Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Contents

Biography

Lord Ahmad was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and as Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations on 13 June 2017. In July 2018 he was also appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

Education

He was educated at Rutlish School and London South Bank University (LSBU) as well as the Chartered Institute of Financial Services.

Political career

  • Minister for Aviation and Trade – Department for Transport (2016 to 2017)
  • Minister for Countering Extremism – Home Office (2015 to 2016)
  • Transport Minister – Skills & Aviation Security (2015 to 2016)
  • Communities & Local Government Minister (2014 to 2015)
  • Government Whip and Lord in Waiting (2012 to 2014)
  • Vice-Chairman (national) of the Conservative Party (2008 and 2010)
  • Councillor (Wimbledon Park) and Cabinet Member in the London Borough of Merton between 2002 and 2012

Career outside politics

Lord Ahmad had a 20 year career in the City working in banking and finance, including at the NatWest Group where he was a senior manager in corporate banking and financial markets. He was later Vice-President and Marketing Director of Alliance Bernstein and his last role before joining the government was as Strategy and Marketing Director at Sucden Financial.

Personal life

Lord Ahmad is married and has a daughter and 2 sons.

Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

The Prime Minister’s Special Representative (PMSR) on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict works with governments, the UN, civil society and others to:

  • strengthen accountability and tackle impunity
  • provide greater support for survivors
  • ensure gender equality is fully integrated in all peace and security efforts
  • deliver a more effective multilateral response to crimes of sexual violence in conflict

The PMSR will also promote and implement the commitments of the June 2014 Global Summit.

In addition to continuing the international campaign to raise awareness, the PMSR chairs the cross-Whitehall ministerial committee which brings together the FCO, DFID, MoD and the Home Office. The committee looks at implementation of UK commitments as well as what additional support we can provide politically and practically to key partners in order to secure measurable progress. The PMSR will also chair the PSVI Steering Board with NGOs, academia and experts.

The PMSR will undertake these activities on behalf of the Prime Minister and will report to her.

Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative

Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Responsibilities include:

  • all Foreign & Commonwealth Office business in the House of Lords
  • The Commonwealth (as an institution)
  • the UN, peacekeeping, conflict and International Criminal Court
  • Overseas Territories (excluding Falklands, Sovereign Base Areas and Gibraltar)
  • the Caribbean
  • human rights, freedom of religion or belief, and modern slavery
  • national security: counter terrorism, countering violent extremism and cyber
More about this role

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief will:

  • demonstrate the country’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief by promoting inter-faith respect and dialogue internationally
  • promote the UK’s firm stance on religious tolerance abroad, helping to tackle religious discrimination in countries where minority faith or belief groups face persecution

The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy will undertake these activities on behalf of the Prime Minister and will report to her.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

Previous roles in government

  1. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Countering Extremism)

    • 2015 to 2016

  2. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport

    • 2015 to 2017

  3. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

    • 2014 to 2015

  4. Lord in Waiting (Government Whip)

    • 2012 to 2014

Announcements

Subscriptions

  1. Lord Ahmad and Carey Mulligan: “International community must work together to ensure that children in conflict zones have a real chance to reach their full potential.”
    • Press release
  2. Lord Ahmad Speech at Amnesty International Annual Human Rights Day Reception
    • Speech
  3. UK Marks 70th Anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights
    • News story
  4. Lord Ahmad speech: International Human Rights Day 2018
    • Speech
  5. Overseas Territories meet in London for annual Joint Ministerial Council
    • Press release
  6. Human rights priority countries: autumn 2018 ministerial statement
    • Corporate report
  7. UK Minister visits Nairobi for talks on sustainable blue economies and marine conservation
    • Press release
  8. FCO reaches major milestone in plastic elimination campaign
    • Press release
  9. Lord Ahmad announces funding boost for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
    • Press release
  10. PSVI Film Festival: Fighting Stigma Through Film
    • News story
View all announcements