Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking in response to reports of the use of rape and sexual violence in conflicts in Burma, particularly in (1) Kachin, (2), northern Shan, and (3) Rakhine, States.

I raised issues of conflict-related sexual violence with the Government of Burma at a senior level when I visited from 9-12 November in my capacity as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. I pressed the Minister of Defence on the importance of the army handling allegations of sexual violence against women in a thorough and transparent manner. I pushed for early adoption of a law on preventing violence against women that is compliant with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. I also hosted a workshop dedicated to tackling the stigma associated with survivors of conflict, and met survivors of sexual violence as part of our efforts to formulate policy.