Last week, over 100 parliamentarians, women’s rights leaders, activists and campaigners attended an event jointly hosted by CARE International UK, The Circle and Centenary Action to celebrate women leaders and call on the Government to protect gender equality from aid cuts.
The event was an opportunity to celebrate women’s leadership at home and abroad – particularly highlighting the incredible work of three women’s rights defenders from Ukraine, Afghanistan and South Sudan. But it was also a sobering moment to take stock of the hugely challenging contexts women continue to face around the world due to increasing conflicts, the impacts of the climate crisis and rollback of women’s rights.
Hearing from inspirational women leaders
Central to the event were speeches from three inspirational women who are leading their communities in some of the world’s most dangerous places, who were introduced by host Ritula Shah, Classic FM and former BBC news presenter. These women are making a difference not only to the women and girls they work with, but helping to build more just, peaceful, prosperous and sustainable communities for all.
Daria Khrsytenko is a Ukrainian refugee living in Poland, who is now leading CARE’s Education in Emergencies response in Poland – supporting women to rebuild their lives and find employment through teaching, and advocating for the education needs of young Ukrainians. She shared her personal story of fleeing Ukraine and spoke of the importance of women’s leadership on the ground in crises – as well as ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine: “The crisis that Ukrainians face is far from the end. I want to call for ensuring that [the] response is immediate and sustained. Because without that response, Ukrainians will not survive.”
Renowned women’s rights activist and refugee Rahela Sidiqi is the founder of Rahela Trust, an organisation providing financial support and mentoring for disadvantaged Afghan women. She highlighted the importance of aid in ensuring women can get an education and stand up for their rights: “Aid is vital to the process of development and eliminating gender equality,” she said. “Key support must continue to support the education and capacity building of women.”
Grace Dorong is the founder of Root of Generations in South Sudan. Her team aims to empower South Sudanese women and girls through education and skills building, promoting human rights and the eradication of gender-based violence. She also spoke of the importance of aid for the women she works with, highlighting that “Almost 80% of the support given to the communities, especially in fragile settings, comes from aid. It is so important for example for women living in refugee camps who cannot produce their own food.”
Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee, also spoke at the event. She highlighted the importance of putting gender equality at the centre of the aid budget: "I fail to understand why every investment we make shouldn't have gender equality at its very heart, because surely that is the best way to alleviate poverty around the world." And called on the audience to speak up for the rights of women and girls and ensure they are not disproportionately affected by the aid cuts:
I say to all of you, if ever it was important to use our voice, and use it for women, and use it for the most vulnerable, now is when we start doing it.” - Sarah Champion MP
CARE’s Senior Gender Equality Adviser and convenor of Centenary Action Helen Pankhurst closed the speeches by urging the audience to continue to support women leaders with deeds not words, reminding everyone that "women’s rights are always the hardest won and the first to be cut."
UK aid cuts
With the government announcing plans to slash the UK aid budget last week, taking meaningful action as a result of these conversations is more urgent than ever. Across the world we are seeing unprecedented cuts to foreign assistance – endangering some of the world's most marginalised women and putting the planet at risk.
We know that women and girls will bear the brunt of this, as they do in every crisis. Women are often the first to lose their rights, their health, their homes, their livelihoods and excluded from decision-making around the very things that affect them most.
Recent research from CARE laid bare just how devastating the last round of aid cuts had been on women and girls, with the amount of funding going to gender equality dropping disproportionately to the over fall in spending.
The UK must keep its promises to women and girls
Following on from the event, CARE has published an open letter signed by over 90 activists and advocates, calling on the Foreign Secretary to target at least 20% of UK aid directly on achieving gender equality. The letter warns that the UK Government is at risk of backtracking on its promise to put women and girls at the heart of its foreign policy.
“Women are already leading efforts to tackle today’s greatest challenges - from humanitarian crises to grassroots movements and international negotiations. Yet their vital work is held back by attacks on their rights and a lack of investment in their leadership,” the letter says. “We cannot wait generations for equality, prosperity, or peace.”
CARE will continue to call on the government to reverse the cuts, funder gender equality and protect women and girls. Now more than ever we must safeguard UK aid, especially for those who need it the most.
How you can help
When the Government steps back, we must step up. Women and girls must not pay the price.
A donation today could help provide food, shelter and protection for those who need it the most. Together, we can show that we are standing side by side with women and girls and raise much needed funds during this challenging time.
