will today pledge £212million
to make sure children living in developing Commonwealth countries
receive 12 years of quality education. She will also call on
leaders to commit to halving malaria by 2023.
In a wide-reaching speech ahead of the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Prime Minister will
tell those attending the summit that “we need to show the world
what the Commonwealth is capable of”.
Alongside other high profile speakers, including
Bill Gates, she will stress that global challenges require global
solutions. And that maintaining the relevance and
fulfilling the potential of this diverse, unique organisation,
will begin at this summit.
Fulfilling this potential will ensure 2.4
billion Commonwealth citizens have safer, more prosperous and,
crucially, fairer lives - which is key to the future of the
organisation. Access to education and a life free from malaria
will play an important role in this.
Drawing on her meetings with delegates at the
Youth and Business Forums, where she heard their ambitions for a
better future, will announce substantial
financial support for children, specifically girls, in developing
countries across the Commonwealth to go to school.
The Prime Minister is expected to say:
“Across the Commonwealth, tens of millions of
young people – usually but not always girls – are denied the
education that would allow them to get on in life.
“All too often young people receive only the
most basic education before being forced out of school through
discrimination, poverty, or simply the expectations of
society.”
She will continue to say that “international
experts agree that young people need 12 years of quality
education if they’re to fulfil their potential.
“I want this to be the summit where the
Commonwealth agrees to make that the goal for all our members –
and begins to put in place the concrete measures that will allow
it to become a reality.
“To help make this happen, I can announce that
the UK will be committing £212 million of funding to support
member states in delivering the 12 years commitment.”
This foreign aid money will see nearly one
million more girls in developing Commonwealth countries being
able to go to school.
Alongside education, the Prime Minister will
call on fellow Commonwealth leaders to join the UK in committing
to halving malaria by 2023.
Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut
by 60 per cent, due to hard work from governments, civil society
groups, and individuals such as Bill Gates, who is also due to
speak at the Joint Forum Plenary event.
The Prime Minister will thank Mr Gates and his
wife Melinda for the tireless campaigning they have done in the
fight against this disease. And on Wednesday, the UK will co-host
a global malaria summit with Rwanda and
Swaziland.
Around 90 per cent of Commonwealth citizens live
in countries where malaria is still endemic. More than half of
the 445,000 worldwide malaria deaths each year are in
Commonwealth countries.
And while the effects of this disease can reduce
a country’s GDP by as much 1.3 per cent, the human cost, the PM
will say is “incalculable.”
Adding that “we cannot in good conscience, talk
about the young people of the world, about securing a legacy for
our children and grandchildren, without tackling a disease that,
worldwide, kills one of them every two minutes.”
She will say “the UK remains committed to its
five-year pledge, made in 2016, to spend half a billion pounds a
year tackling malaria.
“This year, that figure includes £100 million
that will be match-funded by partners in the private
sector.
“I know other Commonwealth nations are also
among the biggest funders of this global effort.
“Malaria devastates lives worldwide but it has a
particular impact on the Commonwealth. And we, as a Commonwealth,
have a particular duty to tackle it.”
