0:00:35 > 0:00:39We come together to recognise and celebrate the achievement women and
0:00:39 > 0:00:46girls across world. This year International Women's Day is
0:00:46 > 0:00:50significant for us in this country on this Parliament. In 2018, we
0:00:50 > 0:00:55celebrate the centenary of the first British women getting bored and
0:00:55 > 0:00:59there is much to celebrate. 100 years of women are represented at
0:00:59 > 0:01:10every level public life. In my own department, the Home Office, over
0:01:10 > 0:01:19half the ministers are women including the Home Secretary.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Cressida Dick was appointed the first women commission of the London
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Metropolitan Police and my honourable colleague Baroness Hale
0:01:25 > 0:01:39became the first woman president of the Supreme Court. Danny Cotton
0:01:39 > 0:01:46became the first female commission of the London Fire Brigade. Jodie
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Whittaker it in the first in a Doctor Who. I waited to see the
0:01:49 > 0:01:55first female James Bond. Although this is a day to celebrate the
0:01:55 > 0:01:57achievements of women we must also recognise the challenges and
0:01:57 > 0:02:04prejudice with which women and girls are faced. Both at home and across
0:02:04 > 0:02:13the world. We must continue to press for progress to excel in gender
0:02:13 > 0:02:18equality. We must not be complacent and believe this struggle has been
0:02:18 > 0:02:25consigned to the past. Just as the sub suggests, suffragists and their
0:02:25 > 0:02:33supporters stood side by side -- just as the suffragettes they fought
0:02:33 > 0:02:37the past ballot 100 -- 100 years ago, we have witnessed a global
0:02:37 > 0:02:42movement of women coming together to call out injustice. Women from all
0:02:42 > 0:02:46walks of life have issued a rallying cry, calling time on sexual
0:02:46 > 0:02:52harassment, violence against women, unequal pay and discrimination. We
0:02:52 > 0:02:57must capitalise on the momentum of campaigns such as the need to
0:02:57 > 0:03:01movement to accelerate the drive towards equality for all. This
0:03:01 > 0:03:05government has been making great strides to build on the work of
0:03:05 > 0:03:11countless members on all sides of both houses. The UK has a proud
0:03:11 > 0:03:14history of playing the central role in securing change for women and
0:03:14 > 0:03:19girls and we are well respected internationally or other world
0:03:19 > 0:03:23leading policy and legislation on equalities. Outside of the UK, many
0:03:23 > 0:03:28women and gales still do not have the opportunities and choices they
0:03:28 > 0:03:33deserve more credit due to cultural expectations, poverty, conflict or a
0:03:33 > 0:03:38combination of all three. We know there is a crucial role for us to
0:03:38 > 0:03:42play to end injustice at home and abroad in this country already does
0:03:42 > 0:03:46great work internationally to ensure gender equality reaches all corners
0:03:46 > 0:03:51of the globe. The UK was instrumental in securing agreement
0:03:51 > 0:03:56for dedicated targets on gender equality and women's empowerment
0:03:56 > 0:04:01within the sustainable development goals and right now as I speak, UK
0:04:01 > 0:04:04it is having a significant impact on the lives of millions of women and
0:04:04 > 0:04:09girls across the globe. To name but a few examples, UK aid has supported
0:04:09 > 0:04:14over 6000 communities across 16 countries to make public commitments
0:04:14 > 0:04:21to end female genital mutilation, representing 18 million people. UK
0:04:21 > 0:04:25aid has also enabled 8.5 million women to access modern methods of
0:04:25 > 0:04:31family planning over five years. Yesterday, the Department for
0:04:31 > 0:04:34International Development launched their new strategic vision for
0:04:34 > 0:04:39gender equality. This sets out the UK's global leadership and securing
0:04:39 > 0:04:43with our partners the rights of all girls and women around the world,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46particularly in fragile and conflict affected states and in humanitarian
0:04:46 > 0:04:53and protracted crises.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57These are all great achievements, but there is more to do to improve
0:04:57 > 0:05:00gender equality and improve the lives of women and girls around the
0:05:00 > 0:05:04world. One in three women are beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime
0:05:04 > 0:05:10around the world. We hear so many statistics in this chamber every
0:05:10 > 0:05:14day, we risk becoming desensitised to the horrific facts. We must do
0:05:14 > 0:05:19everything in our power to ensure that we do not. Imagine looking at a
0:05:19 > 0:05:24class of young girls knowing that one third of them will face physical
0:05:24 > 0:05:29or sexual violence over the course of their lives. That cannot go on.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims is
0:05:32 > 0:05:38an absolute priority, whether they suffer violence in their
0:05:38 > 0:05:42communities, relationships, or online. The UK is leading the way
0:05:42 > 0:05:46internationally, but we know there is more to do. That is why we have
0:05:46 > 0:05:49today announced that we are consulting on our programme of work
0:05:49 > 0:05:54to tackle domestic abuse. This consultation will shape the response
0:05:54 > 0:05:59to domestic abuse at every stage, from prevention through to
0:05:59 > 0:06:03rehabilitation and reinforces the Goverment's aim to make domestic
0:06:03 > 0:06:07abuse everybody's business. By consulting, we aim to harness the
0:06:07 > 0:06:12knowledge and expertise of victims and survivors. Charities and
0:06:12 > 0:06:16specialist organisations and experts, professionals across
0:06:16 > 0:06:19policing, criminal justice, health, welfare, education, local
0:06:19 > 0:06:24authorities, those who deal with these issues everyday. Part of what
0:06:24 > 0:06:29we are consulting on is a domestic abuse Bill, aiming to better protect
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and support victims, recognise the lifelong impact that domestic abuse
0:06:33 > 0:06:36has on children and make sure that agencies effectively respond to
0:06:36 > 0:06:43domestic abuse. The Bill will create a domestic abuse Commissioner for
0:06:43 > 0:06:46law to stand for victims and survivors and hold the system to
0:06:46 > 0:06:50account. It would also create a new domestic abuse protection order
0:06:50 > 0:06:53regime to create a clearer pathway of protection for victims and will
0:06:53 > 0:06:57make sure that if abusive behaviour involves a child that the court can
0:06:57 > 0:07:02hand down a sentence that reflects the devastating lifelong impact that
0:07:02 > 0:07:06abuse has. The Government is also announcing today how additional
0:07:06 > 0:07:10funding for domestic abuse will be spent. This includes £8 million to
0:07:10 > 0:07:18support children who witness domestic abuse, £2 million to
0:07:18 > 0:07:20improve the health response to domestic abuse, and £2 million to
0:07:20 > 0:07:24support female offenders who are so often the victims of domestic abuse.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Internationally, we are generating world leading evidence on what works
0:07:27 > 0:07:34to prevent violence before it starts through our £25 million What Works
0:07:34 > 0:07:40To Prevent Violence Against Women And Girls Programme. We contributing
0:07:40 > 0:07:44to the UN trust fund to end violence against women. The fund has reached
0:07:44 > 0:07:50over 1 million people. Another threat facing women around the world
0:07:50 > 0:07:54is safe pregnancy. Every two minutes, a woman dies in pregnancy
0:07:54 > 0:08:00or childbirth. That means that in the time that I've been speaking,
0:08:00 > 0:08:05that's five women. The majority of these deaths are preventable.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11Millions of women in developing countries do not have access to
0:08:11 > 0:08:16modern contraception. In the summer of 2017, this Government hosted a
0:08:16 > 0:08:20family planning Summit to accelerate global progress and reinforce the UK
0:08:20 > 0:08:25is global commitments to give 120 more women and girls access to
0:08:25 > 0:08:29contraception. Our ambition is that all women around the world can
0:08:29 > 0:08:34access quality care, and we will continue to provide bold and brave
0:08:34 > 0:08:38leadership by developing important strategic relationships,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40international summits, and generating world-class evidence and
0:08:40 > 0:08:44research. To make progress on these important issues, we need to
0:08:44 > 0:08:49continue the fight for women's voices to be heard. Equal political
0:08:49 > 0:08:54representation ensures that Parliament's globally represents the
0:08:54 > 0:08:58needs of their citizens. We support women's political representation
0:08:58 > 0:09:02around the world for a number of programmes. For example, in
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Pakistan, our support of the 2013 election helped many more women to
0:09:06 > 0:09:09register as voters. With many going on to the vote for the first time
0:09:09 > 0:09:13ever. It brought national attention to the 8 million women missing from
0:09:13 > 0:09:19the electoral roll. Education is crucial if we want to ensure that
0:09:19 > 0:09:23women and girls are engaged and active in political and public life.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28In this country, girls tend to perform well at school. In fact,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32they regularly outperform their male counterparts. However, around the
0:09:32 > 0:09:37world there are 65 million girls aged 5-15 that are not in school.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42Almost the equivalent of the entire UK population. Education is a
0:09:42 > 0:09:46critical tool to tackle injustice and to build a more equal society.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51It provides girls with the space to develop their own thoughts and
0:09:51 > 0:09:55opinions, and, most importantly, their voices. This Government has
0:09:55 > 0:09:59championed girls' education across the world. The Foreign Secretary has
0:09:59 > 0:10:03made girls' education a foreign policy priorities and pointed a
0:10:03 > 0:10:11special -- appointed a special envoy to make this work. We have supported
0:10:11 > 0:10:18at least 3.3 million girls around the world to get a good education.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Education is so important, but we know it's not enough in itself to
0:10:21 > 0:10:26ensure that gender equality happens in the workplace. For women to have
0:10:26 > 0:10:30equal opportunities to men at work, employers need to take action, and
0:10:30 > 0:10:34we all need to challenge harmful social norms that can hold women
0:10:34 > 0:10:39back. We want the UK to lead the way for gender equality in the
0:10:39 > 0:10:42workplace. Research has shown that companies with more diverse
0:10:42 > 0:10:45workforce perform better than their counterparts. The employment rates
0:10:45 > 0:10:50for women is at a joint record high of 70.8%, we need to build on this
0:10:50 > 0:10:55to make the most of women's skills, Charlie Subban talent and potential.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00To tackle the gender pay cap we have introduced world leading regulations
0:11:00 > 0:11:04requiring organisations with 250 or more employees to report their gap.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08These regulations will not only drive employers to calculate and
0:11:08 > 0:11:13report their gender pay caps, they will shine a light on the factors
0:11:13 > 0:11:15driving the gaps. Encouraged and enabling employers to take action to
0:11:15 > 0:11:21close them. Working with our international friends is essential
0:11:21 > 0:11:25in making progress. Over the past year, we have agreed a road map for
0:11:25 > 0:11:30gender equality with the other G-7 countries. We have taken extra steps
0:11:30 > 0:11:32to strengthen our collaboration with Canada following the Prime
0:11:32 > 0:11:38Minister's visit in Ottawa last summer. And the Government
0:11:38 > 0:11:41equalities office signed a memorandum of understanding with the
0:11:41 > 0:11:45all China women's Federation. Next month, women's empowerment and
0:11:45 > 0:11:51girls' education will be one of the key issues to be talked about at the
0:11:51 > 0:11:58Commonwealth summit in London. My Lord's, may I conclude by thanking
0:11:58 > 0:12:03everyone who will be speaking in the debate today, and I look forward to
0:12:03 > 0:12:09hearing some of the contributions. The question is that this motion by
0:12:09 > 0:12:16agreed to.I wish to thank the noble Baroness, the Minister, for bringing
0:12:16 > 0:12:22this debate before us today. And for her opening marks, which shows that
0:12:22 > 0:12:27we've made progress in many fields, but we've still got a way to go yet.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31And I certainly look forward to the day when a woman gets a top job and
0:12:31 > 0:12:35it doesn't make headlines, because it will become the norm, and we look
0:12:35 > 0:12:42forward to that day. My Lord's, the theme for International Women's Day
0:12:42 > 0:12:46is press for progress. And making progress on what has so far been
0:12:46 > 0:12:50achieved is something we should be looking to accelerate in all walks
0:12:50 > 0:12:54of life as far as women are concerned. The eight women in
0:12:54 > 0:13:00politics, in the workplace, at home, young girls in school, or in young
0:13:00 > 0:13:04women in further education -- by it women in politics. We need to press
0:13:04 > 0:13:08for more and faster progress. When one looks at young women and girls
0:13:08 > 0:13:15today, starting out in life, what can they expect? The women and it to
0:13:15 > 0:13:20Select Committee carried out in inquiry into sexual harassment and
0:13:20 > 0:13:25sexual violence in schools, and published its report in September 20
0:13:25 > 0:13:3216. And it showed that 29% of 16-18 -year-old girls say they have
0:13:32 > 0:13:38experienced unwanted sexual touching at school. And 59% of girls and
0:13:38 > 0:13:44young women aged 13-21 said that in 2014, and I'm sure nothing has
0:13:44 > 0:13:48changed since then, that they have faced some form of sexual harassment
0:13:48 > 0:13:53and school college in the past year. Young people told the committee that
0:13:53 > 0:13:59sexual harassment has become a normal part of school life. And I
0:13:59 > 0:14:03just think that's so sad, isn't it, that it's become normal, to have
0:14:03 > 0:14:11sexual harassment at school. Lord Bates of the Everyday Sex Was
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Project has described sexual harassment in violence and school
0:14:14 > 0:14:19as, and I quote, a widespread, regular and common problem,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23something that the majority of girls are experiencing. The committee's
0:14:23 > 0:14:28report found inconsistencies in how schools deal with sexual harassment
0:14:28 > 0:14:36and violence and a lack of guidance and support for teachers. The UK
0:14:36 > 0:14:41feminist and the National education union published a report in 2017
0:14:41 > 0:14:47called sexism in school. And it said that sexism in school is in BMX, but
0:14:47 > 0:14:55is not inevitable. -- is endemic. Consistent and ongoing action is
0:14:55 > 0:14:58required from schools, Government and education bodies to tackle it.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The findings and conclusions were similar to the women and it do is
0:15:02 > 0:15:06report. Bearing in mind these two reports, it shows us there is lots
0:15:06 > 0:15:13of problems in schools. So I'd like to ask the Minister, what action is
0:15:13 > 0:15:16the Government taking on the recommendations of the women and the
0:15:16 > 0:15:19use Select Committee, as the Government did respond positively,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23and hopefully they have action and measures suggested in their
0:15:23 > 0:15:28response. One recommendation was a setting up of an advisory group to
0:15:28 > 0:15:33look at how the issues and recommendations can be best
0:15:33 > 0:15:42reflected within the existing DfE guidance for schools, including, KCS
0:15:42 > 0:15:49i:e., and that stands for Keeping Children Safe In School, perhaps the
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Minister could say, what progress is being made and if the advisory group
0:15:53 > 0:15:58is working? A change of culture in our school must be what is required,
0:15:58 > 0:16:03and it can be achieved, providing the resources are put into it. I
0:16:03 > 0:16:06feel only then the next generation of girls will be able to attend
0:16:06 > 0:16:11school without fear of sexual harassment in a place that should be
0:16:11 > 0:16:19one of safety. As far as educational achievement is concerned, as the
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Minister said, girls are outperforming boys at school, but
0:16:22 > 0:16:26they are not going on to be higher earners than men, or to be equally
0:16:26 > 0:16:30represented in leadership positions. There are of course a number of
0:16:30 > 0:16:37reasons for this. School and the education system have their part to
0:16:37 > 0:16:41play. Young women experienced gender norms and stereotypes which prevent
0:16:41 > 0:16:46them from reaching their full potential. Only one in three girls
0:16:46 > 0:16:51who take maths and science at GCSE level want to take a stem subject at
0:16:51 > 0:16:57a level or the equivalent, compared to eight out of ten boys. The
0:16:57 > 0:17:05education policy Institute has found that there are large gender gaps in
0:17:05 > 0:17:08entries to art subjects, with girls far more likely to enter art
0:17:08 > 0:17:12subjects than boys. This has been the case throughout the last decade,
0:17:12 > 0:17:20and it is widening. My Lord's, the men and men starting
0:17:20 > 0:17:21apprenticeships, men are dominating the apprenticeships with higher
0:17:21 > 0:17:27earning potential. We have seen that the way that gender stereotypes move
0:17:27 > 0:17:31from school subjects to apprenticeships to the workplace,
0:17:31 > 0:17:37and that male dominated work is valued more highly. According to the
0:17:37 > 0:17:43House of Commons Library figures, in 2016-17, 50 4% of the apprenticeship
0:17:43 > 0:17:50starts work by women. And 46 by men. The number of women starting
0:17:50 > 0:17:55apprenticeships in England has been higher than men every year since
0:17:55 > 0:17:582010-11, but men continue to dominate apprenticeship with the
0:17:58 > 0:18:05best earning potential. In 2014-15, nearly 17,000 men started
0:18:05 > 0:18:11engineering apprenticeships. Whilst only 600 girls did. So, that's not
0:18:11 > 0:18:15good. And much progress is needed to be done to ensure that we make much
0:18:15 > 0:18:20more progress than that. So, I'd like to ask the Minister, what
0:18:20 > 0:18:24action is the Government taking to encourage more women to take up jobs
0:18:24 > 0:18:30such as engineering? We mark the Centenary of women getting the vote
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and being allowed to stand for Parliament, and I know we did have a
0:18:34 > 0:18:40good debate on this on February five. And we all know that progress
0:18:40 > 0:18:46is so slow for women wanting to get into politics. We know 489 women
0:18:46 > 0:18:54have been elected to the House of Commons since 1918. And of those,
0:18:54 > 0:19:03489 women... No, wouldn't it be great if it was men and the reverse!
0:19:03 > 0:19:10I think there would have been quite a row about that! But this is where
0:19:10 > 0:19:18we are. Out of those women, only 45 women have been coveted ministers.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22-- Cabinet ministers. There have been two women prime ministers.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27According to the global ranking table for women parliamentarians,
0:19:27 > 0:19:34the UK is 39th on that list. The World Economic Forum 2017 global
0:19:34 > 0:19:40gender Gap report findings tell us a gender parity is over 200 years
0:19:40 > 0:19:47away. That means it only happened in the lifetime of not everyone on the
0:19:47 > 0:19:51planet today and not for several generations to come, that is
0:19:51 > 0:19:59tremendously... We need to make much better progress than that. Progress
0:19:59 > 0:20:03in this field will not happen unless action is similar to that the Labour
0:20:03 > 0:20:11Party has taken for having all women short lists since 1997. Now, this
0:20:11 > 0:20:14progress has been used in all types of election, not just of the
0:20:14 > 0:20:57Commons, and it does work.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01The in the UK we need to have a serious discussion. I don't believe
0:21:01 > 0:21:05gender parity will just happen, action has to be taken and we will
0:21:05 > 0:21:09wait to future generations of young women who want to enter politics and
0:21:09 > 0:21:15make their contribution in public service in February 2017, the Prime
0:21:15 > 0:21:21Minister announced we're working towards a domestic violence and
0:21:21 > 0:21:26abuse act which the minister talked about earlier.Last month Supply
0:21:26 > 0:21:31Minister confirmed that there would be a further wait for legislation.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34The consultation, I'm pleased to say has been launched today and this is
0:21:34 > 0:21:40to be welcomed and we have waited quite a while for it. What is
0:21:40 > 0:21:45concerning is that the scope of the bill will be too narrow and focus
0:21:45 > 0:21:51solely on domestic violence and the criminal justice system. It misses
0:21:51 > 0:21:56out vital, wider issues such as sustainable funding for refugees. I
0:21:56 > 0:21:59will as the minister if you would make a commitment of ensuring this
0:21:59 > 0:22:04new bill will address the full range of issues affecting victims of
0:22:04 > 0:22:17domestic violence. On average every week, we all know the statistics and
0:22:17 > 0:22:28we quartered and as the minister
0:22:34 > 0:22:37said many women gossip is to do and they seek refuge and have stories
0:22:37 > 0:22:40they had been turned away as there is no place for them where once
0:22:40 > 0:22:47there was. This is such an essential service for the protection of women
0:22:47 > 0:22:49and girls who are caught up in domestic violence and more action
0:22:49 > 0:22:57and funding is required in order to see you this happen. I hope the
0:22:57 > 0:22:59consolation arrives different organisations to feed in and that's
0:22:59 > 0:23:04obviously the purpose of the consultation and hopefully a lot of
0:23:04 > 0:23:08good things will come out of it. My Lords, I really hope this domestic
0:23:08 > 0:23:13violence and abuse act will address these problems and make life a
0:23:13 > 0:23:18little better for women who suffer from domestic violence and abuse. My
0:23:18 > 0:23:24Lords, we will need to continue the press for progress for some time yet
0:23:24 > 0:23:29but if the will and determination is there it will happen and I have no
0:23:29 > 0:23:34doubt about that. I looking forward to the contributions of noble Lords
0:23:34 > 0:23:38Baroness is and I look forward to the minister's request.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46I too would like to thank the noble Lord -- the noble lady the Minister
0:23:46 > 0:23:52for introducing this debate in this key year when the Mark 100 years of
0:23:52 > 0:23:57women Brassica Givaudan United Kingdom. I think that we sorely miss
0:23:57 > 0:24:04the noble lady Baroness Turner as we debate this issue today. The
0:24:04 > 0:24:13Baroness will have access to a very large funds from the wonderful but
0:24:13 > 0:24:18overstretched government equalities office and she can best cover the
0:24:18 > 0:24:23wide range of areas that we will no doubt raise. During the coalition, I
0:24:23 > 0:24:28was in the fortunate position of being where she is, responding to
0:24:28 > 0:24:33this debate but if I look back to those days, it is stunning to see
0:24:33 > 0:24:38what has changed since then. Who would have thought then that we
0:24:38 > 0:24:42would face the prospect of leaving the European Union now, the union
0:24:42 > 0:24:48that has brought such benefits for women into UK law and that we
0:24:48 > 0:24:51apparently planned to leave even though the government's on analyses
0:24:51 > 0:24:59shows that it is the poorest in our society and women are poorer than
0:24:59 > 0:25:02men, who will disproportionately be affected by Brexit. Who would have
0:25:02 > 0:25:07thought that we would have Donald Trump in the White House, despite
0:25:07 > 0:25:12all the abuse he has meted out to women and carrying favour with the
0:25:12 > 0:25:17right-wing over the rights of women. Who would have thought that he would
0:25:17 > 0:25:21defeat Hillary Clinton, the phrase he Vries her own that women rights
0:25:21 > 0:25:27are human rights. Make sure that women in Afghanistan, for example,
0:25:27 > 0:25:34were not pushed aside for so-called cultural reasons. In a country where
0:25:34 > 0:25:37perhaps all that has emerged from Allied engagement is an improvement
0:25:37 > 0:25:43in women's writes. On the other side of things, who would have thought
0:25:43 > 0:25:48that Harvey Weinstein and others would have been brought down and the
0:25:48 > 0:25:54world would listen when women shouted me to an times about who
0:25:54 > 0:25:57would have thought that Oxfam would be on the ropes over the sexual
0:25:57 > 0:26:02exploitation of women in countries where they are most vulnerable?
0:26:02 > 0:26:08Wherever there are inequalities of power and in the relations between
0:26:08 > 0:26:11men and women, globally, then such exploitation has long been a fact of
0:26:11 > 0:26:17life. We knew that in many developing countries, girls were not
0:26:17 > 0:26:22safe, even in school because their teachers demanded sexual favours. We
0:26:22 > 0:26:29knew that peacekeepers could not be trusted not to abuse the female
0:26:29 > 0:26:32population, whom they were supposed to protect. I guess it should not
0:26:32 > 0:26:38have come as a surprise that there could be abuse, even by those who
0:26:38 > 0:26:45should fully have understood their responsibility. It is clearly the
0:26:45 > 0:26:48case as the noble Baroness, the minister, has outlined that we have
0:26:48 > 0:26:52a secured greater equality in the West and in Britain that we are all
0:26:52 > 0:26:59here in this house playing the parts that we do is testimony to that. But
0:26:59 > 0:27:02women in Britain, as we had from the noble lady, Baroness Gale, are still
0:27:02 > 0:27:09far from equal in terms of pay, responsibility for domestic work,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13caring for children and our older relatives. I was shocked today to
0:27:13 > 0:27:18read that women are five times more likely to be donors of kidneys to
0:27:18 > 0:27:21their husbands than the other way round. How about that for what's
0:27:21 > 0:27:28expected of you and gender inequality? Neither are we on the
0:27:28 > 0:27:32boards of companies in the numbers that we should be, or governors of
0:27:32 > 0:27:37central banks. I had last night that only 6% of central bank governors
0:27:37 > 0:27:41worldwide are women. I met one last night courtesy of the noble Lord who
0:27:41 > 0:27:46is in its space just now and she was a governor, as the governor of the
0:27:46 > 0:27:52central bank of Serbia but even she emphasised that she must also play a
0:27:52 > 0:27:56full part at home with her family cleaning, cooking and as she put it,
0:27:56 > 0:28:03having a smile on her face when her husband and children came home. This
0:28:03 > 0:28:15is the governor of the Central bank. We know that if equality is
0:28:16 > 0:28:19far from far away and Britain, it is even further elsewhere. We have had
0:28:19 > 0:28:24the visited of trumpets of Saudi Arabia. I welcome the ship 's been
0:28:24 > 0:28:28made in his company -- country and applaud the women who have helped
0:28:28 > 0:28:32this along. I recall visiting the country a few years back and seeing
0:28:32 > 0:28:37for myself the inequalities are. Women boxed away in a small part of
0:28:37 > 0:28:41the University while the men ranged through the rest, including the
0:28:41 > 0:28:47library, which was barred to women. In my hotel and a break in meetings,
0:28:47 > 0:28:52I decided to take advantage of the swimming pool as I headed in, I was
0:28:52 > 0:28:58told, you cannot swim, this isn't the women's hour. Disappointed, I
0:28:58 > 0:29:05asked when the woman's hour was. There isn't one came the reply. It
0:29:05 > 0:29:09is because worldwide we see inequality that I am such a
0:29:09 > 0:29:12supporter of quarters and positive action in Parliament. Including
0:29:12 > 0:29:18ours. I have seen how much was achieved in Pakistan, for example,
0:29:18 > 0:29:23by those elected to the women's places in the last parliament there,
0:29:23 > 0:29:2970% of the legislation was taken through by women and they were under
0:29:29 > 0:29:3130% of the parliament. Working across and deep into their own
0:29:31 > 0:29:37parties. Their focus was on improving the lot of women, for
0:29:37 > 0:29:42example criminalising acid attacks. It's also why, in terms of
0:29:42 > 0:29:48development, it is right to put the overwhelming emphasis on women and
0:29:48 > 0:29:52girls, to invest in girl 's's dedication. The longer a girl is in
0:29:52 > 0:29:56school, the fewer children she has, the better she is able to be
0:29:56 > 0:30:01independent and provide for an educate her family. She, her family
0:30:01 > 0:30:05and community at her country will benefit. It is also why emphasising
0:30:05 > 0:30:10family planning is vital so that all women who wish to access family
0:30:10 > 0:30:15planning can do so. And we should not ignore the challenge of
0:30:15 > 0:30:18abortion. I welcomed the report of the all-party group on population
0:30:18 > 0:30:23and development on abortion and I pay tribute to the noble lady
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Baroness told him that regard. It recognises that abortions will occur
0:30:26 > 0:30:31and that so often deaths result where these are not legal and
0:30:31 > 0:30:37medically assisted. The proportion of maternal mortality in developing
0:30:37 > 0:30:45countries resulting from unsafe abortions ranges as high as 18%, the
0:30:45 > 0:30:47estimate. Maternal morbidity from the consequences of unsafe abortion
0:30:47 > 0:30:55is also common and the panda rightly that young women, poor women and
0:30:55 > 0:30:57women in conflict situations are particularly vulnerable. I'm proud
0:30:57 > 0:31:04of the fact that in coalition we put into law a commitment to 0.7% of GNI
0:31:04 > 0:31:09for aid with a particular focus on women and girls. I'm proud of the
0:31:09 > 0:31:13fact that David has not shied away from areas like family planning and
0:31:13 > 0:31:18abortion over recent years. Unlike Donald Trump's America. Long may
0:31:18 > 0:31:26that continue. I also paid tribute here to the focus that David has had
0:31:26 > 0:31:30on women with disabilities, something pioneered by my noble
0:31:30 > 0:31:33friend Lord Bruce when he was chair of the International Development
0:31:33 > 0:31:38Select Committee on my noble friend Baroness Weatherstone as a minister.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Sight Savers point out that women with disabilities are among the most
0:31:42 > 0:31:47marginalised in the world. Many are likely to experience the double
0:31:47 > 0:31:51discrimination of gender and disability. Men with disabilities
0:31:51 > 0:31:54are almost twice as likely to be employed as their female
0:31:54 > 0:31:59counterparts. Women and deals with disabilities suffer particularly
0:31:59 > 0:32:08high rates of gender-based violence. Although we recognise what has been
0:32:08 > 0:32:15achieved globally for women, there is indeed still much to do. Which is
0:32:15 > 0:32:18why this annual debate is important. We should not recall this only on
0:32:18 > 0:32:23one day a year but this is a time at the very least to take stock of
0:32:23 > 0:32:28where we are and where we seem to be going. In some regards, we appear to
0:32:28 > 0:32:34be moving forward but in others, the forces of reaction seemed to be
0:32:34 > 0:32:44taking us in the opposite direction. In the centenary year when we
0:32:44 > 0:32:47celebrate the fact that some women in the UK got the right to vote in
0:32:47 > 0:32:531918, I would like to widen the lens to consider briefly the
0:32:53 > 0:32:59international scene as it is now and the noble Baroness is part of that
0:32:59 > 0:33:02and I would like to focus on one country in particular and that is
0:33:02 > 0:33:07Albania. And not just because I visited it last month in the
0:33:07 > 0:33:12February says as member of the UK's IPU group but also because Albania
0:33:12 > 0:33:15provides an example of the challenges that must be overcome
0:33:15 > 0:33:18when seeking to achieve gender equality and the progress that can
0:33:18 > 0:33:24be made by determined efforts within the country but also with the
0:33:24 > 0:33:31assistance of the UK and also with UN women. The report published this
0:33:31 > 0:33:34month by the IPU Secretary General states that the progress made in
0:33:34 > 0:33:39women's political involvement is slowing. With the exception of some
0:33:39 > 0:33:44countries that have made headway because of political will, this has
0:33:44 > 0:33:49been overall a disappointing year. It is vital that women are part of
0:33:49 > 0:33:54decision-making institutions such as Parliament. It is fundamental, not
0:33:54 > 0:33:57just for gender equality but also for democracy and the legitimacy of
0:33:57 > 0:34:04the process. My lord, last year did see some positive developments in
0:34:04 > 0:34:09women's participation in elections worldwide. A record number women
0:34:09 > 0:34:13contested elections, more seats were won by women than previous years but
0:34:13 > 0:34:16this was largely due to measures such as electoral quarters for
0:34:16 > 0:34:22women. Whatever your views on gender quarters systems, you cannot ignore
0:34:22 > 0:34:30the impact that they have. In the 20 countries where quarters were used,
0:34:30 > 0:34:35women 1/20% of the seats while in the 16 countries where quarters were
0:34:35 > 0:34:40not, it was just 17%. The trailblazers in the Americas were
0:34:40 > 0:34:43Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, all countries that have developed
0:34:43 > 0:34:48progressive legislation to promote women's political leadership.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Elections across the Asia and Pacific region generally affected
0:34:52 > 0:34:57the fact that gender normality continue to work against women's
0:34:57 > 0:35:00entry into politics Society is lay stronger emphasis on women's roles
0:35:00 > 0:35:05in the unpaid domestic sphere. New Zealand, of course, it was the
0:35:05 > 0:35:12standout success when the elected highest ever women MPs and 39% and
0:35:12 > 0:35:18the Prime Minister. Her pregnancy has given rise to a national debate
0:35:18 > 0:35:27on women's ability to balance political leadership. The most
0:35:27 > 0:35:35prominent increase was in France where President Micron's party
0:35:35 > 0:35:40fielded gender balanced lists -- Emmanuel Macron. Now to Albania.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Historically it has a low numbers in elected office but it made
0:35:44 > 0:35:49significant progress last year. The proportion of women elected jumped
0:35:49 > 0:35:56from 18 to 20%. It is because they benefited from a gender quarter and
0:35:56 > 0:36:01from a public forum organised by UN women which enabled them to raise
0:36:01 > 0:36:06the awareness of the importance women playing a role in public life.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Every UK Parliament hearings visit to Albania was timely. There is a
0:36:10 > 0:36:16significant focus on the Western Balkans this year by the UK and by
0:36:16 > 0:36:22the EU. We will host the EU Western Balkans summit in London in me and I
0:36:22 > 0:36:24believe we host a world summit on the Western Balkans later in the
0:36:24 > 0:36:31summer.