Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK unveils global strategy for women and girls to combat worldwide gender inequality

The strategy puts a continued focus on educating girls, empowering women and girls, championing their health and rights and ending gender-based violence

UK unveils global strategy for women and girls to combat worldwide gender inequality

On International Women's Day (08), the British government unveiled a new strategy aimed at addressing global gender inequality by confronting attempts to restrict women's rights and collaborating with global partners to achieve the same.

The UK government's official release indicated that, for the first time, the strategy pledges that over 80 per cent of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) bilateral aid programmes will prioritise gender equality by 2030.


The government discussed gender equality, highlighting that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change and humanitarian crises. Additionally, there are efforts to curtail women's rights in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan, while sexual violence persists in conflicts such as Ukraine and beyond, and online violence against women is on the rise.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, "Advancing gender equality and challenging discrimination is obviously the right thing to do, but it also brings freedom, boosts prosperity and trade, and strengthens security - it is the fundamental building block of all healthy democracies."

"Our investment to date has improved lives around the world, with more girls in school, fewer forced into early marriage and more women in top political and leadership roles," he added.

In the statement, the Secretary further emphasised that the progress made so far is increasingly vulnerable, and that concerted efforts are necessary to address persisting inequalities at every possible opportunity.

During his visit to Sierra Leone, he will introduce the new strategy while touring a school and hospital in Bo, his mother's hometown, to witness the positive impact of UK-backed initiatives on women and girls.

"In the hospital, he will see how UK support is improving blood banks and equipment, increasing electricity access and saving the lives of pregnant women. In the school, he will hear about girls' aspirations for the future. The UK is supporting students there to talk about preventing violence," the statement read.

"The strategy puts a continued focus on educating girls, empowering women and girls, championing their health and rights and ending gender-based violence - the challenges the UK believes are most acute," the statement added.

The UK's new women and girls’ strategy involves the entire FCDO network of high commissions and embassies worldwide, which will develop tailored plans and raise crucial issues with their respective host governments.

Additionally, the UK will introduce a comprehensive research initiative to inform investment decisions. The Foreign Secretary will also unveil a sub-Saharan Africa-focused sexual and reproductive health and rights programme, with up to £200 million in funding expected to reach 10.4 million women and prevent up to 30,600 maternal deaths, 3.4 million unsafe abortions and 9.5 million unintended pregnancies.

The UK is also separately boosting funding for women's rights organisations and movements acknowledging the crucial role played by women's rights organisations and movements in promoting gender equality and safeguarding rights, and amplifying the voices of women and girls at the grassroots level. A significant portion of this £38 million programme will be delivered through a new partnership with the Equality Fund.

Jess Tomlin, co-CEO of the Equality Fund said, "We're really excited about this partnership because it shows that every sector can come together - with boldness and urgency - to deliver resources to women's rights organisations everywhere.

“A just, sustainable, thriving future depends on the solutions of feminist movements, and it's time for all of us to trust and robustly resource their leadership at scale all across the world."

With inputs from ANI

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less