Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government's policies on (a) the protection of civilians and (b) atrocity prevention are implemented in Sudan; and what assessment he has made of the effect of those policies on bilateral relations with that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, members of the protest movement as well as the Transitional Military Council (TMC). The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule. On 29 May our Ambassador delivered this message to Yassir Arman of Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) and encouraged all armed movements to return to Sudan and take part in the talks to agree a civilian-led transition and achieve peace. We have condemned the way that the opposition leaders have since been treated by the TMC since they returned.
On 4 June in a joint Troika statement, we condemned the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan which left many civilians dead or injured. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. Our Embassy in Khartoum calls on members of the Transitional Military Council both in public and directly to take the steps needed to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees
On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, and the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people. We will continue to engage with all sides to support a settlement that works for all Sudanese people.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking at the United Nations to establish an independent investigation into the attacks on protesters in Sudan, and sexual and gender-based violence by all armed groups in that country.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We have said in public and in private, that there must be justice and accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed. The UK, through the UN Security Council issued a statement on 11 June that called for the immediate cessation of violence against civilians and emphasised the importance of human rights, protection of civilians, accountability and justice. They also noted the announcement by the Transitional Military Council to investigate the incidents.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) issued a statement on 17 June, which called for all human rights violations and abuses committed to be investigated in an independent and transparent manner, and perpetrators held accountable for their acts. In both the UN and the African Union there is widespread concern about the situation, as well as ongoing considerations of how to hold the Sudanese authorities accountable.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on targeted sanctions against members of the Transitional Military Council in Sudan.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We will continue to work with Troika (UK, US and Norway), EU, UN and regional allies to agree on the most effective course of action, including a range of measures, which could include sanctions. The UK's commitment and respect for human rights and accountability, including through the UN Security Council, is steadfast.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote women's rights issues at the forthcoming G7 summit in Biarritz.
Answered by Mark Field
The French Government has chosen to focus on inequalities throughout their G7 Presidency this year. We are working across the G7 workstreams to ensure continued progress on gender equality, particularly in the Sahel and across Sub-Saharan Africa. We will push for ambitious Summit outcomes that tackle violence against women and girls, promote girls' education and women's economic empowerment, and support movements to end child marriage and FGM. Our focus is on accelerating the pace of change to ensure that all women and girls are empowered and play an active part in all aspects of society.