Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in response to proposals by the government of Iraq to disarm Yazidi communities in Sinjar; and what assessment they have made of the risk that those proposals will leave the Yazidi population vulnerable to the continuation of mass atrocities.

The UK is firmly committed to the protection of ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, and the safety and security of the Yazidi community, including those who were displaced by the Daesh insurgency. We regularly engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as representatives from the Yazidi civil society and community, on the need for stability, security and long-term reconstruction in Sinjar. The UK is clear that any security arrangements in the area must protect civilians and support conditions for the safe, dignified and voluntary return of displaced Yazidis.

We continue to advocate for full implementation of the Sinjar Agreement including the recruitment and training of local security forces, which remains essential for stability in the district. The UK highlights the importance of including Yazidi representation in negotiations and plans for implementation of the Sinjar Agreement or any other mechanism, to enhance the agency and the safety of the Yazidi community.