Women, Justice and Gender Equality

Part of Business of the House – in the House of Commons at 12:27 pm on 8 March 2007.

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Photo of Vera Baird Vera Baird Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 12:27, 8 March 2007

I am very proud to be here today with colleagues, male and female, from all parties to open the debate on women, justice and gender equality in the United Kingdom and to celebrate international women's day 2007. The first international women's day was observed in 1909 in the United States: it is nearly 100 years old, so we must have a big do in a couple of years' time. I cannot find any trace in the modern era of international women's day debates in this, the mother of Parliaments, until 1997, but now we have them. On this day, women all over the world reflect on the role that they play in the world, and they come together—actually, virtually or simply in spirit—to rediscover their aspirations. From Alaska to Zanzibar and from Rotaruha to Redcar, women celebrate a sort of female new year's day, the resolution being that they will work together again for another year with yet more energy and in solidarity towards an equal future.

I welcome our male colleagues from all parties. I mentioned this event to a male this morning and I told him that I expected some men to be here. He said over breakfast that that was surprising and I told him that it seemed likely to me that, by 2020, women would rule the world. He said to me, "What, still?" I told him that the only difference that I could see between him—a man—and a battery was that batteries usually have a positive side. Those are, of course, reversible jokes and so they are gender neutral.