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Tuesday Volume 648 30 October 2018 No. 198 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 30 October 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 759 30 OCTOBER 2018 760 and the Pacific. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that House of Commons the Foreign Secretary will be calling the President today, I think, to discuss this very matter. Tuesday 30 October 2018 Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): What diplomatic actions are being taken to assist with The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock the return of the 113 Chibok girls who were seized from their school by Boko Haram in 2014, four and a half PRAYERS years ago, and are still missing? Tragically, many of them will have suffered terrible, horrific sexual and physical violence. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Harriett Baldwin: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. As many will remember, that campaign is now four years old, yet Oral Answers to Questions 113 of the girls have still not been returned. The UK consistently offers its support for the Nigerian Government’s efforts to return these girls to their homes, and we stand FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ready to do more if requested. Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab): The Minister will be The Secretary of State was asked— aware that there are many Rohingya children living in Sexual Violence in Conflict refugee camps in Bangladesh. Will she set out in more detail what she is doing to support these boys and girls, 1. Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) who are at extreme risk of sexual violence? (Con): What diplomatic steps he is taking to tackle sexual violence in conflict throughout the world. Harriett Baldwin: The hon. Gentleman is right to [907343] widen the question to the extensive part of the population affected by this terrible crisis. He will know that, from a The Minister for Africa (Harriett Baldwin): The UK humanitarian point of view, the UK is contributing Government continue to lead global efforts to end the £129 million to address it, including through the kind of horror of sexual violence in conflict. We have developed psychosocial support he refers to. tools to improve the chances of justice for survivors and in June secured sanctions against seven Burmese military Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab): In officials. We will host an international conference in recent years, the UN Population Fund has operated 2019 to galvanise the world into further action. fearlessly at the frontline of conflict, helping hundreds of thousands of girls and women who have suffered Dr Johnson: Given that the recent UN taskforce sexual violence. Does the Minister agree that it is utterly report highlighted appalling examples of sexual violence reprehensible that Donald Trump has eliminated US against Rohingya Muslims in Burma, I welcome the funding for that agency to the tune of $700 million? Is announcement that the Secretary of State made on his that not one more demonstration that the current US recent visit to Rakhine of increased support to victims President could not care less about women and their of this terrible crime, but what can be done to increase rights? the resources available to other conflict regions? Harriett Baldwin: I am happy to be answerable at the Harriett Baldwin: I thank my hon. Friend for welcoming Dispatch Box for the actions of the UK Government, the announcement and highlighting the work of that and I can assure the hon. Lady that the UK continues team of experts, who have now been deployed, I think, to support this important work and, in fact, to do more to 26 countries on a wide range of cases, have helped to on things such as access to safe family planning around train 17,000 people to make sure that evidence is secured the world. and have worked extensively on this important issue in a range of situations around the world.1 Illegal Wildlife Trade Wes Streeting (Ilford North) (Lab): The use of sexual violence was an ugly characteristic of the Sri Lankan 2. Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): What civil war under the stewardship of Mahinda Rajapaksa, steps the Government are taking with international and now the very same man is back in office, illegitimately, partners to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. [907344] as the Prime Minister of that country. Will the Minister now, and the Foreign Secretary shortly during topical questions, condemn unreservedly the turn of events in 9. George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): What steps Sri Lanka and make sure we never see a return to those the Government are taking with international partners dark days of appalling human rights abuses under the to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. [907351] Rajapaksas? 13. John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) Harriett Baldwin: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely (Con): What steps the Government are taking with right to raise this issue, which I know has captivated the international partners to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Asia [907355] 1.[Official Report, 12 November 2018, Vol. 649, c. 2MC.] 761 Oral Answers 30 OCTOBER 2018 Oral Answers 762 16. Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op): What steps the ban is properly and fully enforced, and that the ivory Government are taking with international partners to trade is not allowed simply to relocate to other parts of tackle the illegal wildlife trade. [907358] south-east Asia, or indeed anywhere else. We shall continue to work with the Chinese Government and The Minister for Asia and the Pacific (Mark Field): other Governments to ensure that that does not happen. Earlier this month, London hosted the largest ever illegal wildlife trade conference, with representation Chris Evans: The illegal poaching trade is worth from more than 70 countries and 400 organisations. £16 billion worldwide and is one of the largest organised Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, crimes in the world. What assurance can the Minister the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs give the House that that money is not being laundered and the Department for International Development through UK banks? announced additional support for developing countries to tackle IWT. I pay tribute my right hon. Friend the Mark Field: In specific terms, I cannot give direct Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) assurances, but that is clearly something we will work and my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park on. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the (Zac Goldsmith) for all the work that they have done illegal wildlife trade is very much a security issue. One and continue to do to advance this agenda. of the real achievements of the conference—something for which I have pushed for some time—was that it Neil Parish: Many of the countries where there is made that clear. IWT is often the soft underbelly of the wildlife crime involving iconic species such as elephant very worst sorts of criminality,not least money laundering, and rhino are war-torn. That is a huge problem that the narcotics trade and people trafficking. makes it dangerous for the rangers and others who try to protect the wildlife. What more can we do to help Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): In the media today, war-torn countries? It is essential that we do so. there are indications that China intends to lift its ban on the sale of rhino and tiger remedies. What discussions Mark Field: I am sure my hon. Friend is grateful that has the Minister had with the Chinese Government to the London conference highlighted the links he has ensure that the ban is retained, not removed? pointed out between human conflict and IWT. DFID has committed to spend at least 50% of its annual Mark Field: We are aware of the announcement by budget in fragile and conflict-afflicted states. Although the Chinese State Council in the last couple of days that does not impact directly on IWT, it should help to concerning the domestic trade in tiger bone and rhino reduce it. The IWT challenge fund and the Darwin fund horn. Weare concerned, and we will make representations have also supported projects in countries such as the that any changes should not have a negative impact on Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and the tackling of the illegal wildlife trade. Of course, we Sudan. Trophy hunting occurs in a few countries with will raise this issue at the earliest opportunity with our well-developed tourist industries, but it is unlikely to be Chinese counterparts. a major feature of war-torn countries. Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge and Malling) (Con): I am George Freeman: I congratulate and thank the Ministers glad to hear my right hon. Friend the Minister speak for what they are doing to tackle this appalling trade. about the connection between wildlife crime and other Does he agree that one of the most important aspects of forms of instability. Does he agree that the work that is tackling it is to create mutual economic interest for done by several organisations to preserve not just natural local tribespeople and farmers to support wildlife? Does heritage but architectural and archaeological heritage is he support the work of the excellent Laikipia Wildlife essential in helping people to have the sense of identity, Forum in Kenya, which was set up by the great British place and belonging that is so essential to resisting conservationist Dr Anthony King? forces such as ISIS and other extremist elements? Mark Field: I thank my hon.