Asked by: Anna McMorrin (Labour - Cardiff North)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of US government support for the establishment of a hybrid special tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine; and whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to support its establishment.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
The UK is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its actions in Ukraine. On 20 January, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK had accepted an invitation to join a ‘core group’ of States to shape thinking on how to ensure criminal accountability for the crime of aggression allegedly committed in and against Ukraine, including through a special tribunal. This government, alongside its international partners such as the United States, is considering very closely what a new tribunal might look like. The details of the proposal will matter. Any new tribunal will need sufficient international support and must not undermine the existing accountability mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court. |
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Ukraine about establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression; and whether, in any such discussions, the Ukrainian constitution has proved to be an impediment to establishing such a body during the current state of Martial Law.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary announced on 20 January, the UK has accepted Ukraine's invitation to join a 'core group' to consider options for ensuring criminal accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, including possibly through a special tribunal. Discussions into how to achieve this continue, including around potential issues linked to the Ukrainian constitution. These are complex issues of international law, which the group must be allowed time to consider.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to bring to justice of those responsible for war crimes, potential genocide, and the abduction of children in Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are making every effort to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international investigations as appropriate, including leading international efforts to build support to the work of the ICC in Ukraine. On 20 March, the Deputy Prime Minister co-hosted an international Justice Ministers Conference at Lancaster House, generating over £4 million in voluntary contributions and new offers of practical support for the ICC and its investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Further to the £1 million financial contribution from 2022, the UK announced an additional £1 million financial contribution to the ICC at the Justice Ministers Conference. The Government is exploring further the provision of expertise, advice and training including specialist support for children.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress is being made to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine; and what contribution they are planning to provide in relation to resources and judicial expertise.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to holding Russia to account for its actions in Ukraine, including by supporting the International Criminal Court and Ukrainian domestic investigations into allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine. As the Foreign Secretary announced on 20 January, the UK has accepted Ukraine's invitation to join a 'core group' to consider options for ensuring criminal accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, including possibly through a special tribunal. Discussions are ongoing. These are complex issues of international law, which the group must be allowed time to consider. The UK also stands ready to work with Ukraine on establishing a register of damages.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's law on universal jurisdiction; what challenges any such assessment identified; and how they are planning to address those challenges to ensure that the UK can play a proactive role on ensuring justice and accountability for international crimes.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Applying universal jurisdiction in respect of certain offences helps to ensure that the UK does not provide a safe haven for war criminals or those who commit other serious violations of international law. The Crown Prosecution Service, as the agency responsible, will continue to bring individuals to justice wherever possible. Any decision to prosecute offences of universal jurisdiction in England and Wales is governed by the same principles that apply to any other prosecution and must be in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform the law on universal jurisdiction; and in particular, what plans they have to expand the scope of section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001, namely the group of perpetrators who can be tried for international crimes in domestic courts.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The criminal law of England and Wales provides for universal jurisdiction over the crimes of torture and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, allowing national authorities to investigate and prosecute these offences under certain conditions when they were committed abroad by foreign nationals. The International Criminal Court Act 2001 allows jurisdiction over the offences of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed abroad by any person who: (i) is/was a UK national or UK resident at the time of the crime; or (ii) became a UK national or UK resident after the crime and still resides in the UK when proceedings are brought. There are no plans to reform the law on universal jurisdiction.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to laying a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly providing for a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine, citing the precedents of such tribunals in Sierra Leone and Cambodia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is working closely with international partners to ensure those committing atrocities in Ukraine are held to account, including at the UN level. As the Foreign Secretary announced on 20 January, the UK has accepted Ukraine's invitation to join a 'core group' to consider options for ensuring criminal accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, including possibly through a special tribunal. These are complex issues of international law, which the group must be allowed time to consider.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the USA about the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine; and what response they received.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is working closely with international partners, including the US government, to ensure those committing atrocities in Ukraine are held to account. As the Foreign Secretary announced on 20 January, the UK has accepted Ukraine's invitation to join a 'core group' to consider options for ensuring criminal accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, including possibly through a special tribunal. These are complex issues of international law, which the group must be allowed time to consider. The UK recognises the importance of working with partners on accountability.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts on steps that could be taken within judicial systems to help support child victims of the war in Ukraine.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
On 20 March, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice, co-hosted a Justice Ministers’ Conference with the Netherlands bringing together 42 countries and institutions from across the globe. Support for victims and witnesses of war crimes in Ukraine, including children, was a core theme of the Conference. Additional support for the International Criminal Court was collectively agreed. The UK announced £395,000 for the Office of the Prosecutor Trust Fund which will be earmarked for support for victims and witnesses. The Ministry of Justice is exploring further the provision of expertise, advice and training including specialist support for children.
Asked by: Jo Gideon (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take at the meeting of international justice ministers on 20 March to help ensure (a) under 18-year-olds, where safe and appropriate, and (b) other survivors are represented in discussions about the process for prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
On 20 March, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice, co-hosted a Justice Ministers’ Conference with the Netherlands bringing together 42 countries and institutions from across the globe. Support for victims and witnesses of war crimes in Ukraine, including children, was a core theme of the Conference. Additional practical support for the International Criminal Court was collectively agreed, alongside financial contributions totaling over £4 million. The UK announced £395,000 for the Office of the Prosecutor Trust Fund which will be earmarked for support for victims and witnesses. The Ministry of Justice is exploring further the provision of expertise, advice and training including specialist support for children.