Frances Longley, Chief Executive of ActionAid UK, comments on pledges made today by G7 leaders.
In response to today's G7 announcements related to gender equality, Frances Longley, new Chief Executive of ActionAid UK, says:
"G7 leaders have fallen short of taking the bold and transformative action women need and deserve – despite having long talked about the importance of gender equality.
"While the UK Government's pledge to the Global Partnership for Education is important and all G7 pledges to replenish the fund are welcome, we need to address the challenges that are preventing girls from being able to go to school in the first place.
"Covid is rolling back women’s rights by a generation. Over the last year we have seen a devastating surge in all forms of gender-based violence and women forced to take up the lion’s share of unpaid care work.
"More tangible actions and funding are needed to end all forms of violence against women and girls and build a fair economic recovery from Covid. This means funding to women’s rights organisations who know the approaches that work, and increasing public money for care services, such as healthcare, childcare and education.
"While warm words have been offered today, we need more funding to back them up – that's what makes the biggest difference. This will be bitterly disappointing for the women and girls we work with worldwide – especially given the recent cuts to UK aid. We are already seeing the impact of these cuts on vital programmes that support women and girls to leave violent situations, access services and build better lives, and our local partners are devastated."
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For further information or interview enquiries, please contact charlotte.clarke@actionaid.org; or if out of hours, on +44 (0) 7753 973 486.
Notes to editors
ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want.