Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their goals and priorities for the 2016 Commission on the Status of Women at the UN.

The Government will use the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women to ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment remain at the top of the global political agenda. We will negotiate with other United Nations Member States to agree a set of ambitious, action-oriented and forward-looking recommendations for governments around the world to accelerate progress on gender equality and ensure accountability. At the first session after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, we will press for a meaningful follow-up process that places gender equality at the heart of the new agenda while ensuring that the Commission remains the prime global forum on gender equality and the laboratory of ideas that it is today.

Furthermore, we will enhance the UK’s reputation as a world leader in this area by promoting relevant national policies but also by exchanging ideas with other United Nations Member States. In line with the session’s themes this year, we will be focusing on women’s empowerment and on violence against women and girls in high level discussions, events and bilateral meetings.

In addition, the Government will host and support a number of events to raise the profile of certain issues which still prevent us from achieving equality such as inequality in the workplace, discrimination in all its forms and violence against women and girls.

Lastly, but very importantly, we are working with civil society to ensure their participation remains an integral part of the Commission on the Status of Women programme and their concerns are heard at the national and global levels.