Tigray – In answer to my Question to Ministers about report that “between 40 and 50 per cent of women experienced gender-based violence”, Government says it is “appalled” and says there needs to be “an inclusive and credible Transitional Justice policy, to ensure accountability for atrocities and human rights violations including gender-based violence.”

Lord Benyon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL903):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement published by Refugees International on 27 November concerning the war in Tigray, which stated that “between 40 and 50 per cent of women experienced gender-based violence”; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to bring those responsible to justice. (HL903)

Tabled on: 06 December 2023

Answer:
Lord Benyon:

We welcome independent reporting such as Refugees International’s and are appalled by the reports of gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence committed by all sides during the conflict in Northern Ethiopia. The United Kingdom condemns sexual violence unequivocally and without exception and stands with all victims and survivors. We continue to call for the Government of Ethiopia to develop and implement an inclusive and credible Transitional Justice policy, to ensure accountability for atrocities and human rights violations including gender-based violence and have offered support to the Government of Ethiopia on this. Through our human rights and peacebuilding programme, the United Kingdom is helping to build the investigative capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to deliver justice and accountability for victims, including survivors of gender-based violence. Our humanitarian programming also involves work to improve the availability and accessibility of services for survivors.

Date and time of answer: 21 Dec 2023 at 10:19.