§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to send an independent international commission of inquiry to Darfur. [148543]
§ Hilary BennAt present limited access in Darfur means that the various humanitarian agencies are unable to fully assess the situation on the ground, or to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.
1295WSo we are calling on all parties to re-establish a ceasefire to allow unfettered humanitarian access. We have offered our good offices to all parties to help them reach a peaceful solution, and have suggested that there may be a role for the international community in assisting in the implementation of a peace deal.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on human rights abuses in Darfur with the Sudanese authorities. [148643]
§ Hilary BennI discussed the human rights situation in Sudan with the President during my visit to Khartoum on 10 December 2003.
We continue to be concerned about the human rights situation in the whole of Sudan, regardless of religious or ethnic background. The promotion of human rights, through advocacy with the government and support for NGOs, remains one of our priorities.