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<p>At its outset, the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) identified countries, in consultation with the UN and other partners, for initial deployments by experts including to Bosnia, Libya, the DRC, and the Syrian border. Over recent months the initiative has extended to a number of other countries—including Burma. During his visit to the UK, President Thein Sein met with me and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and welcomed the initiative.</p><p>We continue to call for an end to the use of sexual violence in Burma. At a minimum there must be strengthened accountability and better access to justice</p><p>for victims of sexual violence. More widely, tackling sexual violence will be central to reducing tensions and the peace process.</p><p>On the ground, our embassy in Rangoon is looking to incorporate PSVI activities into new and existing work. Funding has been recently approved for a project that will help to improve access to justice for victims, develop community-based preventive mechanisms and promote wider legal and policy reforms.</p> |