Baroness Cox a renowned human rights campeigner and advocate

Baroness Caroline Cox is a renowned human rights campaigner and advocate whose global humanitarian efforts have earned her numerous accolades and widespread recognition. A former nurse and academic, she was appointed a life peer in 1982 and served as Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords for two decades. Between 1992 and 2001, she served as the founding Chancellor of Bournemouth University and held the position of Chancellor at Liverpool Hope University from 2006 to 2013. She is also the Honorary Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing.

Born into a family with deep roots in healthcare, Baroness Cox’s father was the esteemed surgeon Robert McNeill Love, co-author of the famous medical textbook Bailey and Love. She trained as a nurse at London Hospital before continuing her education, earning a First-class degree in sociology from the University of London and a Master’s degree in economics. She later taught sociology at the Polytechnic of North London, where she became Head of the Sociology Department. She then moved to Chelsea College, University of London, where she became Director of the Nursing Education Research Unit. Her academic work, which focused on sociology, academic freedom, and the political aspects of education, attracted the attention of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Baroness Cox the longest serving Life Peer

 

 According to Wikipedia, the longest-serving life peer is Baroness Cox (Crossbench), who is also the longest-serving female member of the House of Lords. She first took her seat on March 2, 1983.  [16]

From Hansard - Caroline Anne, Mrs. Cox, having been created Baroness Cox, of Queensbury in Greater London, for life—Was, in her robes, introduced between the Lord Trefgarne and the Lord Beloff.Baroness Cox.

Volume 439: debated on Wednesday 2 March 1983

Baroness Cox contributes to a question for short debate at the House of Lords: Christians: Persecution

Qustion for Short Debate, House of Lords, March 2024
Asked by

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support persecuted Christians around the world.


"My Lords, I thank all those who have put down their names to speak tonight on this important but unfortunately largely ignored issue of the global persecution of Christians. I also thank the Minister for being here to respond. " Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee

Contribution by Baroness Cox

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for initiating this debate on such an important subject and introducing it so powerfully. I will focus on a detailed account of such persecution in two countries which I have visited many times and where I have had the painful privilege of meeting those directly suffering persecution. I will focus first on Nigeria. I am very pleased that it has already been highlighted in this debate because the situation there needs as much attention as possible.

There are almost 103 million Christians in Nigeria, which is almost half the country’s total population of 222 million. In the Muslim-majority north of the country, the proportion of Christians is much lower. This is traditionally where most of the persecution of Christians has happened. It continues to this day and continues to spread south. Such persecution is largely inflicted by Nigerian Islamist Muslims. I emphasise that the majority of Muslims in Nigeria are peaceable Islamic civilians. I make a distinction between “Islamic” and “Islamist”. Islam refers to those widespread and largely peaceful Muslim beliefs. Islamism refers to radical ideology, including movements such as Islamic State West Africa Province which are often associated with violence and persecution.

The current threat posed by North Korea

The current threat posed by North Korea

Taken from a House of Lords debate and contribution by Baroness Cox, 14th December 2023

The full text available through this link

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Swire, for enabling us to have this debate and to discuss the current threats to peace, security and human rights posed by North Korea. I have been in North Korea three times, as my noble friend Lord Alton mentioned. I will never forget one occasion when I went for a walk in Pyongyang and I heard the footsteps of my minder following me. After about 10 minutes, the footsteps accelerated. He caught up with me and he said, out of breath, “I can’t keep up with you. You are going to have to walk alone”, which was wonderful. I walked through Pyongyang without a minder, and it was poignant how many people wanted to come up to speak to me and how they shared with great openness their deep concerns. It was a very special occasion.

Baroness Cox visits Washington DC

 

Baroness Cox is curently visiting Washington DC and would like to say thank you for everyone she has been able to meet and share news and views with and for all the kind comments on social media.

Plced here are some of the many comments of encouragement found on social media and news outlets -

Armenia Mission to United Nations ' An honour to welcome Baroness Caroline Cox at the Mission of Armenia to the UN. Thankful for a candid exchange of thoughts on Nagorno-Karabakh and the imperative of international action to ensure the right of return for the forcibly displaced people.'

To the people of the Republic of Artsakh, for whom I have profound affection and deep respect

Thank you to ARTSAKH PRESS

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: The letter is presented below:

''To the people of the Republic of Artsakh, for whom I have profound affection and deep respect.

'I write to you today because 120,000 innocent civilians face an existential crisis. Conditions are now present for genocide against the Armenian Christians of Artsakh.

Your people have suffered, and continue to suffer, the most serious international crimes. I have personally witnessed the results of massacres, atrocities and forced displacement.

Yet the world has chosen to turn a deaf ear to your suffering. Even your closest international allies have either not paid attention to, or ignored, the warning signs of genocide.

During this darkest hour, I stand in solidarity with the Armenians of Artsakh. I have great confidence in your ability to overcome this crisis with courage, fortitude, sacrifice and love – not only will you survive but you will create beauty from the ashes of destruction.

I am told that I have visited the Republic of Artsakh 88 times since 1990. I have been privileged to experience the love of your history and your rich culture of music, dance and art – all within the context of the breathtaking beauty of your land’s rugged mountains, thick forests, fertile valleys and crystal rivers. I have been blessed to meet a host of wonderful people, many the direct descendants of victims of the Great Genocide in Anatolia, or themselves victims of anti Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku, and ethnic-religious cleansing in Artsakh.

I am struck by the unanimity with which they share a simple common goal: it is to live in peace, dignity and security in their own historic land. This longing continues to fill my heart. I always carry with me the memory of a young woman I met in a hospital in Martakert in 1992, after I had visited the village of Maragha, which had just been subjected to a massacre inflicted by Azerbaijan.

Blockade of the Lachin Pass

By Golden - This PNG graphic was created
with Medibang. See Credit below.

Blockade of the Lachin Pass

Trying to catch up with Caroline these days is at times a challenge for me, I have been providing parliamentary reserach and opinion / advice for over seven years and this website now in its fith year on voluntary basis. 

Have included this below from House of Commons Library Parliamentary research team published 18th Jan 2023. Link at the end for the full report. Have done my best. (AH)

Closure of the Lachin Corridor and the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Lachin C orridor is the only transport link between Armenia and the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the terms of the November 2020 ceasefire agreement, Russian peacekeepers patrol the corridor, while Azerbaijan is obliged to guarantee safe passage, in both directions, for civilians, vehicles and cargo.

In early December 2022 the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology made a statement suggesting that natural resources were being illegally mined in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and asked Russian peacekeepers to monitor the situation. Azerbaijani civilians blocked the Lachin Corridor in a protest which lasted for several hours until an agreement was reached between the Commander of Russia’s peacekeeping forces in the region and the Azerbaijani government to allow Azerbaijani officials to carry out inspections at the mines in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijani officials reportedly visited the mines on 10 December but were denied access by Armenia. In protest, on 12 December a group of Azerbaijani’s claiming to be environmental activists once again bypassed Russian checkpoints and set up tents on the main road effectively blocking the Lachin Corridor.

Happy New Year to all my friends and readers!

Baroness Cox wishing you all a Happy New Year to all her friends and readers -

Baroness Cox Sends Urgent Letter Sent to Secretary of State regarding Nagorno Karabakh

Baroness Cox Sends Urgent Letter Sent to Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs regarding Nagorno Karabakh.

The letter from Baroness Caroline Cox and Dr John Eibner, International President of Christian Solidarity International (CSI), urges the UK Government to use its favour with Azerbaijan immediately to cease its policies of inflicting this intense suffering on the Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh.

We encourage our supporters and followers to write to their MPs, urging the UK Government to take action.

Here also is an article in NEWSWEEK written by SHEILA PAYLAN , HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
ON 12/14/22 AT 10:47 AM EST

(Please ensure you read the full article provided on the link below)

Since Monday, 120,000 ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave have been held under siege as Azerbaijan has blocked the humanitarian Lachin corridor, their only link to Armenia and the outside world, and cut off their gas supply as temperatures plummet to freezing levels.

This marks a dangerous new phase in the south Caucasus: recent events have put paid to the high hopes that existed when a Russian-brokered ceasefire ended the brutal six-week war launched by Azerbaijan in September 2020 (that included hell raining from drones in the sky).

Merry Christmas Everyone

 

Caroline also would like to thank all her readers here and the growing number of followers on social media and all their support during what has been a very challenging year for everyone.

Happy Birthday - Five Years Old

Happy Birthday - Five Years Old

It has now been five years since first launching this website for my dear friend, Baroness Cox.

It all started when being treated by Caroline to tea cakes in the House of Lords in 2016 with my daughter. We asked with so many staff and helpers why haven’t you got your own website and social media?

Caroline replied, “I don’t know. There was someone who once tried to put up a website.” My daughter said my dad will sort this out for you. I’ve done so voluntarily now for five years since launching the website in 2017 and also the Twitter. I set up Baroness Cox News Twitter in October 2020.

Baroness Cox Biography

A short while ago Caroline's friends of Caroline's managed to convince her it was time to update her amazing life's  biography by friend and author: Ms Lela Gilbert

BARONESS COX OF QUEENSBURY was appointed a Life Peer in 1982. A former deputy speaker of the House of Lords, she is a tireless advocate for international human rights.

She visits the most forgotten people in the world – often in highly dangerous conditions – to carry their stories of abuse and persecution back to the West. She has risked her life many times while taking aid to war victims in Armenia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan, and Syria.

Baroness Caroline Cox Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

Baroness Caroline Cox Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

I will never forget the enormous privilege of having afternoon tea with Her Majesty.

I was a junior Minister and this brought the awesome responsibility of being part of a schedule in which one was given responsibility for ‘being the Queen’ on occasions when she could not be present. One did not serve as a representative but served as Her Majesty and was treated accordingly.

This phenomenal responsibility was preceded by an invitation to tea with the Queen. I will never forget her inspirational graciousness, kindness and warmth.

These are characteristics widely appreciated in countless tributes and they testify to her personality which has generated such justified and profound admiration, appreciation and affection.

Baroness Cox cross party bicameral letter to the Foreign Secretary about the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno Karabakh which has become critical.

Baroness Cox has supported the Armenian people since the early 1990's and bases her extensive first hand knowledge on having visited Armenia over 85 times to my knowledge. Below is the latest cross party bicameral letter to the Foreign Secretary about the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno Karabakh which has become critical. The letter sets out six urgent concerns, all of which should be urgently addressed.

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

5 August 2022

Dear Foreign Secretary,

The security situation in Nagorno Karabakh is now critical. We have six urgent concerns, all of which require an immediate and meaningful response.

1) Azerbaijani military offensives
Escalating numbers of Armenian villagers are threatened and ordered to leave their homes. As recently as 3 August, Azerbaijani Armed Forces reportedly used drones, grenade launchers and anti-aircraft weapons along the north-western border of the Line of Contact. Two Armenian soldiers were killed and 19 others injured. The attack follows similar Azerbaijani military offensives in the direction of Parukh, Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages. These are blatant and recurring breaches of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, which commits each party to “stop at their current positions.”

2) Dangerous rhetoric
Recent military offensives by Azerbaijan are a practical outworking of President Aliyev’s avowed commitment to take “timely steps”, “liberate lands” and “crush the enemy’s head”. During his victory speech after the 44-Day War in 2020, he claimed that territories beyond Nagorno Karabakh – including Armenia’s capital Yerevan – “are our historical lands” and belong to Azerbaijan. He made similar claims in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018, promising the return of these territories to Azerbaijan. The UK Government has made no attempt to condemn such provocative rhetoric, nor have OSCE Minsk Group initiatives resulted in a cessation of hostilities.

3) Maltreatment of detainees
Armenia has returned all Azerbaijani prisoners captured during the 44-Day War. Yet many Armenians remain in Azerbaijani custody, a significant proportion of whom are undergoing speedy criminal trials. Some have been filmed or photographed in captivity but with no indication as to their current whereabouts. Tens of others remain vulnerable to killings, torture, indefinite imprisonment or enslavement, with widespread evidence of humiliating treatment and desecration of corpses by Azerbaijani soldiers – a war crime and a further breach of the ceasefire agreement, which commits each party to “the exchange of prisoners of war and other detainees.”

4) No accountability
During the 44-Day War, civilians in Nagorno Karabakh endured almost-daily military offensives by tanks, helicopters, cluster munitions and Smerch multiple rocket launchers – weapons incapable of precision targeting – in breach of international humanitarian law and Geneva conventions. Civilians also suffered widespread destruction of non-military objects, including medical emergency service centres and ambulances, schools and pre-schools, religious sites, food stocks, crops, livestock, electricity and gas plants, and drinking-water installations and supplies. These are war crimes, horribly reminiscent of what is happening in Ukraine.

5) Lachin humanitarian corridor
We continue to receive reports that Azerbaijan prohibits free passage of the Lachin humanitarian corridor (currently the only road linking Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh), all the while seeking to force Armenia into more concessions and further capitulation agreements. Any plans by Azerbaijan to construct a new route along the Lachin corridor must be approved by Armenia, as per the ceasefire agreement.

6) Destruction of Armenian heritage
Serious concerns remain over the fate of hundreds of Armenian Christian monuments and ancient cultural heritage sites, which are now under Azerbaijan’s control – some of which were shelled or erased during the 44-Day War. The sites include 161 churches, the ancient city of Tigranakert, Azokh Paleolithic Cave and the Nor Karmiravan tombs. UNESCO is denied access to the sites by Azerbaijan.

There is an urgent need to end the impunity with which Azerbaijan has carried out such systematic violations of the 2020 ceasefire agreement and international law. Perpetrators of atrocities must be held to account. We must no longer turn a deaf ear to the suffering of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

Yours sincerely,

Baroness Cox (Crossbench)
Tim Loughton MP (Conservative)
Tim Farron MP (Liberal Democrat)
Lord Boateng (Labour)
Christopher Cocksworth, Lord Bishop of Coventry. Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench)
Marie Rimmer MP (Labour)
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (Crossbench)
Derek Thomas MP (Conservative)
Lord Loomba (Crossbench)
Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrat)
Lord Curry of Kirkharle (Crossbench)

Letter copy kindly provided by Lord Alton

Picture credits with kind support from The Armenian National Committee of the United Kingdom (ANC-UK) is the most influential British-Armenian grassroots organization.

Post provided by Andrew Haigh.

Please also search my website for more on Armenia and feel free to leave comments below.

Please also read -  Baroness Cox warning of the ethnic cleansing of Armenians during the Ukraine crisis

Baroness Cox Questions for Department of Health and Social Care Nurses: Vacancies

Baroness Cox Three Questions for Department of Health and Social Care Nurses: Vacancies

Baroness Caroline Cox is also Vice President, The Royal College of Nursing of the UK.

First Written Question -
Baroness Cox asked: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Royal College of Nursing Nursing Under Unsustainable Pressures: Staffing for Safe and Effective Care in the UK, published on 6 June; and what steps they intend to take in response to the findings in that report that (1) 83 per cent of respondents reported there were not enough nursing staff on their last shift to meet all patient needs safely and effectively, and (2) only 25 per cent of shifts had the planned number of registered nurses. Asked 8 June 2022

Baroness Cox: The Rise of Global Christian Persecution: Where do we go from here?

The Rise of Global Christian Persecution: 

Where do we go from here?

On the 6th June, Baroness Cox attended and spoke at the Truro Conference at Truro Methodist Church, other speakers, Bishop Philip Mounstephen, Mervyn Thomas (CSW), John Pontifex (Aid to the Church in Need), Paul Robinson and Revd Imtiaz Ahsraf (Release International) and Fiona Bruce, UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief also part in a conference discussing The Rise of Global Christian Persecution: Where do we go from here?

This is not the first time that Baroness Caroline Cox has attended this important conference, and I know she looks forward to it every time. Over nearly seven years it has been my* privilege to work with my good friend Baroness Cox and be of help to her at the House of Lords since my stroke in 2015, although most times it is more like Caroline is helping me when we are there. One thing I can attest to is that Caroline dedicates herself to shining a light on the hidden truths that may not get media attention and she works tirelessly to bring those truths to light. What makes Baroness Cox unique is that she actually goes and visits places of conflict around the world to see for herself those suffering oppression, persecution, and in need of humanitarian aid. (AH)

Baroness Caroline Cox says between 13,000 and 19,000 Nigerians have been killed since 2009, many for their faith. She writes: “The violence appears designed to reduce the number of Christians in the region. The attacks… may rise to the level of ethnic cleansing or even genocide.”

Fiona Bruce MP stated in May : “Some 360m Christians across the world suffer persecution for their faith. Somewhere in the world every two hours a Christian is killed for their faith.” (1)

Baroness Cox warning of the ethnic cleansing of Armenians during the Ukraine crisis

Dr. John Eibner signed a joint letter with Baroness Cox and other international officials alerting the British foreign minister about the unrest in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying in part: “We may be on the precipice of one of the worst acts of ethnic cleansing in the Caucasus region in a century.”

The joint letter goes further to state that “Azerbaijan has made clear its intention to erase everything Armenian, whether cemeteries, churches, or people, from the territory under its control. And with both Russia and the international community preoccupied by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is now clearly testing the waters to see how much aggression it can get away with.” It also urges the British foreign minister to “raise this matter with the Azerbaijani Government at the highest levels, and to publicly affirm that you will not accept any infringement of the right of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to live safely in their homeland and determine their own political future.”

Here is the letter in full -

With the world’s eyes on Ukraine, Azerbaijan is taking full advantage : Armenia Focus

With the world’s eyes on Ukraine, Azerbaijan is taking full advantage

(This is an article written for the House magazine by Baroness Cox  found here at Politics Home.com  where you can read the full article.)

The nature of my work often requires me to enter war zones.

For four decades, I have crossed borders, sometimes illegally, to deliver humanitarian aid and to stand in solidarity with people under fire. One might expect that, after so many years, my heart would

become hardened to such suffering. Yet when the Russian invasion began, my heart broke again. The profound grief of Ukrainians is impossible to fathom.

Each new day, we are exposed to further suffering. More bombs. More killings. More displacement. Column inches are filled with reflections of our collective sense of horror, as we try to process the sheer inhumanity of war and the invasion’s broader geopolitical significance. Yet to date, no attention has been paid to a small but very significant enclave in the South Caucasus, over 1,000 miles away from Ukraine, currently under the protection of Russian troops.

Baroness Cox Question for Home Office Money Laundering

Question for Home Office Money Laundering

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the National Crime Agency's seizure of millions of pounds derived from the Azerbaijan laundromat on 31 January, what steps they intend to take, if any, against complicit shell companies registered in the UK. Asked 3 February 2022

Answered 15 February 2022 By Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative, Life peer)

Recognising the operational independence of law enforcement, the Home Office cannot comment on any ongoing cases.

The Government is committed to reforming the role of Companies House and improving transparency over UK companies and property, to strengthen our business environment and combat economic crime.

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Armenia: Azerbaijan

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Armenia: Azerbaijan

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan concerning possible violations of the Nagorno-Karabakh Ceasefire Agreement, including reports of Azerbaijani military attacks on Armenian civilians on 2, 8, 10, and 11 January. Asked 19 January 2022

Answered 2 February 2022 By Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative, Life peer)