§ Angus Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment the Department has made of human rights abuses in Darfur; what recent assessment has been made of their effect on the human rights situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [131799]
§ Hilary Benn:We are concerned about the human rights of the people of Sudan, including in Darfur. We continue to raise specific human rights cases in Darfur 107W relating to the rights of minors and women and the application of the death penalty with the Government of Sudan as part of the EU/Sudan dialogue. In July, a member of the British embassy in Khartoum visited Nyala, South Darfur, and held meetings with the Wali, the South Darfur Security Committee, the Chief Judge, the Commissioner of Nyala, and Fur Tribal leaders. He also toured the prison. We are also supporting human rights monitoring and human rights awareness projects in Darfur through the Human Rights Project Fund.
The Secretary of State welcomed the signing on 3 September of a 45-day ceasefire between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army and the launch of the UN Greater Darfur Initiative (UNDGI) which we hope will enable the provision of basic services and help to address basic human rights. The UK has pledged £1 million to UNDGI.