Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Valerie Vaz and Justine Greening(9 years, 5 months ago)
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Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
Could the Secretary of State go further and make it a condition of aid that those countries eliminate these appalling practices?
Justine Greening
We have been careful to work with the momentum in many countries in Africa. One of our biggest challenges is that tackling female genital mutilation can be seen as some kind of western agenda. It is right that we should press those countries and work with them, but we should also be prepared to work with community groups at a grass-roots level if we cannot get the political will behind us. But the hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that, in the end, political will is needed if we are going to make significant progress.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Valerie Vaz and Justine Greening(10 years, 10 months ago)
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Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
4. What contribution her Department is making to the implementation of the Government’s preventing sexual violence initiative.
The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening)
The UK will co-host a call-to-action event in November with Sweden, which will focus on protecting women and girls from all forms of violence in emergencies. That work builds directly on the G8 Foreign Ministers’ declaration on preventing sexual violence in conflict, which was led so ably by the Foreign Secretary.
Valerie Vaz
I am grateful for that response. In Burma, reports of rape and sexual violence against women by the army have increased. Given the level of aid that we send to Burma, will the Secretary of State encourage the Burmese Government to sign our declaration and ask her colleagues to raise the matter in Europe and at the United Nations?
Justine Greening
The hon. Lady makes a powerful point about what is happening in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is in the country and I will be meeting her today. I will be sure to raise those issues with her. I am sure that she takes them as seriously as this House.