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 ensuring participation by (a) civil society and people affected by the armed conflict and (b) women and ethnic communities in the peace talks with the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional.

During his visit to Colombia last week, the Foreign Secretary met with President Petro to discuss our ongoing support to Colombia's peace process and to addressing other security challenges. Since 2015, we have spent over £77 million through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia, which includes strengthening the security and participation of the communities in conflict-affected areas. The UK's Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French, also met with the Colombian Government and discussed the importance of civil society's participation in the peace process during her visit to Colombia last month.