All articles written by Sarah Champion MP on PoliticsHome.com

10 Apr Foreign affairs

Our net zero transition cannot be carried on the backs of those in slavery

We must move quickly in collaboration with our international allies to root out this appalling practice.

13 Jan Communities

No more words, delays or empty promises on grooming gangs – it's time to act

Over the last week there has been a lot of focus on child sexual exploitation by organised networks, colloquially known as grooming gangs.

10 Dec 2024 Foreign affairs

Israel risks breaking international law by banning UNRWA

For more than a year now, the world’s attention has rightly been on the brutal war in Gaza.

24 Oct 2024 Culture

Millions rely on terrestrial TV. We cannot let it die

The Labour Government must act to keep terrestrial television. The people who rely on it most are often those in our society who have the least.

05 Mar 2023 Education

Government must make its review of Relationships, Sex and Health Education a top priority

We have an unmissable opportunity to support our young people this year.

07 Feb 2023 Foreign affairs

Britain must plan for rebuilding in Turkey and Syria as well as immediate humanitarian aid

The news is devastating. This huge earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria has killed thousands and the numbers continue to rise. In 1999, an earthquake of a similar magnitude in Turkey killed 17,000.

19 Jan 2023 Foreign affairs

We need a national strategy to prevent and respond to mass atrocities

Genocide and crimes against humanity are never inevitable - they can often be prevented. To do so, however, we need to be prepared.

17 Oct 2022 Foreign affairs

We need a national strategy to better predict and prevent mass atrocities across the world

The latest atrocities committed against civilians by Russian forces in Ukraine, which will likely prove to be crimes against humanity, are truly appalling. But mass atrocities are commonplace elsewhere in the world.

29 Jun 2022 Home affairs

Victims of sexual violence must not be deterred from seeking counselling

Reporting sexual violence to the police can be an utterly terrifying experience, and the process of going through the criminal justice system often re-traumatises many victims and survivors.

26 May 2022 Home affairs

We must listen to survivors of online child sexual exploitation to strengthen protections in the Online Safety Bill

The Online Safety Bill presents a unique chance to tackle a range of significant online harms. Particularly careful attention, however, must be drawn to the most severe forms of online harm, such as the online sexual exploitation of children.

27 Jan 2022 Foreign affairs

Global Britain can play a leading role in atrocity prevention

I was in my early twenties when a shocking picture of emaciated Bosnian men being held prisoner behind barbed wire was published in the press.

14 Jan 2022 Culture

Online Safety Bill must strengthen child protection after record surge of online child sexual abuse in 2021

Discussions about the Online Safety Bill have often been dominated by debates about freedom of speech, online anonymity, or abuse of public figures. These are all important topics to be discussed ahead of regulations, but the most pressing issue which this Bill needs to tackle is online child sexual abuse.

17 Nov 2021 Home affairs

The Policing Bill is one of the most serious threats to human rights and civil liberties in the UK’s recent history

Soft power is how a country’s cultural and economic influence can persuade others to do something. It is summed up in the often-repeated line that “people are more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.” And it is a key part of the UK's approach to strengthening democracy and defending our values around the world.

29 Sep 2021 Economy

Where next for UK international aid after the cuts?

With less money in the aid budget, it’s more crucial than ever that we spend this vital, lifechanging funding in the best way possible.

26 Apr 2021 Coronavirus

Covid has wreaked havoc on the Global South: the government must cancel debt to allow for countries to recover

Developing countries are facing a “looming financial tsunami” due to the impact of Covid-19. That is why the International Development Committee has recently called on the government to cancel debt so the Global South has the means to recover from this horrific pandemic.

24 Mar 2021 Foreign affairs

Tens of thousands are suffering horrific abuse in Tigray – if "Global Britain" means anything, the government must act

When the FCO and DFID were merged last year, we heard how putting diplomacy and development under one roof would enhance conflict resolution.

01 Mar 2021 Health

The Government’s obesity strategy is putting those with eating disorders at risk

This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, we must recognise that there is not a catch-all strategy to addressing obesity in the UK.

28 Jan 2021 Foreign affairs

Government must prevent UK aid cuts from pushing the world’s most vulnerable into poverty and food insecurity

Addressing the secondary impacts of Covid are just as important as stopping the virus itself. Government must outline how we can ensure the world’s most vulnerable are not left behind.

14 Jan 2021 Foreign affairs

Sexual exploitation in the aid sector remains 'rife' and needs urgent action

There must be consequences for failings that lead to cases of abuse, including poor treatment of whistle-blowers.

16 Dec 2020 Foreign affairs

Government is chipping away at our development progress when we should be championing global Britain

We could be facing up to £30bn less on development over the next five years. The UK is unlikely to feel any economic ‘boost’ as a result of these cuts, but the impact on the world’s poorest will be devastating.

05 Nov 2020 Coronavirus

We must ensure developing countries have equitable access to covid treatments

Failure on equitable access to future Covid vaccines would put the UK’s reputation as a development superpower at risk.

08 Sep 2020 Foreign affairs

Parliamentary scrutiny of the government's approach to development aid has never been more vital

The future of the International Development Committee is uncertain, but it has never been needed more. We propose the Committee remit shifts to cover all official development assistance spend across Government

17 Jun 2020 Foreign affairs

The UK can lead the world in the fight to end poverty. But does this government still care?

To throw away decades of experience of supporting the world's most vulnerable people, for a purely political decision, is unfathomable.

22 May 2020 Coronavirus

With the coronavirus pandemic looming, the situation for the Rohingya is becoming increasingly desperate

Rohingya Refugees are being fenced in and communication blocked, just as coronavirus cases are confirmed in camps, according to a new report from the International Development Committee.

01 May 2020 Foreign affairs

The international community must act to protect Hong Kong’s health workers

Medics in Hong Kong allege a shocking campaign of harassment, intimidation and arrest by Chinese authorities. An international inquiry is urgently needed

29 Mar 2020 Foreign affairs

Absorbing DfID into the FCO would dilute the effectiveness of UK aid

I have no issue with examining foreign policy. What concerns me is the timeframe. The International Development Committee must have a voice in the Government’s Integrated Review.

28 Jan 2020

I have seen the impact UK international development aid can have – I will fight to protect this

My success in parliament is due to forensically analysing a problem and working cross-party – I will take the exact same approach as chair of the International Development Committee, writes Sarah Champion

21 Sep 2019 Communities

A Labour government must take on our stubbornly patriarchal society

It’s time to be bold on women’s rights – Labour must address the systemic issues, writes Sarah Champion MP

09 Jul 2019 Home affairs

Survivors of sexual abuse deserve more support – it’s time for the government to deliver

Survivors who report their abuse to police are too often let down. It’s essential we build a criminal justice system they can be confident in, writes Sarah Champion

14 Jun 2019 Communities

Position of trust legislation must be extended to cover extracurricular activities

We must close the extracurricular loophole and protect 16 and 17-year-olds from sexual exploitation, writes Sarah Champion

20 May 2019 Communities

Survivors of child sexual abuse deserve better support

Dealing with the fallout from sexual abuse is a moral duty for the country – and sound public policy, writes Sarah Champion

09 Mar 2017 Communities

Why Britain must adopt gender budgeting

It is becoming increasingly clear that the next step in the fight for equality will be in finally creating a Budget that works for women