06 March 2007

As Government minister, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn prepares to deliver his first speech on women’s rights at the invitation of ActionAid, the charity calls for women’s rights to be put at the forefront of the fight against global poverty.

In advance of a landmark debate on Women’s Rights in an Age of Insecurity, ActionAid Head of Policy, Jessica Woodroffe said that International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the strong, courageous and committed women around the world who are fighting for their rights.

It is also a time to expose the injustices that women face every day of their lives.

"Today is an appropriate time to reflect upon what it really means to be secure in the world," she said. "If a fraction of the political energy committed to the 'war on terror' were put into fighting the war on everyday terror and insecurity faced by millions of women, we would be a step closer to creating a better and safer world."

Charities like ActionAid have had success in putting development and poverty on the agenda, but governments have let women’s rights fall behind.

A woman born anywhere in the world has a one in three chance of being raped, beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The epidemic of sexual violence in some countries is now a key driver of the HIV pandemic.

Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours, yet earn only a tenth of its income. Increasingly, pressure on suppliers to deliver more for less is passed on to workers in the form of low wages, job insecurity and poor working conditions.

Meanwhile, lack of political influence is undermining women’s security and progress towards achieving their rights. At every level of government, women are grossly underrepresented in positions of power.

Woodroffe said: "Poverty, conflict and violence affect women disproportionately. Seventy per cent of the world’s poorest people are women."

Hilary Benn will be speaking as part of a panel of high profile speakers including Noerine Kaleeba, Chair of ActionAid and a renowned activist for women’s rights. She is known best for her groundbreaking work in Uganda and Africa with those living with HIV/AIDS. Also taking part are Cassandra Balchin, author of Women Living Under Muslim Laws and Maxine Molyneux of the Institute of Latin American Studies. The panel discussion, organised jointly with One World Action, takes place at 6.00pm on March 8 at Central Hall, Westminster.