United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Baroness Manzoor Excerpts

Thursday 1st March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stedman-Scott]

The summit is an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in the education of young women and girls—the noble Baroness makes a valid point about its importance. We will use the Commonwealth to eliminate the barriers that hold back half the world’s population. The Foreign Secretary has made it very clear in Parliament that the education of young women and girls can change lives across the Commonwealth—I know all noble Lords will agree with that—and can promote the shared Commonwealth objectives of freedom, opportunity, democracy and peace. This will be a very important theme in the week.

[Baroness Manzoor (Con)]

My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister say if and how young people are to be involved in the summit?

[Baroness Stedman-Scott]

That is a very timely question, given that the Commonwealth Youth Parliament is meeting this week in Jersey. As the Prime Minister has said, the aspirations of the Commonwealth’s young people will be at the heart of this year’s summit.