DEBATE: UK House of Lords International Women's Day debate: Hansard March 3 2011

On March 3 2011 the UK Upper House held a debate to recognise International Women's Day 2011. For full report, please click here.

Now follows some extracts from the debate. These include the very brave part played by Arab women in the Days of Rage plus a reference to UK post-conflict specialist Lesley Abdela's work.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market (3 Mar 2011 : Column 1207):

I wish to say a few words about one particular aspect of recent events in the Middle East, which have made us all hold our breath from time to time. We have seen many striking images involving women and girls taking their place, marching and protesting side by side with the men. In these countries where the public sphere is so often dominated by men, this could be a real game-changer.

There is much that we can do. I have been interested to read about the work of Lesley Abdela, whom the noble Baroness, Lady Gardner of Parkes, mentioned previously in another context*. Lesley Abdela has worked in post-conflict regions across the world. When she was working in Iraq, she helped to develop an approach on phrases that can be used in constitutions to guarantee the rights of women. Those can be translated quickly into Egyptian Arabic and into other languages and can play an important part. I hope that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is on top of this and following it through, and there is of course a role for the EU and the UN.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (3 Mar 2011 : Column 1214):

My Lords…

… almost nothing will affect our sisters throughout the world more than our attitude to war and conflict. Not even our attitude to trade and aid is more influential than how we choose to deploy our military strength, or, indeed, whether we choose to develop or deploy it at all. That should be a burning issue for debate among us women as women throughout the world directly suffer the consequences of our action or lack of action.

I, too, commend the work of Lesley Abdela, who was mentioned by the noble Baronesses, Lady Gardner of Parkes and Lady Scott of Needham Market. Lesley Abdela has worked her whole life to improve women's political position throughout the world. Even now, she is working on the Egyptian issue. She should certainly be in this House, but that would take her away from her front-line job; perhaps it is lucky for the women of the world that she is not here.

Lastly, I shall comment on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Women initiative, which is putting mobile phone technology into the hands of women.

*Re the all-Party 300 Group for Women In Politics founded by Lesley Abdela to increase the number of women in the UK and world's parliaments.

This summary was circulated by Shevolution.com.