NGOs and charities in the UK have raised concerns about services on the chopping block
A British network of aid organisations has warned UK overseas funding cuts will endanger women and girls across the world.
Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) UK published a statement this week accusing the government of deprioritising the groups.
The concerns come after Baroness Chapman appeared at Westminster’s International Development Committee last week.
During her appearance, the Labour peer and aid minister said both education and gender programmes were under threat of cuts.
The group of charities and NGOs - including Action Aid, Care, Oxfam and others - said Chapman’s comments “appear to confirm that gender equality and women and girls are no longer considered a standalone priority within the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) - resulting in the loss of all gender focused programmes”.
Speaking to the committee, Chapman said: “Inevitably, this means that in some areas and countries there will be less to spend. There is no point being anything other than completely open about this. I think that is likely to be on education and gender.”
GAPS UK said the cuts risk “vital funding” being removed from frontline, women-led organisations and undoing decades of work ineducation, healthcare, protection from violence, and women’s participation in political processes.
They added: “Successive UK governments have championed gender equality as a cornerstone of the UK’s international work, recognising that the advancement and protection of women’s and girls’ rights is essential to achieving sustainable peace, development and security.
“The decision to remove this as a priority not only undermines this legacy, but has real and devastating consequences for the lives of women and girls around the world.
“This does not make the UK - or the world - safer. On the contrary, it undermines
peacebuilding efforts, erodes trust, and increases the likelihood of violence and conflict.
“We call on the UK Government to urgently clarify how these cuts will impact women and girls and gender equality programming. The government must reaffirm its commitment to gender equality- and protect principal funding to gender equality- cuts. They must ensure that gender equality and women and girls remains a standalone priority.
“We urge the government to ring fence funding to women and girls and gender equality programming as has been the case in previous ODA budget reductions. We urge parliamentarians to scrutinise this decision, and to stand with advocates and civil society who have made clear that cutting support to women and girls is unacceptable.
“The UK must not turn away from its responsibilities at a time when global solidarity, principled leadership, and meaningful investment in peace and equality are more essential than ever.”
