A campaign to help the victims of genocide has moved a step nearer success in Parliament.
Fiona has been trying for years to make international rules more workable.
Now her plea has been backed by the House of Lords which is asking the Government to amend its draft Trade Bill.
Currently, as a signatory of the UN’s 1948 Genocide Convention, the UK is required to prevent and protect those affected by genocide.
However, often genocides are not recognised as such until way after the fact.
“Sadly, over many decades now, through many atrocities in different parts of the globe, both in this country and as part of the wider international community, we have all too often failed to take note of genocide and to address it until it is too late”.
“From the suffering of the Armenians in Turkey a hundred years ago, through the holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda, the suffering of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma, the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq, and the Uyghurs in China today, too often—indeed, invariably—religious minorities are part of the equation when crimes against humanity and genocide occur.”
This means that one of the possible pressure points of the international community can apply to rogue regimes is used too late – something which could change.
Speaking in the debate, Fiona strongly supported the proposed amendment – and encouraged the Government to do the same.
“[The proposed Trade Bill] requires that if a referral for a declaration of genocide is made to the High Court by a representative of a religious or ethnic group, for example, the Court must consider it and make a determination. Any trade agreement would then have to be voided if a signatory to it is a partner that has perpetrated genocide.”
"I urge the Government to support the amendment.”