DHAKA, Nov 16, 2021 (BSS) - The United Kingdom has declared £18 million of 
new funding through partners UNICEF and UNFPA for 12 countries, including 
Bangladesh to end child marriage. 

  This investment will strengthen laws and policies, improve girls' access to 
sexual and reproductive health services, support girls to access formal and 
informal education and tackle the harmful beliefs underlying child marriage, 
said a press release sending from British High Commission here today.

   The earlier support for this work has already helped avert 25 million 
child marriages over the last decade. 

   The UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today also launched a major global 
campaign to stop sexual violence against women and girls in conflict around 
the world. 

  Foreign Secretary announced that women and girls will be at the centre of 
her foreign policy priorities, with more than £20 million of new funding to 
help stop violence against women and girls around the world. 

  Speaking at an event for the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) - 
established under the UK's G7 Presidency to support women and girls around 
the world - the Foreign Secretary, who is also the UK's Minister for Women 
and Equalities, also announced that the UK will host a global conference next 
year to unite the world in action to prevent sexual violence in conflict. 

   Under the UK's Presidency, G7 countries have committed to get 40 million 
girls into education and this year the UK hosted the Global Partnership for 
Education Summit, raising o2.9bn to get children into school. 

   This included £430m pledged by the UK, said the release.