Caritas boss: Aid cuts affect women to greater extent

In an International Women’s Day article for the Council for International Development newsletter, Ms Antonio said that the celebration of the day this year took place “in the midst of a global upheaval of both the ODA [official development assistance] community and the established world order”.

Ms Antonio stated that the theme for the day on March 8 – “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” – is a “lofty objective”.

“It is, however, an objective that has never been so imperilled as it is today – and yet so needed. 

“As I write, the US government has cut all foreign aid through USAID. France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and the UK have also slashed their ODA budgets, tearing another $US12.5 billion away from the world’s poorest billion people.

“Not only is this an abdication of moral responsibility to the poor, but because women are disproportionately harmed by war, sexual violence in conflict, famine and poverty, climate change and disasters, it is an abdication of the promises made to uphold the rights of women and girls. 

“ . . . It has never been more important that we stand with women in their communities before, during and after emergencies – and when they face poverty. We must not abandon them when government funding disappears.”

Ms Antonio added that, “the face of all these challenges, we must promote women as leaders”.

“Women bring a depth of resilience and innovation that is often undervalued because it doesn’t always fit with the prevailing, male-centric leadership models founded on privilege,” she said.

She called for the promotion of “organisations and ways of working that value relationship-building, caring, nurturing, creativity and empathy”.

“. . . Women must be part of decision-making. But ultimately, change is the responsibility of the men already in these spaces.”

She concluded the article by stating that, as a leader, she takes inspiration from Fr John Curnow, one of her Caritas predecessors, who said: “It requires a lot of nerve and courage for an overseas aid agency to hold on to the truth that their first loyalty is to the poor.”

“That loyalty must include women. Not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders shaping their own futures,” Ms Antonio said.  

FULL STORY

Council for International Development newsletter (By Mena Antonio/Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand)

International Women’s Day | United Nations (United Nations)