Gender Equality: Developing Nations

Lord Collins of Highbury Excerpts
Thursday 5th March 2015

(9 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Northover Portrait Baroness Northover
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Again, I thank my noble friend for her tribute to the work that has been done within DfID. As she has said, last year we had the Girl Summit which focused on both FGM and early and forced marriage. These are clear abuses of girls’ rights. We have already invested significantly in both areas and I trust that that will continue in the future.

Lord Collins of Highbury Portrait Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
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My Lords, will the Minister confirm that in the forthcoming negotiations on the SDGs in New York, the UK will resist attempts to weaken the draft standalone goal on gender equality? Does she share the view that it is vital that it should include strong language on women’s rights and be underpinned by progressive targets that tackle discriminatory social norms?

Baroness Northover Portrait Baroness Northover
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I fully agree.