Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Recognition of Genocide

Tuesday 13 December 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions took place on 2022-12-13 regarding recognition of genocide.
  • Rupa Huq asked the Government to recognise the Holodomor and events in Armenia as genocide.
  • The Government stated that genocide recognition should be a matter for judicial bodies, not Governments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The MP is concerned about the UK's stance on recognising certain historical events as genocide, specifically the Holodomor in Ukraine and the 1915-16 Armenian events.

Question

If the Government will take steps to recognise (a) the Holodomor and (b) the events of 1915-16 in Armenia as genocide. November's Holodomor Memorial Day resonates strongly this year given Putin's actions in Ukraine, while every March the Armenian diaspora commemorates over a million systematic exterminations over eight years. Given US recognition of both, why can't the UK?

Answer from David Rutley

Our consistent view is that genocide recognition should be a matter for judicial bodies rather than Governments. While we acknowledge these historical tragedies, there are no plans to change our stance on recognising them as genocide.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically avoided committing to recognise the events as genocide or providing reasons beyond the consistent view that judicial bodies should make such determinations.

How: Our Consistent View Across Successive Governments—Not Just This One—Is That The Recognition Of Genocide Is A Matter For Judicial Bodies, Not Governments.

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Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about the UK's stance on recognising certain historical events as genocide, specifically the Holodomor in Ukraine and the 1915-16 Armenian events.

Question

November's Holodomor Memorial Day to remember Stalin's enforced starvation of millions of Ukrainians with the intended purpose of wiping out their entire culture and society particularly resonated in this 90th year, given what Putin is doing at the moment in that country. Every March, the Armenian diaspora solemnly commemorates the systematic extermination of more than 1 million of their forebears over an eight-year period, and there is also trouble in that region now in Nagorno-Karabakh. Our closest ally, the US, recognises both of these as genocide. Given the painful reverberations today, why can't we?

Answer from David Rutley

As I have said, our consistent view across successive Governments—not just this one—is that the recognition of genocide is a matter for judicial bodies, not Governments. However, we take allegations seriously and work hard to end violations of international human rights law.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically avoided committing to recognise the events as genocide or providing reasons beyond the consistent view that judicial bodies should make such determinations.

How: As I Have Said, Our Consistent View Across Successive Governments—Not Just This One—Is That The Recognition Of Genocide Is A Matter For Judicial Bodies, Not Governments.

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