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British Ambassador to the Holy See: Building an international consensus to tackle sexual violence in conflict

The British Ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker talks to Vatican Radio ahead of G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in London on 10 to 11 April

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In an interview with the Vatican Radio, the British Ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker touched on the themes of the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in London on 10 to 11 April 2013. The main focus of the G8 Meeting will be conflict: how to prevent it, how to end it and how to deal with its consequences. One key priority will be the impunity around the issue of rape used as a weapon of war.

The UK is working with G8 countries to ensure there is clear recognition that sexual violence in war is a great breach of the Geneva Convention; [..] The G8 seeks to launch an international protocol which will ensure there are agreed standards for investigating and especially documenting rape as a weapon of war.

Ambassador Baker also touched on the work at practical level which the United Kingdom has undertaken, by “creating a team of investigators to go into conflict or post-conflict zones, that would have the legal, social and psychological expertise”.

Listen to the audio (Vatican Radio website)

G8 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Published 11 April 2013