20-02-2025The cabinet gives in to
ultra-conservative and
autocratic forces that undermine the rights and position of women and girls worldwide. Until now, the Netherlands has supported women and LGBTIQ+ people who stand up for their rights in countries like Sudan, Afghanistan, Uganda, Iran or Ukraine. Today's publication of the Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Policy Paper shows that the Dutch government will leave these women behind. This is not smart, but unjust and even dangerous. WO=MEN Director Anne-Floor Dekker: "
When these advocates are left alone in their struggle, destruction of hard-won rights and freedoms is inevitable.”
We recognise that the government remains committed to women's participation in peace and security issues, women entrepreneurship and the protection of women human rights defenders. Members of the House of Representatives have been fighting for this over the past months. Therefore, it comes as a surprise that the cabinet decides to break down the already limited funds for programs specifically promoting gender equality and women's rights. In recent years, the total development cooperation (ODA) budget consisted of 3.6 billion. For programs dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights approximately 50 million euros (less than 1.5% of the total budget) were allocated, while this work is crucial.
This complete hollowing out of the budget is disastrous for the brave women and girls who, often at the risk of their own lives, stand up for equal rights. This affects for example advocates like Olena Panchenko (Ukrainian Women's Fund) in Ukraine, who is working every day to document violence against women in Ukraine, in order to prosecute perpetrators. Or farmer Betty Okello from Uganda who successfully prevents land grabbing within her community. And Hedia Belhadj (Groupe Tawhida Ben Cheikh), who stands up for women's right to self-determination in Tunisia. For years, the Netherlands was a strong ally in their fight for equal rights but is now leaving them out in the cold.
| Gender equality represents the equalisation and equal treatment of people regardless of their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation in society and before the law. Women's rights include all international human rights. For example, the right to vote, to education, to health, to decent work, to property and inheritance rights. These international rights are the result of years of struggle for equal rights and opportunities. |
The basis for democracy and stability
Gender equality and women's rights, including LGBTIQ+ rights, lay the basis for long-term economic stability, broad prosperity, security and democracy. This benefits low- and middle-income countries, as well as rich countries like the Netherlands. Peace agreements in which women participate have been shown to last 20-35% longer. Additionally, women play an important role in countering violent and extremist ideas. For example, equal rights and opportunities for female farmers mean higher yields and incomes and therefore less hunger and poverty. Investing in gender equality is economically smart: countries that guarantee gender equality and women's rights are more stable, prosperous and secure. The Netherlands will also benefit from this.
Undermining rights
Progress in reaching gender equality worldwide is not a given. Recent research shows that for 1.1 billion women, gender equality is stagnant or declining. Hard-won rights are being actively undermined again. Autocratic governments and ultra-conservative forces continuously and structurally attack the rights of women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people. This is done by deliberately spreading misleading information and hatred. In doing so, they fuel polarisation and put groups in society up against each other. Whoever now turns their back on gender equality and women's rights defenders, enables the destruction of equal rights, and fuels exclusion, conflict and instability. Also in the Netherlands.
International agreements
In its own coalition program, this administration indicates to promote ‘good governance’ and ‘compliance’ with binding international agreements and treaty obligations. This include treaties and agreements on gender equality and women's rights to which the Netherlands is committed, such as the UN Women Convention, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 for Women, Peace & Security and the Istanbul Convention (focusing on combating gender-based violence). Cutting away the Dutch commitment to the rights and position of all women and girls worldwide is completely at odds with this. Moreover, it is not in line with our Constitution, which states that the Netherlands is committed to promote the international legal order (Art. 90) and the fundamental right to equal treatment (Art. 1).
Support the fight for equal rights and freedom
Gender equality is the basis for stable, safe, prosperous and democratic societies. The fact that limited resources will be cut - that allow brave women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people to fight for their own rights - is a political choice. A choice to ditch them completely. "By scrapping the budget for gender equality and women's rights, this government is sending the wrong message at this time of decline on gender equality and women's rights. Rationally and financially, this cannot be explained,” said Anne-Floor Dekker. Therefore, we call on the government and the Parliament: reverse the proposed policy plans on gender equality and women's rights. Speak up and invest in the struggle of all those women and LGBTIQ+ people who stand up for their and our rights and freedoms.
For the Press:
For more information, please contact:
📞 Sarah van Brussel, Senior Communications Officer WO=MEN
📧s.vanbrussel@wo-men.nl
📱06-42017002
