§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Governments of the Western European Union to make rape a war crime in the conventions of international law; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladNo such discussions have taken place within the WEU. Under the fourth Geneva convention, women are to be especially protected against any attack on their honour, particularly against rape, enforced prostitution and indecent assault. All parties to the Geneva conventions are already under an obligation to ensure that criminal sanctions are available against those who commit grave breaches of the conventions.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with governments of member states of the Western European Union to provide financial funding to give counselling and assistance to women and girls who have been raped in the countries of the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThere have been no discussions in the WEU. The European Council at Edinburgh strongly condemned the systematic detention and rape of Muslim women in the former Yugoslavia. The EC will send a mission of experts to the former Yugoslavia to investigate the allegations and to report urgently to Foreign Ministers.