Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to to support prompt, independent, and impartial investigations of crimes under international law relating to the Rohingya crisis; and if he will take steps to help ensure that all persons responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.

The UK proposed and secured a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 6 November which stressed the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of human rights violations, and holding to account all those responsible for such acts. States have primary responsibility for investigating allegations of crimes under international law. I called for an independent international investigation into reports of human rights violations when I met Burma's Defence Minister on 20 November. The UK will continue to work with international partners to maintain pressure on Burma's civilian government to allow such an investigation, and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of any crimes. The UK has also deployed two civilian experts to Bangladesh to conduct a capacity needs assessment on investigation and documentation of sexual violence, and to provide recommendations on support for evidence gathering.