Asked by: Lord Loomba (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure women's participation in, and that the views of the women are adequately heard at, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, member states and women's associations to ensure that women and women's rights issues feature throughout the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April and across all policy areas. The Women's Forum in particular will consider a range of issues related to women's empowerment such as political participation, gender parity in education, tackling violence against women and girls and diversity in economic empowerment. The three other forums are for youth, civil society and business. We are encouraging all forums to have speakers that reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth. The forums, including civil society and women-led organisations, will have the opportunity to feed into the Heads of Government discussions. Support will be provided to members of civil society organisations, including women-led organisations and youth representatives, to attend the four forums.
Asked by: Lord Loomba (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 25 January (HL4791), what steps they are taking to ensure any discussions on preventing sexual violence in conflict at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will also address the specific issues that affect widows and their children.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are working with member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat to develop an ambitious agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The ministerial discussions will be preceded by four official Commonwealth Forums at the start of summit week.
The Women’s Forum is being organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and will discuss issues around barriers to female empowerment and gender equality. We are working with them to develop a programme that will address violence against women and girls, as well as the unique impact of conflict on women and girls and their key role in peace and security.
We anticipate that sessions will also address the unique needs of marginalised groups of women, such as those with disabilities, widows and others. Participants are likely to include individuals and organisations with a particular focus on the rights of all women, including widow’s rights.
Asked by: Lord Loomba (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 25 January (HL4647), what steps they are taking to ensure that widows' rights are a focus of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are working with member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat to develop an ambitious agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The ministerial discussions will be preceded by four official Commonwealth Forums at the start of summit week. The Women’s Forum is being organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and will discuss issues around barriers to female empowerment and gender equality.
We anticipate that sessions will also address the unique needs of marginalised groups of women, such as those with disabilities, widows and others. Participants are likely to include individuals and organisations with a particular focus on the rights of all women, including widow’s rights.