PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences (30 June 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will assign a focal point in all UK missions for human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, to consult on and implement support and protection measures following the Ending Sexual Violence Initiative.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Human rights defenders (HRDs), including women HRDs, play a critical role in the fight against sexual violence in conflict through advocacy, documenting and reporting, providing support to survivors, and holding governments to account. In recognition of the importance of their work, we supported the participation of a large number of HRDs at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and have consulted them throughout the development of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). We will continue to do so as we take forward the outcomes of the Summit through our missions across the globe, both in conflict and post-conflict countries and with our other PSVI partners.

Any UK Post with a significant human rights element to its work already has an existing human rights focal point which would include responsibility for engaging with local HRDs. We also work locally with EU and other colleagues to support HRDs, in line with the EU Guidelines on HRDs and recently updated internal guidance, by speaking out publicly in support of their work, providing funding, raising specific instances of abuse or detention with governments; and working to promote a more conducive atmosphere for their activities.

Answered by:
Sir David Lidington (Conservative)
3 July 2014