Commonwealth Summit: Faith Leaders

Baroness Afshar Excerpts

Monday 15th January 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I was not aware of the event that the right reverend Prelate points out but I welcome it and congratulate all its organisers. I open up this invitation: where events are happening, please let us know. They can be reflected as part of the Commonwealth timetable and I will be writing shortly to all leaders of local government across the UK to ensure that we celebrate Commonwealth Day on 12 March appropriately.

[Baroness Afshar (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Cross Bench!

[Baroness Afshar]

Are the Government aware that faith representation is highly gendered and that, on the whole, women are not represented? Is any care taken to ensure that women, who have a very different perspective on religion, are also represented?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

The noble Baroness raises an important point and I assure the House that, along with the rest of the Government, I am committed to that objective. In respect of that, a specific women’s forum will take place as part of the four fora during the Commonwealth summit.