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Representatives from Relatives for Justice, whose loved ones were murdered during the Troubles, protest outside Downing Street, Westminster, against the British government's introduction of controversial legacy legislation as the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill receives its second reading in the House of Commons, in May 2022
THE government must address its own damaging actions against survivors of sexual violence in conflict before it can credibly lead an international summit on the subject, Amnesty International has said.
The international human rights organisation has accused the government of hypocrisy for hosting the International Ministerial Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on November 28 and 29. The event marks 10 years since the initiative was launched.
Amnesty accused the British government of neglecting the rights of survivors at home despite claiming to be a leader on preventing sexual violence in conflict globally.
The group highlighted the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, proposed by the British government, which aims to prohibit criminal investigations, including of sexual offences, which happened during the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Amnesty has called it a “de facto amnesty for sexual offences and other grave human rights violations, prioritising perpetrators over victims.”
The British government also doesn't provide safe official routes for refugee women and girls to seek asylum in Britain and has “significantly restricted” the chances of thousands of women and girls to find safety in the UK through provisions for reunion with refugee partners and parents, Amnesty said.
Most women seeking refuge in Britain have been victims of violence, including rape, and yet the asylum system subjects them to further traumatisation, detention and threats of deportation, it said.
The organisation said Britain is in breach of the “strategic objectives on conflict-related sexual violence,” which the conference aims to progress, including “supporting survivors” and “concentrating on justice for all survivors and holding perpetrators to account.”
Amnesty International UK’s women’s rights programme director Chiara Capraro said: “The hypocrisy of the government’s claim to be a global leader in preventing sexual violence in conflict is extremely stark when right here in the UK survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are subject to cruel and inhumane treatment.
“The UK must get its own house in order before it can credibly lead an international summit on this issue.
“If the government really cares about the victims of sexual violence, it will start treating them fairly in the UK.”
The government has been contacted for comment.
