CARE International UK responds to the launch of a new International Coalition to End Violence against Women and Girls convened by the UK and made up of eight governments.
The announcement by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the Global Partnerships Conference in London intends to ‘mirror’ the UK’s domestic commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Dorothy Sang, Head of Advocacy at Care International UK said:
“As women around the world face repressive rollbacks on their rights, the Foreign Secretary’s leadership on Violence Against Women and Girls has never been more important. With the right investment and partnerships, this new coalition could transform the lives of millions of women and girls.
“From the climate crisis to warzones, women’s rights organisations are defending rights and saving lives on the frontlines of global challenges while operating under existential threats to their survival from chronic underinvestment, deepening aid cuts, and crackdowns by misogynistic leaders. Warm words won’t protect or rebuild capacity needed to deliver the exact changes that world leaders are finally promising.
“Beyond claiming a feminist foreign policy approach, it remains unclear how far the UK is prepared to boldly defend women’s rights organisations and movements – especially when it is politically difficult to do so.
“The UK and its allies must now commit to meaningful investment and partnerships with Women’s Rights Organisations that make a difference to women and girls’ lives. Otherwise, we risk looking back on this moment as another empty promise.”
Announcement of the coalition comes ahead of publication of the UK Government’s Strategic Framework on Women and Girls, expected later today.
Media enquiries
Please direct press enquiries or interview requests to press.uk@careinternational.org or contact Omer Hamid on +44 (0)7772047292.
