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MP Margaret Hodge speaks out on global women's empowerment ahead of volunteering placement with women's rights groups in Nepal
Senior politician Margaret Hodge yesterday spoke out about the need for global action to increase women’s empowerment, ahead of a volunteering placement in Nepal with VSO. Travelling to Nepal this week, Margaret will work with local women’s organisationsand political parties to help them increase women’s participation and representation in politics.
The call comes ahead of a key conference in Bali, Indonesia, from 25 to 27 March 2013. The UN’s High Level Panel, co-chaired by David Cameron, are meeting to discuss recommendations to shape the future of international development once the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015.
VSO’s parliamentarian volunteer, Margaret Hodge MBE, MP for Barking and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said:
“The High Level Panel must use this once in a generation opportunity to start tackling the political, social and economic barriers that shut women out. We know that investing in women delivers brilliant results but we also must address the fact that women are denied the right to have a say in the decisions being made about their lives.
“’I’m supporting VSO’s campaign to empower women in all spheres of life, whether they are participating in national politics or in local communities.
“I cannot wait to start my volunteer placement in Nepal this week, working with women’s groups to help increase female leadership in politics. Token advances in women’s representation are not good enough. As in many other countries, Nepal needs meaningful action and real policy change to enable women to play an equal role in public life.”
VSO is urging the High Level Panel to put women’s participation and influence at the heart of future approaches to tackling poverty. The organisation is calling for:
1. A dedicated goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
2. Concrete targets to increase women’s participation and influence in public and political life.
3. A combination of objective and self-reported indicators to track change.
For more information please visit www.vso.org.uk/womeninpower
Margaret Hodge’s placement is at the specific request of VSO Nepal and its local partner organisation, Sankalpa, to help them increase women’s voice and influence in the country.
The placement takes places from 27th March - 7th April, during the Easter Parliamentary Recess.
About VSO:
VSO is an international development organisation that fights poverty through volunteers, bringing people together to share skills and knowledge. VSO volunteers work in whatever fields are necessary to fight the forces that keep people in poverty – from education and health through to helping people learn the skills to make a living. In doing so, they invest in local people, so the impact they make endures long after their placement ends. VSO recruits skilled volunteers from countries in the global north and global south, as well as supporting the growth of volunteering within developing countries.
For more information and interview requests contact:
Susannah Henty, +44 (0)20 8780 7621 or outside office hours +44 (0)7500 91847
