To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Christian
groups in northern Cameroon have been particularly targeted by Boko Haram.
<p>Boko Haram attacks are often indiscriminate. Their attacks have caused suffering
in communities of different faiths and ethnicities in northern Cameroon.</p><p> </p>
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the statement by the Foreign Secretary
on 10 September (HC Deb, col 915) reporting that, in the areas of Iraq and Syria controlled
by ISIS, there have been targeted killings, forced religious conversions, abductions,
trafficking, slavery and systematic sexual abuse on the basis of ethnicity and religion,
they have asked the United Nations Security Council to refer those responsible to
the International Criminal Court or to seek the creation of a Regional Tribunal.
<p>We strongly condemn all human rights abuses in Iraq and Syria. The UK has a long-standing
commitment to accountability and this will not alter.</p><p>The UN Security Council
can refer situations, not individuals, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor
for investigation. In both Iraq and Syria, we will continue to look at every available
option to ensure accountability, and to work with our international partners on what
can be done to both assist the victims and to bring those responsible to justice.</p><p>In
Syria, we fully support the work of the UN Commission of Inquiry and will continue
to call for them to be given unfettered access to investigate human rights violations
and abuses. We will intensify these efforts to ensure that those responsible face
justice, including by funding the documentation of atrocities. We will also look to
expand the EU sanctions regime to cover more people responsible for human rights violations.
The moderate opposition have been clear in their support for international law in
general and referral to the ICC in particular.</p><p> </p>
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are engaged in or supporting any action
to help protect women at risk of sexual violence as a result of the ongoing conflict
in South Sudan.
<p>South Sudan has endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict and as an endorsing country participated in the Global Summit to End Sexual
Violence in Conflict in London in June. We continue to press the Government of South
Sudan to act on the commitments it has made to design and implement a national action
plan against sexual violence. <br><br>The UK remains closely engaged with the South
Sudan non-government organisation (NGO) Forum and associated NGOs to help protect
women and girls from sexual violence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have
stressed to the South Sudanese government the need for a comprehensive investigation
into human rights abuses in South Sudan, including cases of sexual violence. At this
year’s UN General Assembly in New York in September, the Minister for Africa, my hon.
Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Mr Duddridge), and the UN Secretary-General’s
Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, co-hosted an event to mark
a year since the launch of the Declaration, at which he encouraged all 155 member
states who have now endorsed the Declaration to deliver on the practical and political
commitments they have made to end the use of rape and sexual violence as a tactic
of war. <br><br></p>
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage women to participate
in the peace process in South Sudan, and to ensure that women from all sections of
society are represented.
<p>The UK continues to underline the need for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-led
South Sudan peace process to be inclusive and represent the people of South Sudan,
especially women. We raised this issue on 24 September at the UN Human Rights Council,
and emphasised the importance of the participation of women in the peace process,
in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.</p><p>
</p>