Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond has signed a statement of support asking governments across the world to stop gender-based violence.
The statement, signed by scores of British MPs, has been released on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is today.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in violence towards women and girls across the world.
The statement calls for governments to:
Protect funding for programmes to tackle all forms of gender-based violence both at home and abroad.
Work together to find new ways to support women and girls at risk of gender-based violence through international bodies such as the United Nations as the violence needs a global solution.
Increase the number of women in decision-making roles in government, international agencies, and peacekeeping operations so societies can better combat values that are the root causes of such violence.
“This pandemic has caused so many problems across the world and violence against women and children is one of those but one that is often behind closed doors,” said Flick.
“I will certainly be speaking to ministers to ensure that funding to tackle this violence remains a core part of the government’s international aid mission."
The UN estimates that in the 12 months before the pandemic, 242 million women and girls were subject to sexual or physical violence.
This number is expected to rise significantly higher before the pandemic is over.
