Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Ethiopia regarding reports of women being held in sexual slavery in Tigray.

The UK is appalled by the widespread reports of women taken hostage and enduring torture, cruel treatment and sexual violence, in the Tigray region. The G7, under the UK Presidency, issued a statement on 2 April condemning human rights violations including sexual violence. The UK also condemned in the strongest terms the reported killings of civilians and acts of sexual violence via a joint statement on Ethiopia with 41 other countries at the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council. We continue to call for independent, international investigations into allegations of human right abuses.

British Embassy staff conducted a specific protection mission to Shire in Tigray on 4-7 April. It assessed of the current Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response, specific emergency services provided in camps and the remaining gaps. They interviewed staff and volunteers supporting survivors of sexual violence to identify essential activities required to address the immediate needs of the survivors as well as the accountability needs.