The lives of women and girls cannot be gambled in the UK Government’s political game, WaterAid warns

on
13 May 2025
Image: WaterAid/ Dennis Lupenga

 

The Minster for Development told the International Development Committee today (13 May 2025) that the days of the UK as a “global charity” is over. And that international aid for education and women and girls are likely to be among the casualties of the cuts.  

In response to today’s announcement, Tim Ingram, Head of UK Advocacy at WaterAid UK, said:

“If the UK’s ‘global charity’ days are over, then British Taxpayers should be proud of the role they played in protecting young girls and women in the face of poverty and climate change. This funding kept girls in school and ensured mothers gave birth safely with access to life-saving water and sanitation.

“At the same time, the British Taxpayer should be alarmed to witness a world where a Labour Government’s increased defence spending comes at the price of supporting women and girls. 

“While the future of UK international development remains uncertain, what is clear is that support for women and girls alongside access to water, sanitation and hygiene is not charity – but a critical investment in our shared global future.  

“The lives of women and girls cannot be gambled in the UK Government's political game.”

ENDS

For media queries, please contact Safeeyah Kazi, [email protected]. Or call WaterAid’s press line on 020 7793 4537, or email [email protected].

Notes to editors

About WaterAid

WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. We work alongside communities in 22 countries, setting up entire systems that deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for millions of people. Since 1981, WaterAid UK and its Country Programmes have reached 28.9 million people with clean water, 29.2 million people with decent toilets and 28.7 million people with good hygiene.

For more information, visit our website wateraid.org/uk; follow us on BlueSky or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

  • 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
  • 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.
  • Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.
  • 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
  • Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day
  • Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
  • Worldwide, women and girls spend 200 million hours every day collecting water

1: WHO/UNICEF (2023), Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: special focus on gender (accessed 11 Jul 2023)

2: WHO (2023), Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update (accessed 24 Jul 2023)

3: WaterAid (2021). Mission-critical: Invest in water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy and green economic recovery. (accessed 1 Nov 2023).

4: UNICEF (2016). Collecting water is often a colossal waste of time for women and girls. (accessed 09 Jan 2024)

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