By Politico Staff Writer
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone on International Women’s Day where he launched a new strategy that is committed to supporting the development of more women and girls.
The strategy which will among other things tackle gender inequality across the globe and put Women and girls at the heart of the UK’s international work was launched on social media at the Islamic Call School in Bo.
It will set out how the UK will work to tackle global gender inequality at every opportunity, including combatting attempts to roll back women’s rights and working with partners around the world to do the same. For the first time, this strategy commits the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to more than 80% of its bilateral aid programmes including a focus on gender equality by 2030, a statement on the UK website reads.
The Foreign Secretary also announces a new emphasis on supporting grassroots women’s rights organisations and funding for a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programme that will support an estimated 10 million women.
Foreign Secretary cleverly was quoted on the UK government website saying “Advancing gender equality and challenging discrimination is obviously the right thing to do, but it also brings freedom, boosts prosperity and trade, and strengthens security – it is the fundamental building block of all healthy democracies.”
It added “Our investment to date has improved lives around the world, with more girls in school, fewer forced into early marriage and more women in top political and leadership roles. But these hard-won gains are now under increasing threat. We’re ramping up our work to tackle the inequalities which remain, at every opportunity.”
It commits the FCDO to involve its entire network of high commissions and embassies around the world to deliver the strategy. This will include UK heads of mission developing plans and commitments specific to their host country and raising the most pressing issues with their host governments. The UK will also develop an ambitious new research offer to help the UK and its partners make investment decisions.
Separately, the UK is also increasing support for women’s rights organisations and movements, recognising their critical role in advancing gender equality and protecting rights, and amplifying grassroots women’s and girls’ voices. Most of this £38 million programme according to the statement will be delivered through a new partnership with the Equality Fund.
Jess Tomlin, co-CEO of the Equality Fund was also quoted saying “We’re really excited about this partnership because it shows that every sector can come together – with boldness and urgency – to deliver resources to women’s rights organisations everywhere. A just, sustainable, thriving future depends on the solutions of feminist movements, and it’s time for all of us to trust and robustly resource their leadership at scale all across the world.”
The Foreign Secretary’s visit to the Islamic Call Secondary School at Dubar ground in Bo was to see how UK-funded projects are having a positive impact on women and girls. At the school, he interacted with the kids both boys and girls during which the pupils joyfully expressed their desires of becoming lawyers, doctors and some politicians.
At the Bo government hospital where his mother formally worked as a midwife, he inspected the facility to see how UK support is improving blood banks and equipment, increasing electricity access and saving the lives of pregnant women.
The strategy puts a continued focus on educating girls, empowering women and girls, championing their health and rights and ending gender-based violence – the challenges the UK believes are most acute.
Prince Lappia Boima, Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom, Bo district said he was impressed with the visit of their own child James Cleverly. As custom demands; they gave the British Foreign Secretary Cleverly gifts and named him Kolorbombor 111 of Kakua Chiefdom, Bo district.
Babadi Kamara, An indigene of Bo District, said the visit of James Cleverly has sent a good signal that Sierra Leone is peaceful and that people should come and invest in the country.
Kamara, therefore, called on Sierra Leoneans to unite and push for development.
The British Foreign Secretary will meet President Julius Maada Bio in Freetown today.
Cleverly’s mother hailed from Bonthe District Southern Sierra Leone.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (09/03/23)
