HL Deb 26 June 2003 vol 650 cc429-31

3.9 p.m.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will increase their contribution to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture and ask the European Union and the United States to do the same.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

My Lords, tackling the scourge of torture is a priority for the Government reflected in the anti-torture initiative we began in 1998. Our funding of projects and organisations varies from year to year. We support the UN Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture although we decreased our funding last year while increasing funding on human rights projects overall by E 1 million. Decisions on next year's funding are under consideration.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. Is she aware—I expect that she is—that torture has recently been used in some 60 countries, with the result that about half a million torture victims are living in the United States of America? The United States Government are keen to increase funds for rehabilitation.

The noble Baroness is very persuasive. Can she convince the European Union to restore its cut of 7.5 million dollars, which has left 30 medical centres without support in places where they are often the only source of help?

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

My Lords, I am aware that torture is a terrible scourge. It is important not only to support the victims of torture, but to try to deal with the whole problem by preventing torture from happening in the first place. The European Union does not fund the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Instead, it funds individual rehabilitation centres, both inside and outside the EU, through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. The United Kingdom pays 17 per cent of the funding for that European initiative. Much of its efforts are directed not only to victims of torture, but to dealing with the problem before it can get a hold.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, is the Minister aware that a number of NGOs that provide direct assistance to the victims of torture all over the world recently wrote to the head of the human rights commission, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, opposing any suggestion that the fund be amalgamated with other trust funds under the control of the UN? Will she assure the House that the Government will uphold the political independence of the UN Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture, which has been its most valuable asset?

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

My Lords, the independence is enormously important, so I take the noble Lord's point, but I stress that there are a number of different ways to tackle the terrible problem. That is what I hoped that my initial Answer implied. After all, there is the OSCE's anti-torture programme, the African Commission on Human Rights, and also our own projects in the United Kingdom. Another way to tackle the problem is being undertaken today by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. With the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chief Justice, he is launching a new handbook entitled Combating Torture.

Baroness Rawlings

My Lords, following the noble Baroness's very clear answer to the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, and given that some of the rehabilitation centres may have to close, what are the Government doing to replace them? Will victims of torture he left without support?

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

My Lords, I will look very carefully at the numbers of the centres that may close. I assure the noble Baroness that I take the point very seriously. There are number of different ways in which we are trying to tackle the problem. I absolutely agree with the implication of her point—that people should not be left high and dry—which is important. However, my central argument is that it is enormously important to tackle the causes of torture. I have been able to specify the booklet launched today, and I hope that noble Lords will also be pleased to know that today we are signing up to the optional protocol to the convention against torture. That is another very important step in developing our armoury.

Lord Elton

My Lords, the noble Baroness mentioned our own domestic programme. Does that refer to the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture? If so, would she consider, either in her own department or elsewhere, extending some funding to that organisation, which does invaluable work and is very short of funds?

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

My Lords, I cannot tell the noble Lord whether our domestic programme comprehends that. I have details of six or seven projects that the department has told me are covered by the programme, but that project is not mentioned. I shall ask the department for further details and write to the noble Lord.