§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to prevail upon the National Islamic Front government of Sudan to allow humanitarian aid and human rights organisations access to all parts of Sudan to assist with the identification, rescue and return to their homes of men, women and children who have been abducted into slavery. [HL4358]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalFollowing last year's EU sponsored UNCHR resolution on human rights in Sudan, the Sudanese Government established the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, which is now working with UNICEF and Save the Children Fund. Since the committee's inception last year a number of abductees have been returned. The Government of Sudan has made clear publicly that it is committed to the success of the committee and has said that it sees abduction as totally unacceptable and contrary to both Islam and Christianity.
Our Ambassador has been active in visiting the areas affected and through the EU we have been part funding the committee. Our Ambassador has also been attending the committee workshops in order to show our concern, and, most importantly, to urge greater effort, because there is still much work to be done. We continue to press all sides to allow access to all vulnerable areas of Sudan and are working closely 158WA with the UN towards an improved "Operation Lifeline Sudan".