Lords committee on sexual violence in conflict to hear from government's ISIL task force
The House of Lords Committee on Sexual Violence in Conflict will hold its second public evidence session on Tuesday. The Committee will hear from a range of witnesses from the Government and NGOs about the fight against sexual violence in conflict.
The Head of the Government's ISIL Task Force and the Head of DfID's Conflict and Stabilisation Team will give evidence to the Committee alongside members of the ISIL Task Force and UK Team of Experts. The Committee will also hear from representatives of MADRE and Physicians for Human Rights.
Areas the session will cover include:
- How can government, the international community and NGOs work together in conflict zones to prevent and respond to sexual violence?
- How far have the commitments and aspirations set out in the G8 Declaration and the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict made a difference on the ground?
- What are the key challenges that human rights defenders and humanitarian workers face in their work to prevent and mitigate sexual violence in conflict?
- What strategies are there to counter the ideology of actors such as ISIL that use rape as an orchestrated instrument of terror?
The evidence session will start at 2:45pm on Tuesday 15 September in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. The full witness details are:
- Ms Widney Brown, Director of Programs, Physicians for Human Rights (via Video link)
- His Honour Judge Jonathan Carroll, Civilian member of UK Team of Experts*
- Ms Rosy Cave, Head of Conflict and Stabilisation Team, Stabilisation Unit, DfID & Member of UK Team of Experts
- Mr Dan Chugg, Head of HMG ISIL Task Force & Head of Iraq Department, FCO
- Mr Michael Howells, member of HMG ISIL Task Force & Head of Near East Department, FCO
- Professor Lisa Davis, Human Rights Advocacy Director, MADRE & Clinical Professor of Law, International Women's Human Rights Clinic, City University of New York School of Law (via Video link)
* Please note that Judge Carroll is appearing in his capacity as a former civilian member of the UK Team and Experts, rather than as a serving judge. He is not appearing in a representative capacity in respect of the judiciary.
The sessions will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and are also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
