The Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to humanitarian aid and development, and promised new measures to tackle the long-term causes of poverty and instability.
Speaking this morning, she said the Department for International Development would "deliver on the promise of Brexit to the world’s poorest", and "develop a new area of co-operation to stop illicit financial flows that pick the pockets of the poor in Asia and in Africa." She added that the UK would continue in its commitment to women's rights, including ending FGM.
Commenting, ActionAid UK’s Acting Director of Policy and Practice Mike Noyes said:
“The Secretary of State is right that UK aid reflects the best of British values – preventing poverty, helping those hit by humanitarian crises, and making the world more prosperous and stable. As she says, there is much still to do. Rights abuses continue, including violence against women and girls, while corruption and tax avoidance rob the poorest – most often women – of vital funds. Post-Brexit, UK trade and the global financial system must be made to help rather than hurt the poorest – it’s welcome that Penny Mordaunt has recognised this. We look forward to working with her to secure the rights and aspirations of women and girls worldwide.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. ActionAid is an international charity working with the poorest women and girls in the world, in over 45 countries.
2. ActionAid UK has campaigned for fairer tax systems which can reduce the inequality gap between men and women worldwide. The charity has recently called on the UK government to ensure that post-Brexit trade agreements are grounded in strong international rights standards and based on solid assessments of the likely impact on the poorest – including women and girls.