Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, report to Parliament 2024 to 2025, published on 17 June 2025, what representations were made to the Special Envoy for Women and Girls by the women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Sudan and (c) Syria on potential steps the government might take to tackle threats and reprisals against WHRDs.

In March, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, hosted a closed meeting which gathered States, UN, and civil society representatives to highlight the shocking level of threats and reprisals against women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Baroness Harman heard powerful testimonies from WHRDs from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria who called on the international community to take greater action to support women's participation free from reprisals, and to condemn the alarming prevalence of such retaliatory acts.

The UK recognises the essential role that WHRDs play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and is steadfast in its commitment to women's full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all spheres of decision-making.