BRUSSELS - The European Parliament Development Committee (DEVE) adopted an increase in the human development budget line, which is the one that can fund SRHR. Although this appeal is not a guarantee, it lies in an intermediate stage in the EU budgetary procedure, showing real potential for positive change.
DEVE ask for an increase of 144 million euros in the human development budget line under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) for the EU’s budget in 2019. The next step is for the budget committee to vote at the end of September, followed by plenary votes for the final outcome.
Yesterday’s vote proves once more DEVE’s support to human development covering health, education and gender equality among others. Moreover, the members of DEVE stress that in relation to gender equality, programmes to promote women’s and girls’ economic and social empowerment should be supported, including actions to combat harmful practices such as child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).