The UK has worked hard to lead efforts to ensure that a target to end violence against women and girls formed part of the agreed UN Sustainable Development Goals. A strong gender goal was included as one of the 17 Goals, which includes targets on violence against women and girls, harmful practices, female genital mutilation and child early and forced marriage.
The Government published its 'Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls' in 2010. Since then, the law has been strengthened, and professionals provided with new powers to tackle domestic violence and abuse, stalking, forced marriage and revenge pornography. £40 million has been provided for specialist local support services and national helplines. We have seen an increase in the number of rape crisis centres opening as a result, which I welcome.
The Prime Minister recently appointed Baroness Anelay as his new Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. This came a year after the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which brought together representatives from over 120 countries to address the political and practical barriers to ending the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war. Baroness Verma has also recently been appointed Ministerial Champion for Violence Against Women Overseas.
I also welcome the UK's National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, which is intended to strengthen the UK's ability to reduce the impact of conflict on women and girls and to promote their inclusion in conflict resolution.