UK ‘strongly disagrees’ with Trump approach over health aid, says Yvette Cooper
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK “strongly disagrees” with the US approach to aiding global health; This includes Donald Trump’s dramatic expansion of the so-called Mexico City policy, which restricts organizations that receive U.S. funding from providing or promoting abortion services abroad.
Organizations that receive U.S. aid must now ensure that none of their activities, including those funded by other governments, conflict with Washington’s positions on abortion, gender identity or diversity programs.
Days after UK gives evidence to parliament’s International Development Committee Announced the details of the 40 percent cut aid budgetMs Cooper said the UK would continue to prioritize areas the US had said it would no longer fund.
“We absolutely do not agree with this approach, which is completely contrary to our approach,” the Foreign Minister said. “Things like sexual health services, direct support for women and girls and LGBT rights are hugely important parts of our development work and are rooted in the UK’s core values.”
Ms Cooper added that we should not be left feeling that women’s rights are declining around the world. “This is not the case. We and many other countries will continue to be champions on these issues,” he said.
Currently, approximately 14 countries have signed bilateral aid agreements with the United States. known as health compacts – includes restrictions on how money must be spent, as well as other provisions regarding data sharing.
The $2.1bn (£1.6bn) deal with Nigeria, for example, included “significant dedicated funds to support Christians”. health maintenance facilities”, The US State Department said:and “negotiated in connection with the Nigerian government’s reforms to prioritize the protection of the Christian population”.
Last week Nigeria’s chief government spokesman said: Independent “Such arrangements carry risks”fan the flamesThe ratio of division in the country is 50:50 between the Muslim and Christian population.
Development minister Jenny Chapman, who also gave evidence to the International Development Committee, said the UK would continue to prioritize water and sanitation funding despite heavy bipartisan cuts to water programs in the UK’s aid budget.
He noted that the “biggest player” in increasing access to clean water in particular was the World Bank, adding that the most effective way to finance such work was for the UK. funding multilateral bodies like this.
Why two-thirds of three-year education in the UK is £850 million grant to the Global Fund Chapman said the funding program – a major multilateral body that finances HIV, tuberculosis and malaria treatment – will come in its third year, because the UK will have to wait for aid programs to finish in the next two years before further funding for the Fund is made available.
“We must make this cut in our general budget within three years,” he said. “We had to roll back the upload [for the Global Fund] because that’s the only way to get the total amount. And we took the view that it was really important for the Global Fund to get that total amount.”
On the issue of UK funding for HIV, he also confirmed this Independent last week will not be fully protectedBaroness Chapman suggested many decisions were as much about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of aid programs as making cuts.
“I don’t want you to think that we’re just coming back from things because we’re not,” he said. “This is about making sure we can secure the gains we’ve made before we move on.”
This article was produced as part of The Independent. Rethinking Global Aid project
