Asked by: Steve Yemm (Labour - Mansfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) LGBTIQ+ people and (b) women human rights defenders to access (i) sexual and reproductive health services, (ii) abortions, (iii) family planning services, (iv) HIV medication and (v) crisis response support in Kenya.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing LGBT+ human rights around the world; this work is enabled by our global, £40 million LGBT+ rights programme which supports organisations such as 'United in Health and Agriculture Improvement - East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative', which is Africa's first indigenous activist fund that advances the human rights of LGBT+ persons. The UK proudly defends and promotes universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through the £28.3 million Delivering Sustainable and Equitable increases in Family Planning programme (2019-2025), the UK has strengthened family planning in Kenya through contributing towards averting over 1.72 million unintended pregnancies, averting over 4,500 maternal deaths and over 400,000 unsafe abortions. UK co-funding of the Kenya Maternal and Newborn Health programme supports an emergency transport system in Kenya, using mobile technology to connect pregnant women to care when needed during pregnancy and childbirth.
Asked by: Steve Yemm (Labour - Mansfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to show climate leadership for children at COP29.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Children are disproportionately at risk from the effects of climate change, and children and young people will be at the forefront of shaping a resilient, sustainable future. The UK-led Glasgow Climate Pact urges Parties and stakeholders to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral, national and local decision-making processes. We have championed this approach at COP29, with the Minister of State for Development meeting with youth climate activists from developing countries, and UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte attending events alongside universities and the UN Youth Office to highlight the critical role of youth in climate action.