Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will prioritise the children and armed conflict agenda within the Government’s updated approach to conflict.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In line with the commitments in the Integrated Review, the conflict centre in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working with a range of partners to consider and further develop our approach to conflict. We are assessing evidence for what works and how to harness the full range of Her Majesty's Government (HMG) capabilities to increase our impact in preventing, managing and resolving conflict in priority regions. The UK is committed to protecting all children affected by armed conflict.
The UK prioritises efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict through our active membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. The Working Group focuses on responding to the UN Secretary General's CAAC annual report which lists governments and armed groups for committing grave violations against children. We further protect children in armed conflict through our extensive Girls' Education Campaign. The UK advocates for universalisation of the Safe Schools Declaration and by situating the Declaration within our Girls' Education Campaign, we are ensuring implementation is gender responsive; focusing on getting girls back into school and recognising they are impacted in unique ways by conflict and by pauses in their education.
We will set out more detail on the FCDO's approach to conflict in the New Year.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to hold to account those responsible for the recruitment and use of children in conflict.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is firmly committed to ending all violations against children in armed conflict. We use our permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) membership to ensure conflict-related child protection issues remain a key part of UNSC discussions and that UN operations address child protection issues. The UK is also an active member of the UNSC Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. The Working Group issues calls and concrete requests to those governments and armed groups listed in the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict, supplementing the work of the UN to get parties to enter into concrete action plans to end the recruitment and use of children.
As a member of the UNSC Working Group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to listed parties to enter into concrete UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. We also press for the inclusion of child protection provisions in UN peacekeeping mandate renewals and resolutions.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the timetable is for the publication of the Government’s updated approach to conflict.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In line with the commitments in the Integrated Review, the conflict centre in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working with a range of partners to consider and develop our approach to conflict. We are assessing evidence for what works and how to harness the full range of HMG capabilities to increase our impact in preventing, managing and resolving conflict in priority regions. A core part of the conflict centre's role will be to draw on expertise from across Her Majesty's Government (HMG) and beyond to support the UK's work on conflict, including from civil society, academia, bilateral partners, multilateral organisations and the private sector.
We will set out more detail on the FCDO's approach to conflict and how we are delivering on the IR commitments in the New Year.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2021 to Question 62640 on Palestinians: Non-governmental Organisations, whether she has yet obtained additional information to understand the basis for the designations; what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the order referred to in that Question; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are in contact with the Government of Israel to understand the basis of the designations. We have made clear that human rights and civil society organisations have a vital role to play in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including those focused on Israel's conduct in the Palestinian Territories. Israel's long-standing commitment to democratic values is one of its great strengths as a fellow democracy, and we continue to make clear that a strong, vibrant civil society is in Israel's own interest. As a friend of Israel, we are concerned by any developments that may undermine this commitment.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made, or plans to make, to the Israeli authorities in respect of the order of 19 October 2021 by the Israeli Defence Ministry declaring the NGOs Al-Haq, Addameer, Defence for Children International – Palestine, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees to be terrorist organisations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are aware of the decision by the Israeli authorities and will be seeking additional information to understand the basis for the designations. Human rights and civil society organisations have a vital role to play in the development of thriving, open societies.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the order made by the Israeli Defence Ministry on 19 October 2021 declaring the NGOs Al-Haq, Addameer, Defence for Children International – Palestine, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees to be terrorist organisations; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are aware of the decision by the Israeli authorities and will be seeking additional information to understand the basis for the designations. Human rights and civil society organisations have a vital role to play in the development of thriving, open societies.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans her Department has to renew its multi-year commitment to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is due to end in March 2022, so as to ensure the stability and predictability of UNRWA's service provision to Palestinian refugees.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK is a long-term supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). We recognise UNRWA's unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to provide protection and core services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Our future spending allocations will be set in the next Spending Review. Full budgets will be published in due course, including in our regular Statistics on International Development website and in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle mental health needs in Gaza following the conflict of May 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have made clear our concern about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure following the escalation in violence in May 2021. The UK continues to urge Israel to ensure humanitarian access into and out of Gaza, including for essential health services. The UK remains a longstanding supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides core services, including health and education to Palestinian refugees in Gaza.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure in Gaza following the conflict of May 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have made clear our concern about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure following the escalation in violence in May 2021. The UK continues to urge Israel to ensure humanitarian access into and out of Gaza, including for essential health services. The UK remains a longstanding supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides core services, including health and education to Palestinian refugees in Gaza.
Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian impact of prolonged internal displacement of Palestinians in Gaza whose homes were damaged during the conflict of May 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have made clear our concern about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure following the escalation in violence in May 2021. The UK continues to urge Israel to ensure humanitarian access into and out of Gaza, including for essential health services. The UK remains a longstanding supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides core services, including health and education to Palestinian refugees in Gaza.