Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to help tackle sexual violence in conflict in Sudan; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of conflict in Sudan on women and girls.

The UK remains committed to tackling gender-based violence in Sudan. On 8 May 2025, the Minister for Development visited the Sudan-Chad border to raise awareness of the conflict and speak directly with Sudanese refugees, including survivors of sexual violence and torture. This followed a visit by the Foreign Secretary in January 2025, where he announced £20 million to support to lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services. At the London Sudan Conference on 15 April, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in UK funding for this financial year. Through the Sudan Free of Female Genital Mutilation programme, UK funding will also support work on protection, prevention and care services in response to the increasing rates of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) across Sudan. On 13 March, the Minister for Africa chaired a UN Security Council Briefing on CRSV in Sudan, highlighting the worsening trends and emphasising the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.