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Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]
14 May 2024
Lead MP
Sharon Hodgson
Washington and Gateshead South
Lab
Responding Minister
Andrew Mitchell
Tags
Ukraine
Word Count: 12944
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Sharon Hodgson raised concerns about prevention of sexual violence in conflict — [sir charles walker in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Hodgson called for the UK government to play a leading role in centring women's voices in peace negotiations, recognising crimes of sexual violence alongside other war crimes, and holding initiatives accountable. She proposed an international commission with a mandate focused on sexual violence in conflict, similar to the International Commission on Missing Persons.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Sharon Hodgson highlighted the historical use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, noting that it was not until the 1990s that such acts began to be recognised as war crimes. She cited recent cases in Israel, particularly during Hamas's attacks on October 7th, where reports indicated an increase of 50% in wartime sexual violence compared to the previous year. Hodgson criticised the lack of response from international organisations and progressive groups regarding these atrocities.
Pontypridd
The MP highlighted the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, particularly by Hamas in its attack on Israel. She criticised the delayed response from international organisations and emphasised the need for immediate recognition of these crimes to empower victims. She spoke passionately about recent events in Israel, calling for immediate hostage release and condemning impunity. She also discussed Ukraine and Sudan.
Anabella Rangecroft
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Her contribution is not explicitly detailed but she likely contributed to the discussion on the subject matter.
Margaret Hodge
Lab
Barking
She echoed concerns about sexual violence in conflict, referencing reports from 7 October and calling for thorough investigations.
David Doherty
Con
Bolton South East
The hon. Member for Bolton South East agreed that women's voices must be centred in peace negotiations and called for the UK to lead on this issue.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
The hon. Member noted the importance of a free press in highlighting issues related to sexual violence in conflict, especially compared to repressive regimes where such issues are often underreported.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Mr Corbyn highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence in conflict, particularly referencing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he reported alarming statistics on human rights violations and sexual abuse. He emphasised the need for international intervention to address the exploitation of women and children through mineral extraction and child labour. The speaker highlighted that 7 million people in the Congo have been displaced, describing it as probably the greatest abuse of human rights globally and noting the lack of media attention. He discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging military forces to lay down arms and supporting political processes. He also mentioned the need for more effort on minerals transparency.
Jim Shannon
Alliance
Strangford
Jim Shannon expressed deep concern over the rise in conflict-based sexual violence, citing UN verified cases of 3,688 last year, a 50% increase from the previous year. He highlighted specific incidents in Ethiopia and Ukraine and mentioned that women and girls account for 95% of these cases while children account for 32%. Shannon also discussed the plight of religious minorities who face sexual abuse due to their faith and shared the story of Leah Sharibu, a Christian girl kidnapped by Boko Haram. He expressed concern about the high levels of violence and misery worldwide and acknowledged the UK's £1 billion humanitarian effort this year.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
The MP questioned why the mass rape and sexual abuse by Hamas was organised, suggesting it aimed to provoke an overreaction from Israel. He asked if those planning such atrocities should also face international legal consequences. Asked if the mass rapes on 7 October were an integral part of the plan to provoke Israel, and whether those who planned these attacks should be held accountable in international courts.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Ms Blackman highlighted the increasing sexual violence in conflict zones and emphasized the need for global recognition of this issue. She stressed the importance of protecting victims who report such crimes, noting that dismantling protection systems can lead to further victimization. She also discussed the disproportionate impact on women and girls, mentioning specific cases like those involving Boko Haram and Yazidis. Ms Blackman called for support for women's leadership roles in peacebuilding and recommended integrating gender analysis into emergency response planning. She highlighted the difficult nature of discussing sexual violence in conflict, stressing no tolerance for impunity and the importance of accountability and women's roles in conflict resolution.
Lyn Brown
Lab
West Ham
Ms Lyn Brown highlighted the ongoing issue of sexual violence used as a weapon in conflicts, particularly in Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She cited figures such as 5,000 reports of grave violations including sexual violence in Sudan and 60,000 survivors identified by June 2023. Ms Brown detailed cases of rape and ethnic cleansing in Khartoum and Darfur, and underlined the need for the UK to support local organisations opposing military factions in Sudan.
Margaret Hodge
Lab
Barking
The hon. Member expressed anguish over the United Nations' failure to recognise sexual violence during an attack on 7 October and horror at testimonies of mortuary workers who encountered nail varnish on bodies of sexually abused individuals killed in conflict. We must give greater priority to looking at sexual violence as wars evolve, rather than in retrospect after a war has ended.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
York Central
Her contribution is not explicitly detailed but she likely contributed to the discussion on the subject matter.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
The hon. Member emphasised the need for humanitarian support and funding to rebuild infrastructure in conflict zones, citing 614 million women and girls living in such regions who face disproportionate violence.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
The MP highlighted the increasing prevalence of sexual violence in conflict, citing verified cases and historical instances from conflicts such as Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. She emphasized that sexual violence is neither inevitable nor collateral damage but a deliberate tactic employed by combatants. Creasy called for explicit accountability mechanisms to be part of peace processes and condemned those who seek to minimise or deny its occurrence. She emphasized the importance of focusing on victims and ensuring there is no impunity regarding sexual violence in conflict.
Government Response
Andrew Mitchell
Government Response
The Government condemned allegations of sexual violence in Israel and Palestine, called for investigations and hostage release. They highlighted UK's £1 billion humanitarian effort this year and the international alliance against CRSV with 26 members. The UK has invested heavily in creative solutions to prevent gender-based violence, such as the What Works programme with £67.5 million funding. Additionally, they appointed survivor champions, established a survivor advisory group, and committed almost £8 million to the global survivors fund. The Government also sanctioned 14 perpetrators over two years, supported Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General in investigating crimes effectively, backed the draft UN Crimes Against Humanity Convention, and worked with the International Criminal Court.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.