Marie Birchall: More Women More Power
One World Action was pleased to see that the cornerstone of the Vote Global manifesto is a call for the UK to do all it can to bri
ng about a world in which poverty is eradicated. However, a vital part of the job we do here is to work alongside the decision-makers tasked this challenge, ensuring that they ask one vital question: Who exactly are the world’s poorest people?
For example, did you know that 70% of the world’s population living below the poverty line are women? And that despite doing more than two thirds of the world’s work, women only receive 10% of the world’s income and own less than 1% of the world’s property? Women across the world bear the brunt of poverty, violence and discrimination and at One World Action, we believe that the majority of women lack one of the most important tools in transforming their own lives for the better– power. In the face of such pervasive female poverty, it can be no coincidence that less than 20% of the world’s decision-makers are women.
The More Women More Power campaign is calling UK citizens to action. We want like-minded individuals to come together and join our network of Women’s Rights Champions. To use their voices here to amplify the voices of the women around the world who are fighting to be heard. And it has never been a more important time to get involved.
In the UK, equality is often taken as a given. But, right here – in one of the world’s most influential donor counties – at the dissolution of parliament, there were no women in the elected, powerful positions that focus on international development. There were no women on the International Development Select Committee in Parliament. No women Ministers at DFID. No women elected members of the Shadow Ministerial development team.
We have to ask, who is standing up for the world’s women in our own country?
Together, the forthcoming elections and the expected intake of so many new MPs gives us an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that the next UK parliament is on the side of women around the world who are fighting for the power and equality that will enable them to change their own lives for the better. Use your voice to back them.
Marie Birchall, One World Action
