Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Colombia about the humanitarian crisis in Chocó, specifically in relation to the reports of sexual violence being used by armed actors.

Our Embassy in Bogota has raised the situation in Choco with the Colombian authorities.

In September 2017, members of our Embassy in Bogota accompanied a UK delegation including the honourable Lady, on a visit to Choco, organised by the NGO ABColombia. Since then, Embassy staff have visited the region twice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office worked closely with NGOs in preparation for Colombia's Universal Periodic Review at Geneva in May, raising concerns about violence against human rights defenders and conflict related sexual violence.