Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Colombia on tackling violence against women and girls.

Colombia is a focus country for the UK for work to support Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Colombia launched its first WPS National Action Plan on 30 November. In support of the plan, the UK provided £270,000 to co-fund consultation workshops with women's rights organisations. FCDO and MOD officials have met the Ministry of Equality to discuss implementation of the plan. Lord Collins attended the conference of the UK-founded Preventing Sexual Violence International Alliance in Colombia on 25 November. Baroness Chapman attended the Violence Against Children Conference in Colombia on 7 November. With Colombia, we will continue championing the participation of women in the 2016 Peace Agreement, including through the UN Security Council.