Key Developments
On 4 June 2026, HM Government published Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s 20 May speech launching an International Coalition on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls to develop national pledges and share strategies. The government also released her address on humanitarian crises highlighting local empowerment and partnerships, according to HM Government. For wider context, the European Commission adopted a package to strengthen EU humanitarian action.
Key Statistics
- 95 women murdered in the UK, according to HM Government
- €2,000,000,000 budgeted for EU humanitarian assistance, per the European Commission
- 239,000,000 people in need of humanitarian aid worldwide, per the European Commission
- 117,300,000 forcibly displaced people globally, per the European Commission
- 35% share of global humanitarian funding provided by the EU and member states, per the European Commission
Main Body
On 4 June 2026, HM Government published Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s address to the Global Partnerships Conference delivered on 20 May 2026, in which she announced a new International Coalition on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls to develop national pledges and share effective strategies among members. The government also released her companion speech on responding to humanitarian crises, which emphasized empowering local communities, particularly women, strengthening partnerships, and building long-term resilience despite funding pressures, according to HM Government.
According to the VAWG address, the coalition was intended to put safety and security at the center of women’s rights and empowerment, with a focus on practical cooperation across governments and civil society, as outlined by HM Government. The humanitarian speech set out a policy approach based on locally led responses, innovative partnerships, and sustained international cooperation, according to HM Government.
For broader context, on 27 May 2026 the European Commission adopted a Joint Communication to strengthen EU humanitarian action, citing 239 million people in need globally and budgeting 2 billion euros for humanitarian assistance. The Commission also reported 117.3 million forcibly displaced people and that the EU and its member states provided 35 percent of global humanitarian funding. Separately, the EU’s leadership role was the subject of a written question on 27 May 2026, according to the European Parliament.
These UK announcements placed protection of women and girls and locally led action at the center of crisis response priorities. The scale of need and the EU’s donor weight, documented by the European Commission, underscored the importance of coordination. The domestic context was acute, with 95 women murdered in the UK, according to HM Government.
