Women’s rights and the global economy
ActionAid’s celebration of International Women’s Day began with an evening of lively debate in Westminster. A packed hall was addressed by Gordon Brown, Wangari Maathai, Development Minister Douglas Alexander and feminist academic Gita Sen.

Alongside the Gender and Development Network, ActionAid helped organise the event to focus attention on women’s rights and the global economy. The heavyweight line up was testament to the increasing recognition that promotion of women’s rights is vital to ending poverty.

Gordon Brown started the evening with the video message above, acknowledging that women’s rights are “one of the biggest challenges to social justice in our time ”, a message later reiterated by Douglas Alexander. 

The Prime Minster focused on some of the key issues including women’s right to land, violence, and access to healthcare, before challenging the audience to: “Be bold in support of women’s rights.  Be courageous in calling the international community to account”.

Harvard Professor Gita Sen argued that empowering women was vital.  Women must be able to achieve both economic independence and participate in political life and leadership in societies.

The inspirational Kenyan activist Wangari Mathai was unable to appear in person due to the political situation in the country, but was able send a heartfelt video message.