Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quantity and quality of evidence collected to secure prosecutions related to sexual violence in conflict.

The UK remains at the forefront of global efforts to tackle conflict-related sexual violence through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). The UK launched the draft Murad Code on documenting conflict-related sexual violence to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, on 19 June. Developed together with Nobel Peace Laureate and campaigner against sexual violence, Nadia Murad, this code of conduct will respect survivors' rights and ensure investigation of sexual violence crimes is safer, more ethical, and more effective. By adhering to the Code, governments, international organisations, civil society, and other actors will uphold international standards, which in turn will strengthen the collection of evidence in order to secure prospections.

The Murad Code is part of the UK's commitment to strengthening justice for all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, also demonstrated by UK-funded efforts of TRIAL International to improve access to legal support for survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the work of UNITAD in gathering evidence of Daesh crimes in Iraq.