Thank you for contacting me about Plan International UK's Equal Power Now campaign.
Like you, I believe unlocking the full potential and power of women and girls is of vital importance. Not only is it morally right that women and girls can participate in the decisions that affect their lives, but it also accelerates progress on all our global priorities, from economic prosperity to security. Regrettably, however, women and girls continue to remain underrepresented in formal, high-level processes related political decision-making.
It is for reasons such as these that providing women and girls with the freedom they need to succeed is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) priority, as outlined in the Government's Strategy for International Development, published in May 2022. This is in keeping with FCDO human rights objectives, which currently include a particular emphasis on promoting gender equality and women and girls’ rights.
The FCDO’s activity in this area includes work to strengthen legislation on gender-based violence; initiatives to increase the political participation of women; support for women’s rights organisations in protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls; and the empowerment of women to participate in national dialogue and decision-making processes. In line with this, enabling women ands girls' active participation in political processes continues to be an important area of UK Aid's work, which I understand includes elections management and observation, electoral system reform and campaigns, women’s movements and leadership, and work with the media.
I hope this reassures you that the UK Government is committed to a foreign policy that consciously and consistently delivers gender equality. Likewise, I am glad that the Government is also taking significant steps to increase the political representation and participation of women and girls here in the UK.
The 2019 General Election, for instance, saw more women than ever elected, with female MPs making up a proportion of 34 per cent. In addition, the number of women on FTSE 350 boards has increased by over 50 per cent in the last five years. It is encouraging to see more women and girls represented in the STEM pipeline also, with a 50.1 per cent increase in women accepted on to full-time STEM undergraduate courses in the UK.
Whilst room for further progress remains, I can assure you that the UK stands steadfast in its commitment to protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights and will continue to work with partners, including women’s rights organisations, to deliver for women and girls everywhere.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.