To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Afghan Government about (a) fully implementing the Elimination of Violence Against Woman Law, (b) increasing support for family responses units, (c) increasing the recruitment and retention of women in Afghan police forces, (d) increasing support for Afghan women human rights defenders and (e) ensuring the meaningful representation of Afghan women in any peace negotiations.

The information is as follows.

(a) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DFID) are working together to ensure the Afghan Government implement their national and international human rights commitments and obligations, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Implementation of the Afghan Elimination of Violence Against Women Law (EVAW) was specifically included in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (TMAF), the partnership between the Afghan Government and the international community. We, along with our international partners, will hold the Afghan Government to account for the commitments they have made. In Kabul, the Gender Donor Coordination Group (led by UN Women) and the Civil Society Support Group (led by UNAMA) are currently considering how the TMAF recommendations should be taken forward. The UK is represented on both groups.

(b) The UK provides £7.1 million assistance to the Ministry of the Interior in Afghanistan, which includes support to work that is helping to protect and uphold women's rights, such as the development of the Afghan National Police's policy on promoting human rights and protecting women and women’s rights defenders from violence. Through our support to EUPOL, the European Police Mission to Afghanistan, the UK supports the Ministry of Interior in its efforts to increase the numbers and capacity of family response units across Afghanistan. Earlier this year, a Memorandum of Understanding between EUPOL, the Ministry of Interior and United Nations Development Programme was signed to this effect.

(c) During her visit to Afghanistan 4-6 March, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi discussed women's vital contribution to building peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan with the Afghan Government and wider Afghan authorities, leading female parliamentarians and other Government and civil society representatives. In Helmand, Baroness Warsi visited the Provincial Police Headquarters and met female police officers who are contributing to the provision of security in their community.

(d) We share the widespread concern about the attacks and intimidation faced by the dedicated and courageous women who work tirelessly to defend the rights and fundamental freedoms of others. This year the UK has provided £500,000 in funding to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to help it act to protect human rights defenders, investigate and catalogue violence, and support those seeking justice. The British embassy in Kabul monitors threats of violence towards human rights activists, with a particular focus on women. Where appropriate and useful to do so the British embassy in Kabul has issued statements condemning such violence, and raised concerns with senior interlocutors in the Government of Afghanistan.

(e) We are committed to ensuring that women play as full a part as possible in securing a peaceful and prosperous future Afghanistan, and that the Afghan political system and Afghan-led peace process are inclusive and reflect the needs and aspirations of all Afghan citizens, including women and girls.