Appeal not to cut vital overseas funding

FORMER President Mary Robinson has appealed to the Irish government not to cut vital funds for overseas development as such a move could lead to an increase of violence against women.

Speaking in Dublin, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that at a time when Irish people themselves were feeling the pain of the recession, reducing help for the most vulnerable could not be an option.

Attending the annual meeting of the country’s Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence, Ms Robinson said that less resources for developing communities was actually leading to an increase in violence against women.

“The global recession may expose more women in the developing world to the risk of gender based violence, as household incomes shrink and programmes to combat gender inequality are compromised.”

“Failing to address gender based violence and gender equality can have significant economic and social costs, which undermine international development efforts. Increased levels of gender based violence could have far-reaching consequences, including higher levels of malnutrition among children, increased levels of HIV and AIDS, and reduced participation of women in economic development.”

Mrs Robinson, who has just returned from war-torn Liberia and is an advisor to the consortium on gender-based violence, told journalists in a separate briefing that NGOs would have to adopt to the economic changes.

Aid workers and missionaries abroad were a huge asset to the country, she added.

The Irish Aid budget has been reduced by €224m this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed last night.

A research paper launched by Mrs Robinson yesterday found that women in antenatal clinics in South Africa who reported violence were 50% more likely to be HIV positive.

European Affairs Minister Dick Roche said that Ireland needed to maintain its commitment to tackle gender inequality.