LONDON: While supporting the ‘Women, Peace and Security Bill’, Lord Qurban Hussain, the Lib Dem leader has said that he supports the much needed and demanded bill and as many noble Lords have said, rape is used as a weapon of war in many areas of conflict around the world.
Participating the debate at the mentioned at the House of Lords, he said that one of the facts that he draws noble Lords’ attention to is India, where in Kashmir for the last 30 years the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has given complete impunity to the armed forces.
“There are reports from Amnesty International, the UN Commission on Human Rights and all other human rights organisations that the Indian Army is involved in sexual violence and rape”, he stated.
Lord Qurban Hussain added that in our free trade agreement with India, will the Minister (Lord Tariq Ahmad) make sure that the impunity that the Indian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act gives to the Indian army to do what it wants in that area, including rape, will be discussed as part of the deal? Will he give women the freedom to challenge those responsible for these draconian acts?
In the debate, 11 speakers including 3 Asian origin members took part and gave their deliberations according to their point of view.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon) and Conservative leader concluded the debate.
He said that the Government fully support the ethos of the women, peace, and security agenda. He referred the problematic situation being faced by women in a number of countries and the UK Government is fully aware of it.
On the issue raised by Lord Qurban Hussain, about India, Lord Tariq Ahmad assures that we remain committed to women being involved in every peace process. In this sense, it is important that countries will be represented at conferences, including the PSVI conference we will be holding. India has a long and rich history of standing up for the rights of all communities; that is part and parcel of what defines India as a thriving democracy. Where issues arise, we will raise them—sometimes privately, sometimes candidly—as we expect India to raise issues with us, Lord Tariq Ahmad concluded.
An abridged version of speech by Minister of State Lord Tariq Ahmad will be included in the newspaper soon.