Dr Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director of The Equality Trust, said:

“We welcome Oxfam highlighting the scandal of entrenched global inequality and the wealth created off the back of some of the poorest women in the world. It’s vital to highlight the role of unpaid care carried out by women and girls, which is as much an issue here in the UK, as it is in other countries. The lack of adequate funding for public services increases the burden borne by women and girls and on all those who have caring responsibilities.”

“If we tackle inequality, we can ease costs to the state and the personal cost to individuals, as countries with high levels of inequality also see higher levels of poor physical and mental ill health, drug and alcohol addiction, imprisonment, obesity and murder rates, as well as lower levels of educational attainment and trust. We call upon the Government to introduce an inequality reduction strategy and fulfil its commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 10 – reducing inequality.”

ends

Notes to editors

The Equality Trust is a registered charity that works to improve the quality of life in the UK by reducing economic inequality. UK income inequality is among the highest in the developed world and evidence shows that this results in poorer mental and physical health, higher violent crime, poorer educational outcomes and lower levels of trust. Inequality affects us all. For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact info@equalitytrust.org.uk