Government went ahead with aid cuts despite knowing women and girls would be severely affected
Today (March 8), the International Development Select Committee used parliamentary privilege to publish the Equalities Impact Assessment that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) undertook in March 2021, before the Government went ahead with its decision to cut the aid budget.
The assessment recognised that proposed cuts would lead to a “significant reduction in the number and size of targeted programme activities aimed at reaching those furthest behind – including women, girls and people with disabilities.”
It also stated: “reductions to VAWG [Violence Against Women and Girls], SRHR [Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights] and funding for women’s rights organisations, will reduce services available to women and girls who are subject to sexual violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment.”
Responding, Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of Plan International UK said:
Today’s intervention shows that even as the Government made the shameful decision to cut overseas aid, it was aware of the severe impact this would have on women and girls.
“Last year, in the wake of cuts that included an 85 per cent reduction in funding for SRHR services [see notes], we warned that the decision could lead to the deaths of thousands of women and girls and hinder the struggle for gender equality. Now we see that the FCDO's own assessment raised similar concerns, but still the Government pressed ahead with its plans. This is nothing less than a betrayal of women and girls around the world.
“To add insult to injury, we’re only now learning about this through the legal immunity of a group of MPs, and not in response to numerous letters and asks by MPs, peers, and civil society. This lack of transparency is unacceptable and suggests the Government intended to bury these findings.
“Now, almost a year on from this assessment, we have a new Foreign Secretary who has pledged to restore the women and girls’ budget to pre-cut levels. We urge her to immediately outline what this would look like and to clarify that areas hardest hit by the cuts – including SRHR – will be prioritised. This will save lives.”
Notes to editors:
- Funding to the UNFPA Supplies programme – responsible for 40% of the world’s contraceptives – was cut 85%, and an estimated 700,000 fewer girls will be supported by UK aid for education between 2019-22 compared to 2015-18.