Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UK plays a leading role in tackling violence against women and girls in the most disadvantaged parts of the globe; and if she will make a statement.

The UK is playing a leading role in tackling violence against women and girls internationally. This includes supporting efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation and Child, Early and Forced Marriage, leading work on protecting women and girls from violence in humanitarian emergencies, and building the evidence on how to prevent violence before it starts through a £25 million research and innovation programme called ‘What Works to Prevent Violence'.

I refer the hon. Member to my recent written ministerial statement of 3 July 2014, Column 62WS, which provides further details on what the UK is doing on this important area.