Gender: Equality

(asked on 6th October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure gender equality remains a strategic priority of his Department.


Answered by
Wendy Morton Portrait
Wendy Morton
This question was answered on 12th October 2020

Advancing gender equality and women's rights are a core part of the UK Government's mission, and Global Britain's role as a force for good in the world. For example, between 2015 and 2020, we supported 8.1 million girls gain access to a decent education, and in 2019-20 alone we provided 25.4 million women and girls with modern methods of family planning, saving thousands of lives. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this agenda.

As the Foreign Secretary set out in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 1 October, the UK is working with our international partners to ensure gender equality is a central element of the COVID-19 recovery. The FCDO will continue to champion 12 years of quality education for every girl in the world.

This October marks the 20th anniversary of UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, next year the UK will take up Presidency of the G7 and COP26, and the UK is already co-leading the new global Generation Equality Action Coalition on gender-based violence to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action on Gender Equality. All these represent moments for the UK to champion gender equality

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