Government Losing Hard-Won Gains on Rights for Women and Girls as Aid Cuts Bite, MPs Warn
Government cuts to international aid spending mean the UK is losing hard-won gains for the rights of women and girls around the world, a new report by MPs has warned. The cross-party International Development Committee said reductions in funding, staffing, and expertise are undermining Britain's ability to support women and girls in conflict-affected countries.
Commitment to Women, Peace and Security Agenda Waning
The committee's report, titled Peace under pressure: Protecting Women, Peace and Security, states that the government's commitment to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda "appears to be waning," despite rising global instability and increasing threats to women's rights. MPs warned that "the future of the Women, Peace and Security agenda hangs in the balance," and the government is "at risk of inflicting damage to its reputation" by "standing idly by whilst hard-won gains in global gender equality are lost."
With global conflict at its highest level in decades and a growing backlash against women's rights, the committee emphasized that these commitments are "more important than ever." However, it added that "the government's commitment... appears to be waning," highlighting a disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
Impact of Aid Reductions on Women and Girls
The most immediate pressure comes from cuts to official development assistance, which has been reduced from 0.7 percent of national income to 0.5 percent in recent years, and now to 0.3 percent. Funding for women's rights organisations has been slashed by as much as two-thirds, with MPs warning that this "compromises the delivery" of key programmes and "regresses the work of the UK and its partners."
These cuts translate into tangible negative effects:
- Fewer girls in school
- Reduced humanitarian support
- Diminished access to healthcare
Previous analysis cited by the committee found that millions fewer women and girls are now reached by UK-funded programmes, a reversal described as a "serious blow" to long-term progress.
Hollowing-Out of Capacity and Expertise
Ministers insist that priorities around the rights of women and girls remain intact, but MPs point to a hollowing-out of capacity within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Staffing cuts and a loss of gender expertise are said to be undermining delivery. The report stated, "The government cannot expect to deliver on these commitments without this expertise."
At the same time, Britain's leadership on the world stage appears to be faltering. Despite holding a key role at the United Nations, the UK failed to convene a dedicated session on women, peace and security during its presidency of the Security Council, raising questions about its willingness to lead.
Structural Weaknesses and Shifting Priorities
The committee also identifies deeper structural weaknesses, including a lack of transparency. There is no clear, ring-fenced budget for WPS programmes, and MPs warn that "tangible progress cannot be made" without proper resourcing or accountability.
Perhaps most troubling is the broader shift in priorities. As defence spending rises and aid shrinks, MPs caution that gender equality risks slipping down the agenda. They warn, "Gender equality should not become a footnote in UK diplomacy," urging ministers to use Britain's influence to "strengthen the implementation" of its commitments.
The government maintains that it is "mainstreaming" gender across its work, but critics argue that without dedicated funding and focus, such an approach risks making the issue "effectively invisible."
Calls for Action and Future Strategy
The committee is calling on ministers to set out how future programmes will be funded and to ensure that support for women and girls remains a priority. It said the upcoming refresh of the government's strategy would be a key test of whether the UK can maintain its role as a global leader on women's rights.
In a related article in The Independent, Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee, wrote: "It is getting increasingly hard to square the encouraging rhetoric we have heard... with the reality of what is happening on the ground." She added, "As we get the detail of the latest aid cuts, the full impact on women and girls is yet to come... We need to see ministers backing up their rhetoric with substantive action and adequate funding."
Champion further emphasized, "With conflict on the rise around the world, and women and girls frequently bearing the brunt, advancing the WPS agenda could not be more critical. If we shift gear now, we could fill what is a fast-emerging gap in WPS leadership. If we keep standing still, we risk making all the right noises about supporting women and girls whilst hard-won gains are lost and gender equality becomes a footnote in UK diplomacy."
