Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with his international counterparts on preventing Rohingya refugees from becoming victims of human trafficking.

DFID is addressing the prevention of trafficking of Rohingya refugees as a cross-border issue between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Up to 18% of DFID’s latest £70 million funding to the Rohingya crisis response in Bangladesh is devoted to the protection of rights for refugees, including prevention and monitoring of sexual exploitation and abuse. DFID funding includes support for family planning and clinical support to survivors of sexual violence, and women’s centres that offer a safe space, psychosocial support and activities for women and girls. In addition, we have tripled our funding to deal with modern day slavery in Myanmar.

The Secretary of State for International Development raised her concerns about the risk of trafficking of Rohingya refugee women and girls in February with the Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Education and Minister for Disaster Management and Relief.