Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
1
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
Numbers of aid worker deaths are rising year on year and the situations where access to aid is deliberately impeded are also increasing. This violates the purpose of IHL: to protect civilians in a time of war. We see growing examples of where IHL is ignored or used to justify …
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Numbers of aid worker deaths are rising year on year and the situations where access to aid is deliberately impeded are also increasing. This violates the purpose of IHL: to protect civilians in a time of war. We see growing examples of where IHL is ignored or used to justify the restrictions to aid delivery. This has to stop. Furthermore, we have concerns that there is a trend of breaches of IHL being ‘traded off’ by implicated parties who can be seen to justify breaking IHL as a result of the other party or parties doing the same. This apparent ‘race to the bottom’ is extremely worrying and demonstrably contrary to the spirit of IHL which sets high standards to ensure citizens and humanitarian workers are appropriately protected in conflict zones. The short-term impacts of IHL trade-offs by belligerents is having stark and deadly consequences. (Conclusion, Paragraph 7)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's concerns regarding rising aid worker deaths, restrictions on humanitarian access, and IHL violations, affirming that IHL must be respected and all tools leveraged to address these issues.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
13
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
At the international level, the International Criminal Court provides a forum for holding states and individuals, respectively, accountable for breaches of IHL. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, affirming its full commitment to international law and respect for the independence of the ICJ and ICC. It reiterates its strong support for the ICC through multilateral engagement and by encouraging states to become parties to the Rome Statute.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
We welcome the times that the Government has made a stand on the likely breaches of IHL that have reduced access of populations to aid and/or have failed to protect those delivering aid. We also welcome the more general calls for the protection of aid workers. However, the lack of …
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We welcome the times that the Government has made a stand on the likely breaches of IHL that have reduced access of populations to aid and/or have failed to protect those delivering aid. We also welcome the more general calls for the protection of aid workers. However, the lack of consistency across conflict types and geographies, arguably depending on the participants is startling, greater care needs to be taken to ensure that the UK’s actions and rhetoric around suspected breaches of IHL cannot be construed as being anything other than even handed—protecting allies 50 at the expense of unconditional support for IHL is unacceptable. Such actions would set a poor example to other states and risk undermining the universality of law designed to protect us all. (Conclusion, Paragraph 38)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating it consistently calls on all parties to comply with IHL without differentiation and engages with partners to address reported violations. It clarifies that it cannot provide a running commentary on possible breaches due to lack of detailed information.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
16
Recommendation
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
As part of the UK’s leadership role, the Government must be ready to call out actions not only when a blatant breach of IHL has been ruled on by a court, but when the spirit of IHL is being eroded. This condemnation needs to extend to where an overly permissive …
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As part of the UK’s leadership role, the Government must be ready to call out actions not only when a blatant breach of IHL has been ruled on by a court, but when the spirit of IHL is being eroded. This condemnation needs to extend to where an overly permissive interpretation of IHL has been taken and must happen in equal measure regardless of the offending party’s diplomatic relationship to the UK. Failure to do so undermines a system designed to keep all civilians safe and to impose limits on the horrors of war. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39)
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating it consistently calls on all parties to comply with IHL and observe robust standards without differentiation. It clarifies that it cannot provide a running commentary on possible breaches due to lack of detailed information to determine IHL violations.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
34
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
It has never been more dangerous to be a humanitarian aid worker. These workers put their lives on the line every day to protect others. Aid workers suffer direct intimidation and attacks in the field, as well as the impact of vicarious trauma through the processing of media. The disregard …
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It has never been more dangerous to be a humanitarian aid worker. These workers put their lives on the line every day to protect others. Aid workers suffer direct intimidation and attacks in the field, as well as the impact of vicarious trauma through the processing of media. The disregard of aid worker safety by combatant parties is contrary to the spirit and letter of international humanitarian law. (Conclusion, Paragraph 69)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the increased risks to humanitarian personnel and reaffirms its commitment to championing aid worker protection through ongoing initiatives, including the proposed Australia-led Declaration.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
35
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
The safety of aid workers and aid delivery is further hampered by the spread of malicious disinformation online and in other forms of media. (Conclusion, Paragraph 71)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees that malicious disinformation threatens aid worker safety, highlighting the BBC World Service's role and describing FCDO's existing efforts to counter foreign information manipulation, including a recent programme in Sudan.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
37
Conclusion
5th Report - Protection not permission:…
Acknowledged
While it is important that the UK’s aid, trade, defence and diplomacy objectives are coherent, there is a risk that overly-politicised humanitarian responses can make the safe delivery of UK-funded support difficult. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees that humanitarian aid must be impartial, outlining its current approach to ensure principled aid delivery through strong partnerships, coherent diplomatic action, new humanitarian diplomacy training, and a humanitarian allocation model.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office