Claire Perry: UK's support for UN Women is the right thing to do

The Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell has today announced the UK's support for UN Women, a new agency established earlier this year to tackle gender inequality and help millions of the poorest girls and women around the world.

The Department has pledged £10 million annually to UN Women over the next two years, from its aid budget. Britain will be the second largest donor to the agency, allowing it to take a strong leadership in ensuring it operates as effectively as possible. Andrew Mitchell will require the agency to match the Government's high expectations for the funding. He will review its support over the initial two year period in order to ensure the agency meets the value for money criteria now required by the Department for International Development.

Claire Perry MP, member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for UN Women, said:

"Along with other Conservative Members both male and female, I strongly welcome Andrew Mitchell's decision to pledge Britain's support for UN Women and am confident that the Secretary of State will make certain the money is spent in the most productive way. When two thirds of the world's people who cannot read or write are women, it is clear that we need to target our aid efficiently. The UK's support for UN Women is the right thing to do."

Notes:

• UN Women was established in July 2010. The new agency was established to improve the UN's ability to tackle gender inequality and help millions of the poorest girls and women escape chronic poverty (United Nations, UN Women – Link).
• Tacking poverty. Girls and women still make up six out of ten of the world's poorest people. Two thirds of people who cannot read or write are women. (UN Development Programme – Link)
• Britain's funding announcement. Britain has now pledged to provide £10 million each year to UN Women over the next two years. This will place the UK as the second largest donor to the agency.
• DFID funding based on the results of the Aid Review. The UK's own rigorous review of UN and other aid agencies found that there was a chronic gap in the UN's ability to tackle poverty amongst girls and women. Funding of the agency will be subject to further regular reviews (DFID website, Multilateral Aid Review, 1 March 2011 - Link).
• UN Women has pledged to be effective. The new agency has promised to:
• Be Effective. UN Women has promised to ensure UN agencies improve the effectiveness and efficiency of aid programmes which support women. A failure to work properly across other organisation has led to duplication, waste and delay.
• Tackle domestic violence. Help 15 countries adopt legislation to tackle domestic violence.
• Improve health Education for women. Design effective programme to improve the health, education and future chance of millions of girls and women in the developing world, such tackling violence against them by increasing their access to justice and working with boys and men to change their attitudes.
• Help empower women. Support efforts to allow women to participate in political decision-making in 25 more countries.
• Hold Governments to account. UN Women has promised to hold governments to account on gender equality, highlighting when a country falls short of international standards (UN Women, Introductory Statement by by Michelle Bachelet at the Annual Session of the UN Women Executive Board, 27 June 2011 - Link)

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