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<p>The UK is deeply concerned about the surge in violence against women and girls
(VAWG) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is more important than ever to support safe
spaces and services for survivors of violence. These are essential and life-saving.</p><p>The
UK is already the largest donor to the UN Population Fund and we have committed an
additional £10 million to their COVID-19 response, which will provide services to
women and girls through safe spaces. We have provided £20 million to support the UN
Children’s Fund COVID-19 response, strengthening and establishing response and referral
mechanisms for survivors. We are urgently reorienting existing bilateral programmes
to ensure women and girls can continue to access support during the lockdown, including
safe spaces. For example, in Nepal, DFID is financing safe spaces for women in nine
shelters and 42 COVID-19 quarantine sites. In Uganda, DFID is supporting the Government's
response to the spikes in VAWG by funding 13 shelters across the country and supporting
revisions of standard operating procedures to ensure safety of frontline staff and
survivors.</p><p> </p>
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