Press release

Lord Ahmad announces funding boost for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon has announced 拢500,000 of additional UK aid support for victims of sexual violence across the world.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government
  • 拢500,000 of additional UK aid support for victims of sexual violence globally
  • the new Murad Code on sexual violence, named after Yazidi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, will set out the expected standards of behaviour when gathering evidence of sexual violence for courts in conflict situations
  • new global guidelines on the reporting of sexual violence in conflict

皇冠体育app Prime Minister鈥檚 Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon has announced 拢500,000 of additional UK aid support for victims of sexual violence across the world.

皇冠体育app extra support will be used to boost the number of expert deployments by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts, supporting efforts in places such as Syria, Burma and Nigeria. 皇冠体育app Team of Experts support governments, judiciary, police, military and non-government organsations (NGOs), on evidence gathering and training.

Ahead of the PSVI Film Festival on 23 to 24 November, Lord Ahmad also called on countries to sign up to the new Murad Code on sexual violence. Named after Yazidi Nobel Peace Prize laureate and campaigner Nadia Murad, the Code will set out the expected standards of behaviour from government bodies, NGOs and aid workers when gathering evidence of sexual violence for courts in conflict situations.

皇冠体育app Prime Minister鈥檚 Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

Today鈥檚 funding boost means that we can quickly deploy greater numbers of experts to support conflict affected countries.

皇冠体育app new Murad Code sets out the expected standards of behaviour from government bodies, NGOs and aid workers who are gathering evidence from survivors of sexual violence in conflict situations. We are making it crystal clear that impunity will not be allowed to run riot, and we are embedding accountability in our work.

Our fight against stigma and impunity continues to be a priority, because it is not just the right thing to do, but vital to reducing conflict and improving global security and stability.

Nobel Prize winner and human rights activist, Nadia Murad said:

Hundreds of Yazidi survivors have testified, the process of telling their stories is traumatizing, certain procedures must be followed to make sure we are not harming their well-being. Despite breaking taboos and speaking about their horrific sexual violence experiences, justice has not been delivered.

皇冠体育app Murad Code is a step in the right direction, we encourage the international community to adopt it and support the fight for justice.

During humanitarian emergencies, including conflict, violence against women and girls (VAWG) can increase in both frequency and severity. While data is limited, existing evidence indicates that approximately one in five displaced or refugee women are subjected to sexual violence. Survivors of sexual violence in conflict are often victimised by media reporting which can increase stigma. 皇冠体育app Minister called on the international community to get behind new global guidelines on the reporting of sexual violence in conflict.

In a meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Friday 23 November, Lord Ahmad, joined by United Nations Special Representative Pramila Patten, will seek further commitments from partners to prevent and respond to conflict related sexual violence. Lord Ahmad also hosted 40 young filmmakers from conflict-affected and Commonwealth countries at Lancaster House to discuss how they could use their work to stamp out stigma.

Background

  • this latest announcement comes ahead of the international 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence Campaign which starts on Sunday (25 November)
  • the Department for International Development (DFID) is recognised as a global leader in tackling VAWG in all its forms, including domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment, child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and preventing sexual violence in conflict. This UK leadership has meant using the full range of the Britain鈥檚 influence to defend women鈥檚 and girls鈥� rights wherever they are threatened
  • the 鈥楩ighting Stigma through Film鈥� festival will take place on the 23-24 November, at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London. 皇冠体育app event is free to attend, register for tickets

Further information

  • Follow Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
  • Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter and
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Published 23 November 2018