New figures on the UK’s support to end Gender-Based Violence
(GBV) show how this funding has transformed the lives of over 4
million of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Gender-based violence is a systematic, pervasive, human rights
abuse. It threatens the lives and wellbeing of women and girls,
and prevents them from accessing opportunities for education,
employment and healthcare. However, it is preventable.
Between April 2021 and March 2023, the UK has provided 4.2
million people across the globe with gender-based violence
prevention or response services.
The Foreign Secretary, said:
The UK is determined to work with our partners to resist the
rollback of rights we are seeing around the world
Gender-based violence is holding back women and girls, but things
can and must change. The UK’s approaches have shown reductions in
violence of up to 50% in some countries
By investing in sexual and reproductive health services, and
reaching millions of girls with services to end devastating
practices like Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage, we
are proud to help women and girls to reach their full potential.
, Minister of State
for MENA, AfPak, India, the UN, Commonwealth and the PM’s Special
Representative for PSVI said:
I’m honoured to be at the UN Commission on the Status of Women,
joining the global conversation on reforming the humanitarian
system to protect women and girls against gender-based violence.
This is a critical issue that affects millions – a violation of
human rights that demands a united front.
I am proud that the UK has reached over 4 million people,
including survivors, with vital support, but our work doesn’t
stop here. We are committed to this collective effort for a
future free from gender-based violence.
Examples of the UK’s work include:
- Working in partnership with the United Nations Population
Fund to help over 1 million Rohingya refugees living in camps in
Bangladesh by providing 56 safe spaces that ensure the rights,
health and safety of women. These spaces have helped provide
access for sexual and reproductive health services, including
psychosocial support, family planning, and support for survivors
of rape. The UK has also supported community leaders and
women-led organisations with prevention activities including
skill training, campaigning, and male engagement initiatives to
shift attitudes and stop stigma.
- Addressing intimate partner violence, which is the most
prevalent form of violence against women globally. The Stopping
Abuse and Female Exploitation (SAFE) Programme in Zimbabwe which
is working with couples and communities to prevent violence
against women and girls, particularly those most at risk. It
focuses on addressing economic insecurity and discriminatory
attitudes that drive violence.
- Preventing gender-based violence in a crisis, as an estimated
20 to 30% of women and girls experience non-partner sexual
violence in conflicts. Through our Preventing Sexual Violence in
Conflict initiative, we have helped Sisma Mujer, a women’s rights
organisation in Colombia to provide legal support to survivors of
sexual violence.
- The UK is investing £35 million in the Africa-Led Movement to
end FGM (2019-2027) – Phase II of FCDO’s flagship
ending FGM programme in Kenya, Senegal Ethiopia and Somaliland to
support activists and grassroots African organisations who are
leading change from within their communities.
- Supporting women’s rights organisations and survivor-led
organisations including through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence
Against Women and Girls which partners with grassroots
organisations, and the Africa-Led Movement to End Female Genital
Mutilation Programme, which is supporting activists to drive
change from within their communities.
The new results come as Lord Ahmad, Minister for the United
Nations today (March 11) attends the United Nations Commission
for Status of Women (CSW) – the biggest multilateral forum on
women and girls’ rights to discuss how to accelerate progress
towards gender-equality.
