Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what financial and administrative support they provide to the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and to the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI); and what provision is made to ensure that British embassies and high commissions are able to fund projects supporting the work of both the Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the PM’s Special Representative for PSVI.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we must renew global focus and ambition around women, peace and security, and put the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence, at the heart of UK foreign policy.

We continue to work through the UK-founded International Alliance for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, of which the UK is vice-chair this year, to rally further support for tackling the silence and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, including the women and girls in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere who have faced the use of rape as a weapon of war.

The roles of UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict are unremunerated.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 July 2025 (HL8885), what steps they have taken since July 2025 to demonstrate that they are "fully implementing" the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we must renew global focus and ambition around women, peace and security, and put the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence, at the heart of UK foreign policy.

We continue to work through the UK-founded International Alliance for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, of which the UK is vice-chair this year, to rally further support for tackling the silence and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, including the women and girls in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere who have faced the use of rape as a weapon of war.

The roles of UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict are unremunerated.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress by Turkmenistan on climate change, education and gender equality since signing the Cooperation Programme on 23 April 2024.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We recognise that progress takes time, but the UK continues to work with Turkmenistan on these issues, and regularly discusses them at official and ministerial levels, including at the UK - Central Asian Foreign Ministers' meeting in London, hosted by the Foreign Secretary in February.

We also work to support links with other UK experts in these areas. For example, on climate change, our Embassy in Ashgabat is facilitating an upcoming visit by UK Green Finance, and on education - with the Embassy's support - Nottingham Trent University, Norwich Institute of Language Education, the AQA, Pearson, and the British Council's AELLCA initiative have all signed new partnerships with Turkmenistan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the next annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the letter sent to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 6 March by the Minister for Multilateral and Human Rights, in response to her letter of 23 January on this issue, and I will arrange for a copy of his letter to be placed in the House of Lords library.

This Government remains firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights globally, and to reporting transparently on our actions. We are currently considering the most appropriate form of future reporting on our human rights work.

Submit Evidence (by 22 May 2026)

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