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Tag: 2022

  • PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak – Unfortunately, we did not see the willingness of the ICRC to do everything possible to protect Ukrainian prisoners [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak – Unfortunately, we did not see the willingness of the ICRC to do everything possible to protect Ukrainian prisoners [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 18 October 2022.

    The shocking scale of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian prisoners of war require at least a clear position and determination from all organizations that take care of compliance with the norms and requirements of international humanitarian law. This was stated by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak based on the results of the Ukrainian delegation’s trip to the touch line in the Zaporizhzhia region, which was not attended by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    Last week, during a video call with President of the Red Cross Mirjana Egger, Andriy Yermak called on representatives of the ICRC to visit the touch line together with the Ukrainian delegation and demand that the organization’s mission be allowed into the temporarily occupied territory to check the condition of Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka.

    On Monday, Human Rights Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Daria Zarivna and people’s deputies Maria Mezentseva, Yehor Cherniev, Denys Maslov and Olena Khomenko arrived at the touch line in the Zaporizhzhia region on Monday. However, as Daria Zarivna reported at a briefing in Zaporizhzhia, ICRC representatives did not join the Ukrainian delegation on this trip.

    “As Andriy Yermak said in this regard, war is a test for both people and international organizations. Unfortunately, the Red Cross not only tolerates Russian violations of all norms of international law, but also does it silently,” she emphasized, quoting the Head of the President’s Office.

    Dmytro Lubinets noted that representatives of the ICRC, despite their commitments, have not yet visited the colony in Olenivka, where, in particular, defenders of “Azovstal” are kept.

    “Unfortunately, during every exchange, we see that the inaction of the ICRC has led to the fact that our prisoners of war and civilian hostages are tortured daily with hunger, electricity, because the Russians know that the International Committee of the Red Cross will not come, will not demand access to the places of detention of prisoners of war and civilians, and that in general it demonstrates inaction,” the ombudsman said.

    He stated that the ICRC does not fulfill its mandate, which provides for the visit to military and civilian hostages both in the temporarily occupied territories and in the territory of the Russian Federation, justifying this by the lack of permission from the Russian side.

    In this context, Andriy Yermak emphasized: “Ukraine expects and demands from the International Committee of the Red Cross due determination in obtaining access to Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka. After all, the organization was created precisely for such tasks.”

    “We are aware that the main obstacle to the arrival of the ICRC mission to the place of forced detention of Ukrainians in Olenivka is primarily Russia’s destructive and cynical position. At the same time, unfortunately, we do not see that the ICRC is working to protect our prisoners. Ukrainian society does not see this. Relatives of the defenders do not see this,” the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine emphasized.

    As Andriy Yermak noted, the Ukrainian side has every reason to expect decisive proactive actions by the ICRC in implementing its humanitarian mandate, as well as a clear public position and communication of all its actions aimed at overcoming the most acute humanitarian challenge in Europe.

    The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also called on other international organizations and humanitarian actors to take active steps, as their direct human rights mandate should not allow them to stand aside and passively observe how Russia continues to commit the most brutal crimes of our time.

  • Alastair Campbell – 2022 Comments on the Personal Conduct of Boris Johnson

    Alastair Campbell – 2022 Comments on the Personal Conduct of Boris Johnson

    The comments made by Alastair Campbell, the former Director of Communications at Downing Street, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    To think the poor guy had to pretend he flies economy – hard not to feel sorry for him. Until you remember he is a lying, lawbreaking, immoral charlatan who has trashed the UK reputation, made us poorer, weaker and less respected in the world, and cares only about himself.

  • Paul Holmes – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Paul Holmes – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Paul Holmes, the Conservative MP for Eastleigh, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    We need stability and experience at the top of our Government to get us through these tough times, Rishi Sunak has the track record of delivery. Therefore I can confirm I’ve nominated him for Leader of the Conservative Party and will be voting for him on Monday.

  • Chris Loder – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Chris Loder – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for West Dorset, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    This week, West Dorset people have made it clear to me that political and economical stability is the most important priority for me as their MP in my decision for the next Conservative Leader. It is clear to me that the person best placed to do this is Rishi Sunak and I am very pleased to support him with my vote on Monday.

  • Gary Streeter – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    Gary Streeter – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    The comments made by Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    David Frost nails it: we cannot go back to Boris [Johnson].

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Kemi Badenoch – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    The party needs a unifying figure to do what’s right for the UK. At this moment, I believe that person is Rishi. I’m a fan of Boris but his return, given all that’s happened would not bring people together. We all need to set aside our differences and work for the greater good.

  • Tom Hunt – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Tom Hunt – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Tom Hunt, the Conservative MP for Ipswich, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    Good chat with Rishi Sunak yesterday. Covered a number of issues. Always felt he’s a hugely impressive individual. Right now more than ever we need stability and economic competence after the chaos of the past few weeks. Rishi is the only man for the job. He has my full support.

  • Alun Cairns – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Alun Cairns – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Alun Cairns, the Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan, on Twitter on 22 October 2022.

    I will back Rishi Sunak this week. This is a time that requires financial stability and experience. Rishi will unite the Party and our nation.

  • Katherine Fletcher – 2022 Speech on Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill

    Katherine Fletcher – 2022 Speech on Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill

    The speech made by Katherine Fletcher, the Minister for Women, in the House of Commons on 21 October 2022.

    I congratulate the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) on promoting this important Bill, as well as all those who have spoken in this brief, but I would argue important, debate. The significance of the issues addressed by the Bill cannot be overstated. The 2010 survey from the Government Equalities Office found that nearly three quarters of people had been affected by sexual harassment in their lifetime, while two in five had experienced it within the last 12 months. In the world of work those rates remain unacceptably high, with 29% of people having experienced harassment in some form in the past 12 months. That is nearly one in every three people. It is therefore rather auspicious that this debate has fallen in the week coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the #MeToo movement going viral.

    On 15 October 2017, the words #MeToo were shared on Twitter by 12 million people around the world, including me, and the Government believe that is important and have taken significant steps to combat sexual workplace harassment in the past five years. We have had the implementation of the strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, and the UK has ratified two important international treaties—the Istanbul convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and the International Labour Organisation’s violence and harassment convention, which was the first international treaty to recognise everyone’s right to a workplace free from violence and harassment. The UK will continue to work to lead the world in that area.

    It is important to recognise that, as we have heard, workplace harassment can affect anyone, regardless of industry, profession, age, race, sex, or sexuality. Anyone can be a victim, with men reporting almost similar levels of harassment, as highlighted in the debate. The Government are therefore pleased to share and support the Bill, and while the Equality Act 2010 already contains a robust legal framework against workplace harassment, the measures in the Bill provide an important strengthening of those protections and a renewed focus on prevention, which we hope will lead to a reduction in workplace harassment across the country.

    We have listened carefully, and I am extremely keen to see the Bill progress. My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) was correct to highlight that it is not just women who are affected, and we need to protect employees from predators. I thank the hon. Member for Bath for promoting this Bill, which is an important step change in the protections available against workplace harassment. As the debate on the future workplace proceeds post pandemic, the Government are committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported to thrive. We strongly support the Bill.

    Wera Hobhouse

    I thank everybody for their support for the Bill. As has been said, this issue does not affect only women; it affects anybody who is in work and should be protected from harassment. It should particularly introduce a culture change so that harassment in the workplace is a thing of the past. I thank hon. Members across the House, and look forward to the progress of the Bill.

  • Imran Hussain – 2022 Speech on Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill

    Imran Hussain – 2022 Speech on Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill

    The speech made by Imran Hussain, the Labour MP for Bradford East, in the House of Commons on 21 October 2022.

    I thank the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) for bringing this important Bill to the House. She spoke very well to make the case for the great need for a change in the legislation.

    I will be brief, because I am keen for this Bill to progress to the next stage. Last year, the Fawcett Society released harrowing research into sexual harassment in the workplace showing that, despite the bravery of the #MeToo movement in coming forward to challenge abuses of power by employers and others in the workplace, harassment, particularly sexual harassment, remains a deeply concerning problem that should worry us all. Two in five women report that they have faced harassment in the workplace.

    What is more, a report from the Government Equalities Office has indicated that 80% of women who have faced harassment in the workplace do not go on to report it. I am sure all of us on both sides of the House are committed to stamping out that abhorrent behaviour and abuse, and the Opposition stand committed to this Bill. After all, by making employers liable for harassment committed by clients and customers, the Bill reintroduces the provisions that the last Labour Government introduced under the Equality Act 2010, but that the Tory-led coalition Government ditched in 2013, claiming that the protections imposed an unnecessary burden on business.

    Let me be clear: protecting people from harassment, especially in the workplace, is never a burden; it is a responsibility. Nine years since the protections were first removed, it is welcome that the Government have finally realised the error of their decision. However, we should not have had to wait so long for them to do so, especially given that, like so many of this Government’s initiatives, the consultation on strengthening protections against harassment in the workplace was launched back in 2019.

    Labour supports the Bill, but I repeat that the Government should never have repealed those important protections for working people. We should be dramatically extending the protection already available, rather than having to reintroduce it.