\u200bThe prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence, including that directed at South Sudan\u2019s displaced population, remains a long standing and serious concern. Most recently, following incidents of widespread rape near Bentiu, including by armed groups, we have repeatedly called for the Government of South Sudan to ensure that these, and all incidents of sexual violence, are fully investigated and perpetrators brought to justice, support provided for survivors, and action taken to prevent such attacks. The UK Defence Secretary visited South Sudan in January 2019, when he discussed our concerns at the highest levels, and urged action to bring an end to sexual and gender-based violence.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-18T16:27:24.213Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in South Sudan of sexual violence committed by that country's armed and security forces against displaced persons.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"} ], "uin" : "230071"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023981", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023981/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In November, Mėdecins Sans Frontières in South Sudan reported that over 150 women and girls in the Bentiu area of Northern Liech State had been raped, severely beaten, and robbed by men in military uniforms and civilian clothing.<\/p>
The British Government strongly condemns these barbaric attacks. The parties to the conflict, including the Government of South Sudan, must guarantee the safety, security, and dignity of all South Sudanese citizens. We urge the Government to ensure that the perpetrators of these horrific crimes are held to account. The survivors must receive the medical and psychosocial support they need. Senior officials at the British Embassy in Juba most recently raised our concerns with the Government on 13 December, and we will continue to push for robust action to be taken through our ongoing diplomatic engagement.<\/p>
We echo calls by the UN Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and for Children and Armed Conflict for immediate action by the Government to address the culture of impunity that persists in South Sudan. The Government must agree the Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union and establish the Hybrid Court without delay.<\/p>
Through DFID, the UK continues to provide support to survivors of sexual and gender based violence in South Sudan. We are funding the International Medical Corps to deliver a £13 million programme over four years which includes sexual and gender based violence interventions. The programme provides support to survivors as well as long term prevention strategies, and has included sexual and reproductive health services, clinical management of rape, psychosocial support, and legal counselling.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-19T15:20:00.667Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in South Sudan on recent reports of sexual assaults on women and girls in Northern Liech State in late November including by men in military uniforms.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emily Thornberry"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Islington South and Finsbury"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emily Thornberry"} ], "uin" : "201607"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002029", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002029/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for International Development is working to improve safeguarding standards across the aid sector. We have recently written to all of our partners to remind them of their responsibility to provide their own mechanisms for reporting and investigating suspicions and/or allegations of sexual violence. Wherever these relate to a DFID programme we also expect that our partners report those to us in a timely manner. DFID\u2019s specialist team will then provide oversight of the investigatory response to ensure it meets our standards, providing dedicated support as required.<\/p>
<\/p>
We urge all survivors of sexual violence in South Sudan, including aid workers, to report the harm committed against them.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-12T15:43:05.727Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to Question 176532 on South Sudan: sexual offences, what steps her Department is taking to encourage aid workers in South Sudan to report sexual violence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4603", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Edgbaston"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Preet Kaur Gill"} ], "uin" : "188153"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982999", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982999/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Data collected by the EU- and US-funded Aid in Danger project (from both open and confidential sources) show that, between January 2015 and December 2017, there were 12 incidents of sexual violence and abuse committed against aid workers (individuals employed by or attached to a humanitarian, multi-mandated, UN or government agency, foreign or South Sudanese) in South Sudan. Aid in Danger reports that the low number of incidents recorded in South Sudan suggests that sexual violence against aid workers goes under-reported.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4107", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Worcestershire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Harriett Baldwin"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-11T16:08:33.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Sexual Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an estimate of the number of sexual violence cases against foreign aid workers in South Sudan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4603", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Edgbaston"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Preet Kaur Gill"} ], "uin" : "176532"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }