Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 April 2026

Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development & Africa relating to The proposed merger of UN Women and the UNFPA, 10 April 2026

From: International Development Committee

Summary

Baroness Chapman responds to the International Development Committee's concerns about the proposed merger of UN Women and UNFPA, affirming UK commitment to gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights. The UK supports the UN80 reform initiative but insists decisions be evidence-based, transparent, and protective of mandates and specialist capability for women and girls.

Key findings

UK remains strongly committed to gender equality, women's rights, and sexual and reproductive health rights as core foreign policy priorities.
UK backs the Secretary-General's UN80 reform initiative as opportunity to strengthen coherence and reduce fragmentation, but only if evidence-based and fully considered.
On the proposed UN Women–UNFPA merger specifically: UK position will be guided by evidence and demands transparency on risks and benefits from the UN.
UK insists on timely, inclusive consultation with Executive Boards having sufficient information to exercise robust oversight before any structural changes proceed.
UK will not support reforms that weaken mandate integrity, dilute specialist capability, or compromise outcomes for women, girls, and vulnerable communities.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

international-developmentgender-equalityreproductive-health-rightsun-reformsafeguarding

Key actors

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Sarah Champion MP, UK Foreign Secretary, UN Secretary-General, UN Women, UNFPA

Notable line

“We will not support reforms that weaken mandate integrity, dilute specialist capability, or put outcomes for women and girls and vulnerable communities at risk.”

Key Quotes

“The United Kingdom's commitment to gender equality, the rights of women and girls, and sexual and reproductive health and rights remain unwavering.”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Reaffirming UK policy position on the merger proposal

“Regarding the proposed merger of UN Women and UNFPA, the UK's position throughout the process will be guided by the evidence.”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Setting out the UK's decision-making framework for the merger

“Timely and inclusive consultation is essential, and the Executive Boards must have sufficient information to exercise robust oversight and scrutiny before any steps are taken.”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Establishing procedural requirements for UN reform process

“We will not support reforms that weaken mandate integrity, dilute specialist capability, or put outcomes for women and girls and vulnerable communities at risk.”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Articulating UK red lines for the proposed merger

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗