Government Response to my question asking what formal assessment they have made of the remarks of President William Ruto of an impending genocide in Sudan and of the UK’s obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Crime of Genocide.

Lord Alton of Liverpool – To ask His Majesty’s Government what formal assessment
they have made of the remarks of President William Ruto of an impending genocide in
Sudan and of the UK’s obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Crime of Genocide.
[HL8860]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon – The UK strongly condemns the ongoing escalation of
violence in Darfur. On 16 June, the Minister for Development and Africa publicly
condemned the attacks on civilians in West Darfur, including the killing of Governor
Khamis Abaker. These atrocities must end immediately, and the UK will use all
diplomatic means to help achieve this. The UK recently called for a UN Security Council
discussion on Darfur. This took place on 23 June, and resulted in a Council press
statement, calling for the respect of international humanitarian law and for the fighting to
end. As a signatory of the 1948 Convention on the Crimes of Genocide, the UK is fully
committed to the punishment of those complicit in genocide. The UK recognises findings
of genocide by competent national or international courts that meet international
standards of due process. The UK is funding organisations who are working with local
partners to collect, verify and preserve digital content from the conflict, including
incidents of significant abuse. We are also providing support to the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan, a UN body that provides a crucial role in
monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. By working with our international
partners, we are supporting efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire, the most important
thing we can do to ensure the safety of all in Sudan