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788299

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Sexual Offences
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in response to the UN Security Council’s Presidential Statement SC/13055 of 6 November on Myanmar that the UN's  humanitarian partners should (1) “ensure the availability of specialised medical and psychological services for survivors of sexual violence”, and (2) facilitate the “holding to account of all those responsible for those acts”; and whether they intend to deploy the UK team of experts to help prevent and respond to crimes of sexual violence to Myanmar.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL3091
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>The British Government has consistently expressed its deep concern over Gender Based Violence taking place in Rakhine. We believe it is likely underreported due to stigma, fear and limited availability and lack of awareness of services.</p><p>We have been clear about the need for the Burmese authorities to end all violence, including GBV, in Rakhine. The Foreign Secretary has raised this issue directly with Aung Sang Suu Kyi. The Ambassador and Embassy officials in Rangoon have regularly raised concerns with Burmese Ministers. The UK funds a number of projects that support the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Burma, which include our work to combat sexual violence in conflict. The Embassy in Rangoon funds a number of programmes in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence initiative. In addition, a large part of the £102 million Department for International Development programme in Burma supports the Women, Peace and Security agenda</p><p>The UK Government is supportive of existing mechanisms and processes to hold those responsible for serious crimes to account. This falls in line with our commitment to the principle that there must be no impunity for the most serious international crimes. We have translated the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict into Burmese and promoted its use locally. The Protocol's purpose is to strengthen the evidence base for bringing perpetrators to justice. In this manner, it overcomes one of the key barriers to tackling impunity for sexual violence in conflict. In addition, the UK supports the Fact-Finding Mission, set up by the Human Rights Council on 24 March 2017. Its mandate is to establish the facts and circumstances of the alleged recent human rights violations by military and security forces, and abuses, in Myanmar, in particular in Rakhine State. In March 2018 the Mission will provide a full report at the 37th HRC session.</p><p><br>In Bangladesh, priorities are to improve GBV outreach and identification, referral pathways, and case management and support. UK funding is supporting GBV response activities being delivered by international organisations including UNFPA, IOM, UNICEF and the NGO, Action Against Hunger, who are providing medical services, counselling and psychological support. The UK is also supporting UNICEF protection initiatives including 30 child-friendly spaces and referral pathways for GBV survivors. The UK is funding the deployment of a UNFPA expert to coordinate the interagency GBV response in Cox's Bazar and seeking ways to scale-up the GBV response, working in coordination with aid agencies and other partners.</p><p><br>The FCO sent two Deployable Civilian Experts to Bangladesh on 14 November, with support from the cross-Whitehall Stabilisation Unit. They will carry out an assessment of the extent of reported sexual violence, the current response to the needs of victims of gender based violence in Bangladesh, and identify gaps in service provision and provide recommendations for the UK. They will also conduct a thorough review of the investigation and documentation of sexual violence, through use of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict and make recommendations on possible UK support in this area.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/11/2017 15:01:29 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

788300

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Yemen: Military Intervention
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the warning from the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator that millions of Yemeni civilians face the risk of death from famine, what urgent diplomatic action they plan to take to secure the lifting of the air, land and sea blockade of Yemen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL3092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>The UK is a leading international advocate for safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access into Yemen. In June we used our role as penholder at the UN Security Council to sponsor and coordinate a Presidential Statement, agreed on 15 June, which called for an end to the fighting, a return to UN-led peace talks, and the recognition of the importance of unhindered humanitarian access. Our position has not changed. The 4 November attempted missile attack on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was a heinous act which deliberately targeted a civilian area and was intercepted over an international airport. We have condemned it in the strongest terms and recognise Saudi Arabia's legitimate need to protect its national security. At the same time, as our statement of 15 November made clear, it is vital that Yemen remains open to humanitarian and commercial access. The Saudi-led Coalition has stated that it will take into account the provision of humanitarian supplies as it reviews procedures designed to implement provisions on weapon flows in UNSCR 2216. This is welcome, as are reports that ports are functioning in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen. Clearly there is further to go however to ensure humanitarian and commercial access throughout Yemen. We have engaged with the Saudi Arabian Government at the highest levels on these issues since the 4 November incident and will continue to do so. We are also closely engaged with the UAE and other regional and international partners.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/11/2017 14:25:24 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

788301

registered interest
date	13/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Yemen: Military Intervention
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the warning by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator that millions of Yemeni civilians face the risk of death from famine, what representations they have made to governments of (1) Saudi Arabia, and (2) the United Arab Emirates, regarding the lifting of the air, land and sea blockade of Yemen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL3093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>The UK is a leading international advocate for safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access into Yemen. In June we used our role as penholder at the UN Security Council to sponsor and coordinate a Presidential Statement, agreed on 15 June, which called for an end to the fighting, a return to UN-led peace talks, and the recognition of the importance of unhindered humanitarian access. Our position has not changed. The 4 November attempted missile attack on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was a heinous act which deliberately targeted a civilian area and was intercepted over an international airport. We have condemned it in the strongest terms and recognise Saudi Arabia's legitimate need to protect its national security. At the same time, as our statement of 15 November made clear, it is vital that Yemen remains open to humanitarian and commercial access. The Saudi-led Coalition has stated that it will take into account the provision of humanitarian supplies as it reviews procedures designed to implement provisions on weapon flows in UNSCR 2216. This is welcome, as are reports that ports are functioning in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen. Clearly there is further to go however to ensure humanitarian and commercial access throughout Yemen. We have engaged with the Saudi Arabian Government at the highest levels on these issues since the 4 November incident and will continue to do so. We are also closely engaged with the UAE and other regional and international partners.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/11/2017 14:55:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

784697

registered interest
date	06/11/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Libya: Sexual Offences
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to efforts (1) to document allegations of systematic rape and sexual violence carried out against prisoners and detainees in Libya, and (2) to share documented evidence with the International Criminal Court.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>(1) More progress needs to be made on improving respect for the human rights of prisoners and detainees in Libya, although the political and security context in Libya remains very challenging. The UK Government does not document individual allegations of rape and sexual violence in Libya but does engage regularly with human rights organisations and the UN on these issues. The 2016 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights report outlines UK activity in further detail. Through our programming we have worked with the Libyan authorities to improve conditions in detention centres in Libya. For example, so far this year, the Department for International Development has supported more than 20,000 emergency interventions in areas which include healthcare, psychosocial support, hygiene kits and safe shelter. We also provide specific support to women and girls, to protect them from the heightened risks of sexual and gender based violence.</p><p>(2) The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court. We have a centralised system for responding to all requests from the Office of the Prosecutor and we have established guidelines and set standard procedures to ensure we share information with the International Criminal Court where appropriate.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/11/2017 16:57:27 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

776773

registered interest
date	24/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Armed Conflict
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to establish whether Burmese military officials or units which have received training from the UK have been, or are, involved in current military operations in Rakhine State; and what representations they have made to the government of Burma in that regard.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2437
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2017 answer text <p>The UK has not been training the Burmese army. This is prohibited under the EU Arms Embargo which we have supported. The UK was instrumental in the renewal of this measure earlier this year.</p><p>The UK announced the suspension of our practical defence cooperation with Burma on 19 September until there is an acceptable resolution to the current situation in Rakhine. This cooperation consisted of educational courses focused on governance, accountability, ethics, human rights and international law. The UK has not provided any form of combat training to the Burmese Military.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 07/11/2017 16:50:38 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

776774

registered interest
date	24/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received legal advice from the Attorney General on whether the violence in Rakhine State constitutes ethnic cleansing; and if so, what assessment they have made of that advice.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2438
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2017 answer text <p>We have not sought or received advice from the Attorney General on whether the violence in Rakhine State constitutes ethnic cleansing.</p><p>More than 608,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh as a result of Burmese military and militia violence since 25 August. This increasingly seems to be a case of ethnic cleansing. As a consequence the international community needs to see these people able to return to their homes in Burma safely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 07/11/2017 16:53:54 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

772421

registered interest
date	17/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) Somalia, and (2) the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the implementation of initiatives to prevent sexual violence in conflict.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2017 answer text <p>Responding to the needs of women and girls is a priority of the UK's engagement in Somalia. We are supporting the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to develop the institutional and legal framework required to address sexual violence. We are also working with the Somali Government and the African Union Mission to Somalia to ensure that police and security forces reflect women's priorities and are able to respond effectively to sexual and gender-based violence. Within communities we engage with men and women to challenge discriminatory social norms, support women's participation in political and peacebuilding processes and build the capacity of service providers to respond to sexual and gender-based violence.</p><p>We continue to lobby the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to take action to prevent sexual violence in conflict and welcome progress to date. We are concerned by continued accusations that DRC military forces (FARDC) are themselves perpetrators of sexual violence and call on the government to do more to prevent this, including holding perpetrators accountable. We continue to provide funding to organisations working to support victims and increase access to justice, including TRIAL International, Case Matrix Network (CMN), World Vision, Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ) and Unione Internazionale Superiore Generali (UIS).</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 31/10/2017 17:04:20 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

771226

registered interest
date	16/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to deploy the UK team of experts on preventing sexual violence in conflict to Bangladesh to document evidence of alleged rape and sexual violence against the Rohingya people.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2017 answer text <p>Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development (DFID) officials are urgently assessing the UN-led Sexual and Gender-Based Violence response in Bangladesh, including the level of identification and outreach and clinical management and what additional support the UK may usefully provide.</p><p>DFID has funded the deployment of an international expert to UNFPA in Cox's Bazar to lead the Gender-Based Violence Sub-Sector, part of the UNHCR-led Protection Sector of the international humanitarian response. We are currently ​in dialogue with the Coordinator to better understand the level of incidence, response and coordination and associated challenges. We will then assess whether deploying additional UK expertise is required to reinforce UN-led efforts, including documentation, already underway in country.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/10/2017 17:03:47 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

771227

registered interest
date	16/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to deploy the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict to Bangladesh to support Rohingya survivors of alleged rape and sexual violence.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2028
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2017 answer text <p>This desperate situation in Rakhine State requires urgent action and was central to the meeting I recently had with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development colleagues are urgently assessing with the UN the level of immediate support being given to survivors of sexual violence who have come forward in Cox's Bazar and what additional medical and psycho-social support the UK can provide. We are also working with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative and humanitarian organisations to determine what capacity exists on the ground for evidence gathering and how the UK can support this work, including the possible deployment of experts from the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 31/10/2017 17:07:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic

771228

registered interest
date	16/10/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Burma: Rohingya
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to (1) Aung San Suu Kyi, and (2) the government of Burma, regarding recent reports of rape and other sexual violence committed by the Burmese armed forces against the Rohingya people.
tabling member printed	Baroness Helic
uin	HL2029
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2017 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly been clear about the need for the Burmese authorities to end the violence in Rakhine. This includes sexual violence. He has made these calls in telephone conversations with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 and 17 September, and 21 October; and to the Burmese National Security Advisor and Deputy Foreign Minister at a meeting of foreign ministers he convened at the UN on 18 September.</p><p>The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific met Burma's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 20 September at the UN and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma on 27 September, and reiterated the same messages. Our Ambassador and Embassy official in Rangoon have regularly raised concerns with Burmese Ministers, most recently on 24 October.</p><p>I made a statement at the Human Rights Council on 11 September which made clear the UK strongly condemned the violence in Rakhine, and called on all parties to de-escalate tensions and address the humanitarian crisis.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 01/11/2017 15:52:49 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4331 label Biography information for Baroness Helic