preventing Sexual Violence (PSVI) summit earlier this year, what strategies they have to support women's groups which are working with victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict held in June 2014 set in motion a series of practical steps and commitments which all focus on ensuring that survivors of sexual violence in conflict can access justice and receive the long-term support that they require. This includes providing support for women’s groups who work with survivors.
In support of this the British Government announced £6m of new UK funding for survivors. Of this, £5m came from the Department for International Development (DfID) in the form of £4.25m to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, administered by UN Women, and £750,000 to the International Organisation from Migration. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced £1m for the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims, as well as £400,000 for the UN’s survivor support programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the next few months we intend to work with local and international partners to implement the International Protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, launched at the Global Summit, in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, what assessment they have made of historical cases of rape being used as a weapon of war; and whether they intend to designate financial resources or support to the victims and survivors of rape when it has been used as a weapon in conflict in (1) Bangladesh, (2) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (3) Bosnia and Herzegovina, and (4) other countries.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The focus of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is on conflict and post-conflict countries emerging from recent violence. We actively consider requests for support from conflict affected states where the legacy of conflict related sexual violence is a continuing threat to peace and stability.
The recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict set in motion a series of practical steps and commitments to ensure that survivors of sexual violence in conflict can access justice and receive the long-term support that they require. In support of this the Government announced £6m of new UK funding for survivors.
From hereon we will be working with local and international partners to implement the International Protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, launched at the Global Summit, in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Bosnia and Herzegovina.