I delivered a speech to parliament to mark International Women’s Day, in which I called for more support for women in the UK and around the world. We will always be indebted to the suffragettes who fought so hard to get women the right to vote and who also championed many other causes including a living wage, decent housing and equal pay. We have made much progress in the last 100 years but there is so much more to do in terms of representation, status, pay and rights.
I also highlighted the plight of women who are suffering today in the UK and around the world. Globally, one in three women suffer from violence or sexual violence and those living in conflict zones are subject to rape and sexual violence, which are used as weapons of war. Violence against women is a violation of human rights and we have a collective responsibility to protect women here and around the world from this appalling suffering. We all have a responsibility to improve the lives of women everywhere and help empower them.