UK Aid Cuts Clash with Rhetoric on Women's Rights, Says Committee Chair
It is becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile the UK government's encouraging words about the rights of women and girls with the harsh reality unfolding globally, writes Sarah Champion, chair of parliament's International Development Committee. The government's severe aid reductions are arriving at a particularly dire moment for women and girls worldwide.
Conflict and Crisis Exacerbate Suffering
As the aid sector adjusts to new allocations for Overseas Development Assistance, conflicts are escalating, with women and girls often enduring the worst consequences. Recent testimony to the International Development Committee described Sudan as "hell on earth" for women and girls, while the United Nations reported an 87 per cent surge in conflict-related sexual violence between 2022 and 2024.
In this context, the UN's Women, Peace and Security agenda plays a crucial role in safeguarding women and girls trapped in war zones, emphasising that women's equal participation is vital for lasting peace. Historically, the UK has been a prominent advocate for this agenda, being among the first nations to implement a National Action Plan and maintaining key roles at the UN Security Council.
Global Backsliding and UK Promises
Despite a worldwide anti-gender movement and regression on women's rights, the UK has ostensibly avoided retreat. For instance, while the Trump administration downgraded the Pentagon's WPS programme last year, UK officials have reaffirmed their dedication. The UK ambassador to the General Assembly stated, "The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda globally," and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised placing violence against women and girls at the core of foreign policy.
Additionally, the government released a strategy to combat violence against women and girls at the end of 2025, with the Safeguarding Minister declaring that ending such violence is a collective responsibility.
Rhetoric Versus Reality on the Ground
However, aligning these positive statements with actual outcomes is growing more challenging. The International Development Committee's latest report reveals that the UK's international WPS commitments have not been fully honoured. During its presidency of the UN Security Council earlier this year, the UK failed to organise a single dedicated WPS session and has not met policy pledges regarding the inclusion of women, girls, and marginalised groups.
This shortfall is compounded by cuts to development and gender expertise at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with further reductions looming. Most alarmingly, successive governments' aid cuts are poised to severely affect programmes targeting women and girls, including initiatives against domestic violence, access to contraception, and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative launched by William Hague and Angelina Jolie.
Impact of Aid Reductions
The initial reduction from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income is estimated to deprive 20 million women and girls of UK-funded support. With further cuts to 0.3 per cent of GNI now detailed, the full repercussions for women and girls are yet to materialise. If the UK genuinely intends to advance the WPS agenda globally, it must demonstrate this commitment through concrete actions and sufficient funding.
Calls for Action and Leadership
The IDC's report outlines essential steps: ministers must substantiate their rhetoric with tangible measures, the UK should leverage its international influence to bolster WPS implementation, and the FCDO must retain development and gender experts with global networks. As conflicts proliferate and women and girls bear the brunt, advancing the WPS agenda is more critical than ever.
By acting decisively now, the UK could address a rapidly emerging leadership gap in WPS. Conversely, inaction risks rendering gender equality a mere footnote in UK diplomacy, undermining hard-won progress while making empty promises about supporting women and girls.
