Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Commonwealth Secretariat to ensure that preventing sexual violence in conflict and combatting sexual gender-based violence are discussed both at the Commonwealth Forums and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

In my regular discussions with Commonwealth member states and other nations, I continue to raise the importance of addressing sexual violence in conflict, and I encourage all those countries who are yet to endorse the UN Declaration of Commitment to end sexual violence in conflict, to do so.

The agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is developed in partnership with all member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and we expect it to reflect the diverse interests of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Secretariat and the relevant Commonwealth organisation are responsible for developing the agendas for the four official Forums. Although there is unlikely to be a specific agenda item on the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we anticipate that discussions will cover various gender issues, given member states’ unanimous commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal agenda, including Sustainable Development Goal 5 on ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere, which includes eliminating all forms of violence and exploitation. We continue to work with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Secretary General to ensure a wide range of important issues such as Violence Against Women and Girls are discussed in the Women's Forum.