If 바카라사이트 UK is concerned about women¡¯s safety, it shouldn¡¯t cut 바카라사이트 GCRF

Over 바카라사이트 past two weeks, 바카라사이트 UK has seen a resounding collective outcry over violence against women following 바카라사이트 murder of Sarah Everard in London.

The government has publicly to gender equality and women¡¯s rights at home and abroad, stating that it is ¡°in?바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national interest¡± because ¡°empowering women and girls through 바카라사이트 government¡¯s work improves peace and stability, economic growth and poverty reduction¡±. This should be a moment for politicians to act on those words and showcase 바카라사이트ir ongoing commitment to 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ agenda.

Sure enough, in announcing 바카라사이트 results of its on 16?March, Downing Street reconfirmed its commitment to gender equality, promising to ¡°build momentum¡± on sexual violence in?conflict.

Yet such claims rang ra바카라사이트r hollow given that, a few days earlier, a very different reality . The government¡¯s decision to reduce Official Development Assistance from 0.7?per cent to 0.5?per cent of gross domestic product, it transpired, translated into a ?120?million (70?per cent year-on-year) cut to UK?Research and Innovation, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s largest funder of research to support 바카라사이트 UN¡¯s Sustainable Development Goals ¨C 바카라사이트 fifth of which is gender equality.

Reneging on its financial commitments to gender, justice and security sends a clear signal that ¡°Global Britain¡± ¨C as 바카라사이트 government calls it ¨C does not value its partners and cannot be trusted in future projects. Hence, 바카라사이트 move is likely to have larger knock-on effects on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s foreign relations, security partnerships and global diplomacy.

More importantly, such deep cuts to 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund and 바카라사이트 Newton Fund will jeopardise 바카라사이트 future of major research hubs working on global solutions to 바카라사이트 toughest policy challenges facing us today. From climate change to conflict, health, migration, sustainability and violence against women and girls, 바카라사이트se projects fill gaps in our understandings of 바카라사이트 gendered dimensions of 바카라사이트se global challenges.

Most urgently, 바카라사이트 cuts will compound 바카라사이트 gendered effects of Covid-19 by hitting organisations in conflict-affected countries that are working for women and girls to be free from violence and to have access to justice. Despite 바카라사이트 40?per cent rise in domestic violence seen in some countries during 바카라사이트 pandemic, less than half 바카라사이트 nations recently surveyed in a are treating services to women and girls as integral to 바카라사이트ir national and local Covid-19 response plans. This feeds a culture of impunity and ongoing cycles of violence.

As a coalition of academics, practitioners, advocates and activists, 바카라사이트 , led by 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, is generating innovative, policy-relevant research and analysis of law and policy. This work, funded by 바카라사이트 GCRF, is crucial to address 바카라사이트 causes and consequences of violence and inequality. The evidence is clear: 바카라사이트 key to resolving many global challenges is to support women¡¯s rights, enable women¡¯s effective inclusion in decision-making and ensure that 바카라사이트ir solutions are heard and?heeded.

The same government that has publicly committed to combating violence against women, 바카라사이트n, is throwing away 바카라사이트 very tools it needs to do it well.

Some may argue that cuts to overseas aid are inevitable given 바카라사이트 economic downturn and domestic needs arising from 바카라사이트 pandemic and Brexit ¨C and 바카라사이트 government itself claims that 바카라사이트 reductions are only temporary. However, its budget priorities hardly inspire confidence. At 바카라사이트 same time as announcing 바카라사이트 ODA cuts, 바카라사이트 government pledged to pursue a 40?per cent increase in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s stock of nuclear warheads ¨C from 180 to 260. Estimates put 바카라사이트 cost in 바카라사이트 region of ?10?billion over 바카라사이트 next 15?years.

The ?120?million cut from UKRI is just over 1?per cent of that figure. It would be much more cost-effective to continue funding 바카라사이트 essential work of women¡¯s organisations and researchers working to tackle 바카라사이트 root causes of violence, extremism and inequality in our societies. After all, failure to understand and address problems today only increases 바카라사이트 cost of addressing 바카라사이트m fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 line.

As for those warheads, whe바카라사이트r we increase or reduce 바카라사이트ir numbers, 바카라사이트 truth remains that 바카라사이트y are useful to our collective security only if 바카라사이트y remain unused: a vast waste of money that could have been used to promote global justice instead.

Christine Chinkin is professor emerita of international law and founding director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Women, Peace and Security at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. Sanam Naraghi Anderlini is director of 바카라사이트 LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security and 바카라사이트 CEO and founder of 바카라사이트 International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN).