Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what action her Department is taking to help women in Myanmar access period products in areas where the distribution of such products is banned.

We remain concerned by the restrictions imposed by the Myanmar military regime which limit access to essential health services and humanitarian assistance for women and girls.

UK-funded programmes, delivered through partners, are estimated to have provided essential health services to around 1.5 million people last year in Myanmar, including maternal care to 250,000 pregnant women, sexual and reproductive health to another 300,000, and the delivery of menstrual hygiene products to at least 45,000 women and girls. The UK is also supporting partners to provide specialised support to victims of sexual violence, including clinical management of rape, safe housing, mental health and psychosocial support.

However, regime-imposed access restrictions continue to limit delivery, including of basic hygiene products. We continue to press for safe humanitarian access, including in the UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council, and we continue to support our partners on the ground to reach those most in need.