Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress her Department has made on implementing reforms to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation in aid agencies.

DFID has introduced enhanced due diligence standards related to sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment for organisations we fund. The standards cover partner policies and processes on safeguarding, human resources, whistleblowing, risk management, codes of conduct and governance.

We are working closely with governments, charities, independent experts, suppliers and affected individuals in this country and the countries where we work to identify which further reforms will make the most difference in preventing sexual abuse and exploitation and improving the response when it does occur. We will bring representatives of these groups together at an international conference in London on the 18^th October to agree a package to deliver lasting change across all aid agencies and the whole sector.