House of Commons · General Debate
14 July 2022 · 14 other contributors
Opened by Yasmin Qureshi Lab Bolton South and Walkden
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Yasmin Qureshi raised concerns about backbench business in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Ms. Qureshi moved that the House notes the commemoration of Srebrenica Memorial Week from July 4 to 11, 2022, which marked the 27th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica where over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were murdered. She expressed concern about current threats to Bosnia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and commended Remembering Srebrenica for their work in preventing prejudice.
Ms. Qureshi emphasised the importance of commemorating Srebrenica to prevent future genocides, noting that denial of these events continues in Republika Srpska. She highlighted the rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim violence globally, and called for active promotion of tolerance and intervention against hate speech.
Mr. Shannon commended Ms. Qureshi on securing the debate and emphasised the importance of wisdom in preventing future genocides, citing the need to learn from past errors.
Mr. Loughton congratulated Ms. Qureshi for raising awareness about Srebrenica and stressed the significance of educating current and future generations on historical atrocities as well as calling out contemporary genocides, such as those in Xinjiang province.
The speaker reflects on the historical context of the Bosnian war, focusing especially on the Srebrenica genocide. She recounts personal stories to illustrate the impact of ethnic cleansing and emphasises the importance of truth-telling in rebuilding a society from the ashes of conflict. She also praises the role played by British soldiers during the crisis while criticising international failure to stop the atrocities. The MP highlights recent progress made under pressure from Parliament, such as sanctions against perpetrators of division and disinformation experts sent to Bosnia.
Kate Green, Member of Parliament for Wirral West, paid tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and highlighted the importance of combating denial and challenging hatred. She emphasised the need for credible democratic and liberal reforms in Bosnia and supported the role of NGOs and faith groups in peace-building efforts. She also underlined the significance of women and young people in fostering a peaceful future, calling on the UK Government to prioritise investment in Bosnia's economy and education.
Expressed gratitude for securing the debate, mentioned Holocaust Memorial Day pledges, warned against resurgence of far-right extremism, highlighted figures from the Bosnian war, emphasised dangers of genocide denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina, criticised policy-making that tolerates discrimination.
Commemorated those affected by Srebrenica, praised Yasmin Qureshi's speech, discussed trip to Bosnia, highlighted ongoing need for truth and reconciliation process in Bosnia, called for action against genocide denial and upholding international law.
Responded with support for Alyn Smith's proposal to utilise the conflict centre for atrocity prevention efforts, emphasised early identification of genocide markers as key to effective intervention.
The UK and its armed forces have played a significant role in ensuring peace and stability in the western Balkans, including Bosnia. Labour recognises the importance of continuing this support during challenging times to prevent conflict and protect human rights. The speaker emphasised the need for continued efforts to educate future generations about the Srebrenica genocide and to work towards building stronger and more cohesive communities. He also highlighted the importance of reflecting on the current situation in Ukraine, noting similarities with past atrocities. Bambos Charalambous called on the Government to support initiatives such as Remembering Srebrenica and to take measures against those seeking to destabilise Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mr. Stuart reiterated the UK's commitment to preventing the repetition of historical atrocities, acknowledging the support provided by Remembering Srebrenica and the work done in remembrance of the victims. He emphasised the need for continued diplomatic engagement, economic investment, military training, and truth preservation as part of addressing current security threats and destabilisation efforts.
Mr. Stewart highlighted the importance of the debate in Bosnia, where young people are particularly attentive to international engagement regarding peace and stability.
Ms. Kearns called for an international organisation dedicated to collecting evidence on sexual violence during conflicts to facilitate prosecutions, suggesting that waiting until the conflict's end often results in lost evidence.
Ms. Qureshi expressed concern over the funding of Remembering Srebrenica, noting its historical struggle to secure sufficient yearly funding from governmental departments and suggesting a more robust annual funding mechanism.
Ms Yasmin Qureshi thanked her parliamentary colleagues for attending the debate, expressed gratitude to Mr Speaker and the Backbench Business Committee for allowing it. She corrected herself on a previous statement about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand causing the second world war. Ms Qureshi emphasised the delicacy of the situation in Bosnia and the importance of strong early-stage actions to prevent conflict. She praised Remembering Srebrenica's work and highlighted the UK’s role in commemorating the Srebrenica genocide, thanking everyone for their ongoing assistance and collaboration.