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<p>Gender equality is a top priority for the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
and Department for International Development work together to achieve the best development
and diplomatic impact for women and girls, including older women.</p><p> </p><p>Better
data and understanding of the situation of older women is essential for tackling the
poverty and discrimination they face. DFID is investing in improving collection and
use of disaggregated data (by sex, age and disability) to enable us to empower and
include those who are too often invisible or face additional barriers to escaping
poverty, such as older people. For example, we have led the way on the Inclusive Data
Charter Action Plan and worked with others to improve the international development
system on disaggregated and inclusive data.</p><p> </p><p>Social protection mechanisms
can play a crucial part in supporting economic empowerment, as such DFID is enabling
the empowerment of older women through social protection programmes, including in
Uganda, where UKaid is supporting expanded social protection for older people.</p><p>
</p><p>The UK is committed to shining a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of widows
globally, including raising awareness of the multiple discrimination and abuse often
faced by older widows. In Ghana, UKaid is securing lives of dignity for elderly widows
banished from their communities due to ‘witchcraft’ accusations and working with traditional
authorities to condemn violence, social exclusion and abuse towards widows. At the
Commission on the Status of Women in March, the UK helped secure the first ever UN-level
recognition of the need to invest in adequate measures to protect and support widows.</p>
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