MPs probe UK approach to preventing mass atrocities

• Watch Parliament TV: Promoting dialogue and preventing atrocities: the UK government approach
• Inquiry: Promoting dialogue and preventing atrocities: the UK government approach
• International Development Committee

Purpose of the Session

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister responsible for human rights and atrocity prevention in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is to give evidence, along with two senior diplomats currently serving abroad.

The UK has endorsed the United Nations commitment to safeguarding people under a concept known as the ‘Responsibility to Protect’. The commitment is to use diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The challenges of upholding this commitment are underlined by atrocities in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Myanmar and many other countries around the world.

The diplomats will provide a perspective on the daily challenges that Ambassadors face in seeking to promote dialogue and protect populations, drawing on examples from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Myanmar.

Lord Ahmad will be questioned on the Government’s approach to preventing atrocities, and how this fits with other areas of the UK’s foreign policy, such as development and trade.

Witnesses

At 2.30pm

• Matthew Field, HM Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Pete Vowles, Chargé d’Affaires ad-interim at the British Embassy, Myanmar

At 3.30pm

• Lord Ahmad, Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, FCDO
• Leigh Stubblefield, Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation, FCDO

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: Parliamentary Copyright