Ms Melanie Hoewer:

I cannot discuss the practice directly, as church-based organisations engaging in assistance and development aid in post-conflict areas or societies in transition is not my area of expertise either. Within the agenda of addressing gender-based violence, there is a major concern about women in conflicts. Deputy Mitchell has rightly outlined that there is a problem with the supply chain. Organisations like Oxfam are trying to address these issues.

In some ways, there is a problem with addressing the issue of reproductive rights, but the larger issue is addressing women's issues generally in post-conflict situations. For example, just getting rape as a weapon of war on the agenda has proven to be a significant problem. Reproductive rights fall into this general category, but we need to work harder to have all of the issues addressed. I acknowledge the limitations of aid organisations in this context, but considerable progress has been achieved, particularly since 2000, in addressing gender-based violence, particularly the concerns and needs of women post conflict. There is still much to do. Otherwise, we would not be present.