Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to Stepping up a gear for girls and women: updates to the Department for International Development's Strategic Vision for Girls and Women, what steps she is taking to promote girls and women as leaders in politics, peace processes, business and public life, and as active citizens with a voice in society; and if she will make a statement.

Increasing women and girls participation in politics, peace processes, business and public life, and as active citizens with a voice is central to achieving DFID's Strategic Vision for Girls and Women and is crucial if we are to achieve gender equality. DFID works through a range of programmes to address the long term structural barriers to women's political empowerment. For example, DFID is working with the BBC's World Service Trust in 14 countries to enhance political accountability through the media. Women's active and meaningful participation in all peace processes, as well as their representation in formal and informal decision making at all levels, is vital to international peace and security.