The UK government today published its new cross-government ‘freedom from violence and abuse’ strategy, setting out its vision and actions for meeting its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
CARE International UK’s chief executive officer, Helen McEachern, says:
“We welcome the strategy’s commitment to use the UK’s global platform to drive coordinated international action to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG). The UK’s continued leadership in this area is urgently needed.
“We are witnessing an alarming global rollback on gender equality alongside a rise in misogyny around the world. Women’s and girls’ rights - including their fundamental right to live free from violence - must be central to the UK’s engagement on the global stage.
“But violence against women and girls cannot be tackled only with words. The government’s previously announced plans to eliminate all aid funding targeted at gender inequalities severely weakens this commitment to international action. If the government is serious about tackling the global epidemic of violence against women and girls, it must explicitly set out how it will also provide funding towards addressing its root causes.
“CARE International UK stands ready to work with the government to ensure that the UK’s foreign policy not only responds to violence, but actively challenges the systems of inequality that allow it to persist. By using its diplomacy and investments to tackle the root causes of gender inequality and stand with feminist movements worldwide, the UK can play a meaningful role in advancing a future where all women and girls live free from violence.”
Media enquiries
For all media enquiries, please contact Zaina Alibhai
