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 his Colombian counterpart on reports that Colombian police carried out sexual and gender-based violence during protests in that country between April and June 2021..

Colombia is a UK Human Rights Priority Country and UK Ministers regularly raise human rights issues with the Colombian Government. On 11 January, I [Minister Rutley] met with the Colombian Vice President to discuss the UK's ongoing support for the Colombian peace process and other security challenges. We look to the Colombian authorities to investigate fully any excessive use of force and take appropriate action against those responsible. Through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), the UK will continue to support the Police Innovations for Stabilisation in Colombia Programme (SCIP) which is helping to transform the Colombian National Police and develop strategies for tackling and preventing gender-based violence.