Policy paper

International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will use its diplomacy and development activity for the rights, freedom and potential of all women and girls.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

Documents

International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030

International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030

Details

The scale of the Strategy’s ambition reflects the increase in threats to gender equality and women and girls. Climate change, crises, and conflict disproportionately affect women and girls. Attempts to hold back women’s and girls’ rights have gained momentum and are amplified online. Hard won gains are threatened, and there is escalating instability.

The Strategy will be guided by 5 principles. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will:

  • stand up and speak out for women’s and girls’ rights and freedoms on the global stage and in bilateral relationships
  • embolden and amplify the work and voices of diverse grassroots women’s organisations and movements, championing their role as important agents for change
  • target investment towards the main life stages for women and girls to maximise our effectiveness and secure life-long and intergenerational impact
  • act for and with women and girls impacted by crises and shocks, including conflict, global health, climate change, violence, food insecurity and malnutrition, and the resulting humanitarian crises
  • strengthen political, economic and social systems that play an important role in protecting and empowering women and girls, embracing innovative financing models and technology use to secure long term development

The FCDO will focus on the 3 thematic priorities of:

  • educating girls
  • empowering women and girls, championing their health and rights, and
  • ending gender-based violence

In these thematic areas, the challenges are the most acute, potential gains are greatest and the UK is best placed to add value and catalyse progress.

To achieve FCDO’s ambitions, the Strategy sets out 3 goals: to enable the conversation, lead by example and lead through knowledge.

Updates to this page

Published 8 March 2023

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