Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are supporting the documentation and investigation of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence committed against minority women in Syria, and what support they are providing to local or international organisations working with survivors of sexual violence from Syria's minority communities as part of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK supports documentation and investigation of sexual and gender-based violence against women in Syria through the Integrated Security Fund, funding evidence collection and prosecution efforts. We co-fund Syria-specific best practice guidance and, through the Global Survivors Fund, have provided physiotherapy, psychosocial and financial support to hundreds of Syrian survivors living in Turkey since 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that women in Syria, including those from minority groups, are included in peacebuilding and transitional justice processes, in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, including women, and an improved response to sectarian violence. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Syrian Government during his recent visit to Damascus and offered UK support. Syria remains a focus country in the UK's 5th National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, guiding our efforts in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. UK funding supports Syrian women's rights organisations to promote gender equality, strengthen women's roles in peacebuilding, and increase their participation in political and public life. Thirteen years on from the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, the UK is proud of its leadership on this issue and continues to fund programmes in Syria which document human rights violations and support the trial and convictions of perpetrators of these crimes.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to update the text of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy published on 28 November 2022; and if so, when and why they plan to do so.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government's determination to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) remains resolute. We are fully implementing the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) strategy. In the last year alone, through PSVI, we have contributed to three landmark cases on CRSV as a crime against humanity and supported almost 60,000 survivors. At the same time, we are considering our future approach to PSVI to best harness the UK's development, defence, and diplomatic capabilities to tackle this appalling crime in a context of rising conflict and increasing prevalence of CRSV. We will continue to engage closely with survivors as we develop our future approach.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that more programmes delivered by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative receive multi-year funding.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Through our Plan for Change, this Government remains resolutely committed to preventing sexual violence in conflict. Over the last year, UK funding through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) has helped over 55,000 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to access justice and rebuild their lives. The Spending Review confirmed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 2026/27 onwards. We will work through how the ODA budget will be used, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ODA reductions on support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine; and whether he plans to ringfence funding for such programmes in conflict zones.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to ensuring justice for Ukrainian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We will continue to provide capacity building support to respond to CRSV through the UK Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), to help embed international guidance and best practice, including on survivor-centred approaches, into the work of Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure sustained medical and psychosocial support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Africa, particularly through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative; and how they are working with international partners to strengthen long-term policy provisions for survivors in conflict-affected regions.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We put survivors at the heart of everything we do, including through regular collaboration with the Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions. Since 2019, the UK has committed up to £7.85 million to the Global Survivors Fund (GSF) to support the delivery of interim reparative measure projects globally. Through this support, GSF has enhanced access to health and psychosocial care, education and financial support for over 1000 survivors in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Sudan, we are working with United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisations partners to provide safe spaces, mobile clinic treatment, dignity kits and psycho-social services for survivors. We will continue to work with international partners, including through the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence and to provide the holistic support survivors need.
Asked by: Irene Campbell (Labour - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle gender-based violence in Sudan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to tackling gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. On 23-25 January, the Foreign Secretary visited the Sudan-Chad border to raise awareness of the conflict in Sudan and its impact on neighbouring countries, speaking directly to Sudanese refugees, including survivors, who shared harrowing stories of sexual violence and torture. The UK has galvanised international efforts on this issue, including through the UN Human Rights Council, Security Council and International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. On 13 March, the Minister for Africa chaired a UN Security Council (UNSC) Briefing on CRSV in Sudan, highlighting the worsening trends and emphasising the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. This event followed his Sudan Roundtable with the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan in Geneva on 25 February for permanent representatives which aimed to raise awareness of the critical human rights situation. The UK also co-led a Resolution at the UNSC with Sierra Leone on the protection of civilians which called on parties to take urgent steps to prevent CRSV and to improve protection and access to services. Despite unanimous support from the Council, the Resolution failed to pass due to a Russian veto.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
Preventing conflict and empowering women and girls is critical to the delivery of the government's missions, and this Government remains committed to delivering the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). The FCDO works closely with HM Treasury to ensure that spend is directed towards our priorities.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to continue the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
This Government's commitment to tackling conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is resolute. That is why Lord Collins has been named as the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) and has committed to driving international action to support survivors and bring the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice. Ministers remain committed to delivering the PSVI strategy. Through PSVI we are supporting thousands of survivors around the world and have contributed to three recent landmark cases on CRSV as a Crime Against Humanity in Guinea, Kenya and Uganda.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support and funding, if any, they give to Indigenous Women’s Commissions in the various Colombian Indigenous Tribes (1) to support the legal training the commissions offer about sexual and gender-based violence, (2) to train magistrates in the Indigenous Justice System about gender, and (3) to support the work they do with indigenous women and girls, victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Colombia is a priority country for the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy. The UK has supported the Special Jurisdiction for Peace for those documenting cases of sexual violence in conflict. With women's organisations, our support has ensured survivors of sexual violence, including indigenous women, receive justice and support. The UK has also supported Colombia's first Women Peace and Security National Action Plan, ensuring indigenous women's experiences were heard. During his visit to Colombia in November, Lord Collins met civil society and women's organisations to underline UK support.