Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Agreed Conclusions of the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, if she will support the inclusion of a specific target on women’s full, equal and effective participation in all fields and leadership at all levels of decision-making within the post-2015 development framework.

Lynne Featherstone

I am pleased that the Agreed Conclusions reached by member states at the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) included a call for a dedicated goal on gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment and the human rights of girls and women. It also called for ending all forms of violence against women and girls; economic empowerment; leadership and participation in decision making; and ending harmful practice, including Child, Early and Forced Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation.

The UK statement at the CSW highlighted the need for a dedicated goal on gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women in the post -2015 framework. We are working with others across the international community, including civil society, to ensure that this is achieved.