Rishi Sunak speaks at the opening of the Global Food Security Summit. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty
Britain must act with “humility” and “recognize our past” when providing foreign aid, the government has said.
Ministers believe Britain must move away from the “outdated donor model -recipient” to a model of “mutual respect”.< /p>
In its new international development white paper, the government says the UK recognizes it has “much to learn as well as something to offer” when it comes to before “positive changes” are carried out abroad.
It will now focus on building an “equal” partnership based on “patient diplomacy” that gives local leaders a say in “shaping the decisions they want to see rather than making the ones we think they need.”The policy plan, released on Monday to coincide with the World Food Security Summit, says Britons can be proud of their contribution to boosting development overseas and their generosity is “shown around the world”. But it says a change in approach is needed.
“Focus on mutual respect”
“A focus on mutual respect will enable patient diplomacy and development to be put into practice,” the document says.
” This will build a long-term, secure and equal partnership that will contribute to the achievement of common development goals.
< p>“This will move us beyond the outdated donor-recipient model. We will act with humility and acknowledge our past.”
It is unclear what is meant by Britain's acknowledgment of its past and how this relates to its international development policy. The Foreign Office declined to provide further details.
However, it is understood that the phrase is intended to reflect the importance of working in a spirit of genuine partnership and understanding.
For years, the UK has resisted pressure to pay reparations for its historical links to slavery.
The issue came to the fore again in May when Indigenous leaders from 12 Commonwealth countries demanded the king apologize for what they called centuries of “genocide and colonization.”< /p>The issue of reparations
They have called on the UK to begin the process of reparations and the return of stolen artefacts and human remains held in museums and archives.
The government has also faced calls for “compensatory justice” from the opposition, with Labor MP Clive Lewis called on ministers to pay compensation. Caribbean countries for Britain's role in the slave trade.
It is clear that the official document made no mention of reparations plans. The Government's position is that the best way for the UK to respond to the mistakes of the past is to ensure that current and future generations learn from history.
Elsewhere the document says the UK has a responsibility to “recognize its role in the international system.”
It also suggests that artificial intelligence could be used to predict wars years in advance and respond to extreme weather events “more proactively.”
“Forecasting capabilities and systems must be strengthened to enable early action,” says the report.
“Drawing on innovative data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and open source intelligence capabilities, the UK and its partners are moving into new territory in our ability to predict complex risks.
“New technologies should be used to speed up forecasting the risks of conflict and mass atrocities, extending the time frame from months to years in advance, buying time to respond.”
The White Paper was praised
The White Paper was compiled by the Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell, and on Monday he was welcomed by Rishi Sunak and his new Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.
Speaking at the Global Food Security Summit in London, he made his first major speech. Following his shock return to frontline politics, the former prime minister said he would “put development back at the forefront” of the Foreign Office.
At the heart of this policy plan is a reversal of Lord Cameron's core pledge to spend 0.7% GDP on foreign aid as part of his modernization project as Tory leader.
This change was enshrined in law in 2015. But this change was enshrined in law in 2015. Mr Sunak, while chancellor, quietly suspended the target, instead promising to contribute 0.5 per cent and return to 0.7 per cent only when the national debt began to fall.
Describing the UK's position on international development, the document says: “We will build on the UK's strengths and change our approach to partnership, prioritizing mutual respect.
“We will take a long-term approach. We will be more guided by local authorities. We will bring the best that the UK has to offer, including the breadth and depth of our global network, and support partners where they can lead.”
It says low and middle income countries ” are rightly demanding” that the UK respects their development priorities.
This means forging relationships “fit for the 21st century” that are “not aid-led”, with aid delivered to local people, especially marginalized populations. groups.
Recent Comments