Page 32Page 33
Page 32
Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the Department for International Development (DFID), speaking on how the UK works together to improve the lives of people around the world. We stand on the threshold of a significant moment for Britain as we begin the negotiations that will lead us towards a new partnership with Europe. And I want to make it absolutely clear as we move through this process that this is not, in any sense, the moment that Britain steps back from the world. Indeed, we are going to take this opportunity to forge a more global Britain. The closest friend and ally with Europe, but also a country that looks beyond Europe to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.The work you do will be at the heart of that effort. Because from this building, work is co-ordinated that saves lives around the world; that builds a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries; and that makes our own country and people safer and better off too. It is not all about charity of course. You know that better than anyone. So often, the work you do is about empowering people to live better, fuller lives. For example, your work is leading the world in efforts to end the outrage of violence against women and girls, a cause that is particularly close to my heart.You ensure that the UK is working well with important international institutions like the UN and the Commonwealth.And researchers here are exploring the potential for new vaccines to prevent the devastation caused by serious illnesses and epidemics. I know, for example, that the work to tackle the awful Zika virus that is a source of such anguish for people across Latin America is being led by researchers at Glasgow University, supported by teams here.But sometimes events happen that simply require an immediate and significant response. And it is because of the work you do that we have recently been able to announce significant support for the nations facing up to major humanitarian crises this year. Somalia, where we have pledged £110 million of UK aid to provide up to 1 million people with emergency food assistance, over 600,000 starving children and pregnant and breastfeeding women with nutritional help, over 1 million people with safe drinking water, and more than 1.1 million people with emergency health services. It is because of the work you do that the UK was one of the first major donors to respond to the UN’s appeal for South Sudan. We are leading the way in that desperate nation by making sure millions of people get the food, water and medicines that they so urgently need. That includes food for over 500,000 people, life-saving nutritional support to more than 27,500 children, safe drinking water for over 300,000 people and emergency health services for over 100,000 more.And it is because of the work you do that the UK is able to lead the way in helping countries elsewhere in the region – in Uganda and Ethiopia. And in Kenya, where the Hunger Safety Net Programme aims to reduce poverty and hunger in the short-term, and to build economic resilience for the most vulnerable people in the poorest parts of the country. Across Africa, vulnerable men, women and children are being helped by initiatives and projects that come THE RT HON. THERESA MAY MP, PRIME MINISTER, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELANDA FORCE FOR GOOD“I BELIEVE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO ”032 G7 MEMBER STATES