MSI Reproductive Choices congratulates Andy Burnham on becoming the UK’s new Prime Minister and we look forward to working with his team to advance reproductive health and rights in the UK and around the world.
At a time of significant instability and when progress on women’s rights is under pressure, the UK has an opportunity to demonstrate clear and consistent leadership, through the delivery of the Women’s Health Strategy at home, and the long-awaited International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls internationally.
Recent cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) have had devastating consequences. Around the world, they have reduced access to lifesaving healthcare, increased preventable maternal deaths and unsafe abortion, and damaged the UK’s reputation as a trusted and reliable partner.
The new Prime Minister has an opportunity to reverse that trajectory. As a key partner to the UK government, we call on him to:
- Use the UK’s forthcoming G20 presidency to reaffirm Labour’s commitment to international development by ruling out further reductions to the UK ODA budget and ensure spending is focused on investments in women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, as one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, tackle inequality and strengthen global stability. Public and parliamentary support for investing in women and girls remains strong, and a clear commitment to these priorities would demonstrate UK leadership, restore confidence among partners and deliver meaningful impact for communities around the world.
- Embed sexual and reproductive health and rights at the heart of the government’s health and equality agenda, and as essential to delivering the NHS Long-Term Plan. The Women’s Health Strategy rightly identifies reproductive health as a ‘golden thread’ priority and this should be reinforced through closer engagement with the reproductive health sector, with providers playing a central role in the shift towards community care and Women’s Health Hubs.
- Prioritise countering anti-rights states and movements, as a core strategic objective for protecting rights, democracy and national security. His Majesty’s Government (HMG) must recognise that many of the same actors driving attacks on women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and marginalised communities are also contributing to democratic erosion, the undermining of human rights frameworks, disinformation and social polarisation.
Simon Cooke, MSI Reproductive Choices’ CEO, said:
“The UK has long been a global leader on women’s health and rights. As Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has an opportunity to champion that leadership at a time when millions of women and girls are seeing their rights rolled back. Defence and development are not competing priorities but mutually reinforcing. Investing in women and girls makes societies more resilient, countries more stable and the UK safer in an uncertain world.”
Notes to Editor
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