Baroness Sugg
Main Page: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)International Women’s Day
Baroness Sugg Excerpts(1 day, 12 hours ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for her question. She raises an incredibly important area. As the House knows, we have already debated and discussed—and I am sure we will come back again on—that decision; it is unfortunate in the international circumstances that we now face. With particular reference to the point she makes, I want to reassure her that we will still take part in international conferences such as the Commission on the Status of Women, which is taking place very soon. My noble friend Lord Collins will be going to represent us and Minister Malhotra as well. We commit to discussing these issues as we go forward, deciding how the cut is going to be implemented.
Baroness Sugg (Con)
My Lords, the Minister refers to the Commission on the Status of Women, and it is great to hear that there will be representation from Ministers there. Can I ask the noble Baroness what the aims and objectives are for the Government for that meeting? It comes at a time when we are seeing a deeply concerning rollback of women’s rights around the world.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for her question. Of course, the normal issues will be covered by my noble friend Lord Collins in this House and by Minister Malhotra in the other House. One of the important aspects of the commission is that, as well as the high-level ministerial input, there will be a large civil society presence, which I believe is the way forward, demonstrating just how gender equality fits into the UK’s modernised approach to development, broadening partnerships with the global South to counter the rollback of rights, as she quite rightly highlights, and building the effectiveness of international delivery on the Government’s mission. Ensuring a gender lens will be crucial to our leadership in this space, and the commission will give us the opportunity to meet with other participants and discuss how we move forward in this very difficult global time.