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Women: Equality

Answer

Getting more women into power gives voice to a marginalised section of society, creates female role models and leads to legislative change and policies that tackle gender inequalities and discrimination. Peace settlements are 35% more likely to endure for more than 15 years if women have been involved in negotiations.

Increasing women’s political participation and leadership is a foundational pillar of DFID’s Strategic Vision for Gender Equality, launched in March 2018, and is a top priority in the current cross-Government National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Just 24% of national parliamentarians around the world are women. DFID programmes are supporting women to participate in politics.

In Nigeria, DFID’s ‘Women in Politics’ programme supports women elected to the National Assembly, including establishing the first women’s caucus as a forum for advocacy, policy development and training. In Afghanistan, DFID support has helped women provincial councillors who often face intimidation and violence in their work.

Women’s voice and leadership can make a real difference on issues that matter to them.

DFID has supported Amplify Change to fund women-led organisations that help women to claim their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Grantees have driven change to policies and laws, such as the Registration of Marriage regulation in Afghanistan; improved access to SRHR services, information and products, such as providing 7000 girls in Tanzania with menstrual products; and transformed social norms including significant contribution to the eradication of child marriage in Cote d’Ivoire.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

256930

Session

2017-19

Subjects

Developing countries Development aid Women Equality

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk