Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Department for International Development (DfID) ensures that inclusion is taken into account in its development and humanitarian projects and programmes; and what is DfID's definition of "inclusion" in this context.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK pledged to Leave No-one Behind as part of delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This means ensuring the inclusion of the poorest and most marginalised people for example girls and women and people with disabilities.
The International Development Act (Gender Equality 2014) requires due regard to the impact on gender inequality before providing development and humanitarian assistance. In May 2016 the UK signed up to the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action to ensure people with disabilities will benefit from development and humanitarian assistance.
DFID also works with implementing partners to improve disaggregation of beneficiary data by sex, age, disability status and geography wherever possible and relevant, including use of Washington Group questions on disability. Disaggregation helps DFID understand who is included and benefits from our development and humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Global Disability Summit to be held in July will address actual or perceived HIV status as part of its deliberations on stigma and discrimination.
Answered by Lord Bates
The systematic inclusion of people with disabilities in development and humanitarian action is a top priority for the Department for International Development. On 24 July, the UK will co-host the Global Disability Summit to increase action and investment, lock-in progress and share best practice. The summit aims to drive forward a step change in global efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against all persons with disabilities. This includes realising the rights of persons with disabilities that are often among the most excluded in society and those that experience “double discrimination”, including those living with HIV and members of the LGBT community. In line with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the active participation of all people with disabilities will be at the very heart of the summit.
The UK’s global HIV response prioritises those left behind by the huge progress made in recent years. For example, we are proud to be a founding supporter of the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund, which supports the grassroots response for inadequately served groups including men who have sex with men and sex-workers.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Global Disability Summit to be held in July will consider discrimination by association of people living with HIV infection, such as members of the LGBT community and sex workers, as part of its deliberations on stigma and discrimination.
Answered by Lord Bates
The systematic inclusion of people with disabilities in development and humanitarian action is a top priority for the Department for International Development. On 24 July, the UK will co-host the Global Disability Summit to increase action and investment, lock-in progress and share best practice. The summit aims to drive forward a step change in global efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against all persons with disabilities. This includes realising the rights of persons with disabilities that are often among the most excluded in society and those that experience “double discrimination”, including those living with HIV and members of the LGBT community. In line with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the active participation of all people with disabilities will be at the very heart of the summit.
The UK’s global HIV response prioritises those left behind by the huge progress made in recent years. For example, we are proud to be a founding supporter of the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund, which supports the grassroots response for inadequately served groups including men who have sex with men and sex-workers.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are addressing (1) the impact of HIV/AIDS on women in developing countries; and (2) barriers to women accessing safe sexual choices and healthcare.
Answered by Baroness Northover
Women and girls' empowerment lies at the heart of the UK Government's development agenda. Our approach to addressing the impact of HIV on women and girls and the barriers to accessing information on sexual and reproductive healthcare is set out in the UK Government's 2011 HIV Position Paper and the recent review, “Towards Zero Infections-Two Years On”published in November 2013. For example, we are supporting the generation of new evidence to improve outcomes for women and girls, including supporting the development of female initiated HIV prevention technologies, research into how gender inequality drives epidemics and a particular focus on improving what works for adolescent girls in Southern Africa in accessing reproductive health needs.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding the Department for International Development has contributed to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in (1) the period before 2008, and (2) the period 2008 to 2013; and how much they plan to contribute over the period 2013 to 2018.
Answered by Baroness Northover
DFID provided £38 million to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) in the period 1999 to 2008; and £40 million in the period 2008 to 2013. DFID has committed to providing £5 million to IAVI in the period 2013 -2018.
Asked by: Baroness Gould of Potternewton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support research and development into prevention methods for infectious diseases that predominantly affect developing countries; and what are their plans to address any shortfall in research and development finance for disease prevention products.
Answered by Baroness Northover
The UK Government is the second largest Government supporter of research and development for new health products for infectious diseases. In August 2013, following an open competition, funding of £138 million (for the period 2013 -2018) was announced to support the development of a range of new health technologies, including: drugs, diagnostics, microbicides, vector control and vaccines for infectious diseases that predominantly affect developing countries, such as TB, HIV, malaria, sleeping sickness and diarrhoeal diseases. Additionally, DFID funds major trials of new methods of delivery of prevention alongside the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust, the World Health Organisation and others.
DFID works closely with others involved in product development research, including funders, to identify opportunities to address shortfalls in research funding.