Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to use the £3.6 million pledged for security and peace in Colombia to (a) support the transformation of the National Police and (b) help ensure that civil society are consulted and engaged in this endeavour.

During his visit to Colombia last month, the Foreign Secretary committed £3.6 million from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) in 2023/24 to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement and improve stability and security in Colombia. Through the CSSF fund in Colombia, the UK launched a three year, £2.1 million Police Innovations for Stabilisation in Colombia Programme (SCIP) in 2020, which is helping the transformation of the Colombian National Police.

The UK's Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French, met with civil society organisations and the Colombian Government to discuss the importance of civil society's participation in helping to tackle peace and security issues during her visit to Colombia in April.