GovWire

Baroness Anelay will demonstrate the UKs commitment to human rights in a wide-ranging visit to Sri Lanka (on 6-9 November), followed by Burma during which she will promote UK human rights priorities, including work to tackle sexual violence and support survivors.

In Sri Lanka Baroness Anelay will meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance Mr R. Sampanthan. The Minister will welcome progress on implementing the UN Human Rights Council resolution and encourage further progress on reconciliation and accountability. She will also meet local NGOs to discuss ongoing human rights challenges.

In Burma, Baroness Anelay will discuss civil and political rights, including with former political prisoners, as well as the situation in Rakhine. She will also address a number of issues relating to rights in conflict-affected states. This will include discussions with the Government, NGOs and Parliamentarians on the UKs work to protect women from sexual violence.

On Remembrance Day, Baroness Anelay will lay a wreath at Rangoon War Cemetery to mark the sacrifices made during World War II.

In both countries, Baroness Anelay will open and attend local run workshops on the stigmatisation of sexual violence survivors, which are being held as part of the UKs wider focus on this issue.

Speaking ahead of the visit Baroness Anelay said:

It is a privilege to make my first visits to Sri Lanka and Burma and to demonstrate the UKs firm commitment to supporting both countries.

I am very much looking forward to learning about each countrys efforts to strengthen democracy and human rights. A strong civil society is a critical part of this and I am keen to use my meetings with local NGOs to hear their views on a wide range of issues.

In my role as the Prime Ministers Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, I am particularly keen to encourage discussion around sexual violence issues and what more needs to be done to support survivors. This includes tackling the stigmatisation of sexual violence and the long lasting consequence this can have on individuals and communities, as well as the threat it poses to community reconciliation.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay on Twitter @JoyceAnelay

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

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