Statement on UK Aid budget: UK reduction in development aid undermines women’s rights globally

We are deeply disappointed by the news from the UK Government that it has abandoned its legally binding commitments to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on aid.

The announcement, made on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, comes towards the end of one of the most challenging years for women’s rights. All over the world women and girls have borne the brunt of the impacts of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has deepened existing inequalities and women and girls in the Global South have been hardest hit by the fallout from the pandemic. Calls to domestic abuse helplines have increased fivefold in some countries, women are losing their livelihoods at higher rates than men and life changing intervention programmes have been paused, putting millions of more girls at risk of FGM and child marriage. UN Women estimate that 47 million more women and girls will be pushed into extreme poverty by end of 2021, a total of 435 million.

The move to cut spending on aid is catastrophic. At a time when women are threatened with increasing rollback of their rights, this cut to vital resources is a damaging blow. It will weaken the position of the women’s rights organisations and movements who have been working, despite the odds, to resist the erasure of rights. All this at a time when the demand for their services is greater than ever.

UK aid has helped secure gains in women’s rights in projects such as ‘Community Responses to Violence Against Women & Girls in Kenya and Tanzania’. Gains which may now be reversed by the estimated £4.2 billion deficit these cuts combined with reduced GNI will cost in 2021 alone.

As one of the wealthiest nations in the world the UK has enough resources to support those in need at home while honouring their commitment to aid abroad. We urge the government to reprioritise its investments by strengthening its commitment to aid, which promotes human rights, protection for the environment and community cohesion, above the increased investment in defence (an extra £16.5 billion). The UK can further generate resources for crisis response in changing its global role as a tax haven, which enables tax evasion and avoidance of $42 billon through the UK tax rules alone.

A global pandemic needs a global response. Collaboration between nations is key and the UK has an important role to play. At a time when the UK is taking up global leadership positions to advance gender equality and tackle climate change it should be strengthening its investment in aid, not reducing it. The UK must honour its commitments and ensure rights for all women and girls.