Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, what assessment they have made of historical cases of rape being used as a weapon of war; and whether they intend to designate financial resources or support to the victims and survivors of rape when it has been used as a weapon in conflict in (1) Bangladesh, (2) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (3) Bosnia and Herzegovina, and (4) other countries.

The focus of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is on conflict and post-conflict countries emerging from recent violence. We actively consider requests for support from conflict affected states where the legacy of conflict related sexual violence is a continuing threat to peace and stability.

The recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict set in motion a series of practical steps and commitments to ensure that survivors of sexual violence in conflict can access justice and receive the long-term support that they require. In support of this the Government announced £6m of new UK funding for survivors.

From hereon we will be working with local and international partners to implement the International Protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, launched at the Global Summit, in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Bosnia and Herzegovina.