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I am leading the Genocide Amendment to the Trade Bill to ensure that the Government does not trade with genocidal states.
The UK can only accept a definition of genocide if it has been determined in the International Criminal Court upon request from the UN Security Council, which can be vetoed by China and Russia. The amendment to the Trade Bill would allow British courts to take evidence and make a preliminary declaration that genocide is taking place. The Parliament can then consider this, and Ministers can consider which action to take. The Government could, if it wished, choose to ignore it and the courts would not be able to strike down deals or laws.
With the UN unable to investigate genocide due to the vetoes of countries such as Russia and China, the UK is obliged under the UN Convention to use its own courts to investigate genocide and ensure that we do not trade with genocidal states. As we start developing our trade deals, we need to make sure that we are not complicit in trading with genocidal states.