Lords International Women's Day debate
10 March 2023
On Friday 10 March, the House of Lords marked International Women's Day with a debate on supporting the education of women and girls in the UK and worldwide.
Debate
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Conservative), Lords government spokesperson for women and equalities, put forward the debate.
This was a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.
Members speaking
Members speaking in the debate included:
- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green), former founding chair of the Green Party Women's Group
- Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench), associate with the Girls' Day School Trust
- Baroness Helic (Conservative), member of the advisory board of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security
- Baroness Thornton (Labour), Lords Labour spokesperson for women and equalities.
Members spoke about a range of subjects. Opening the debate, Baroness Scott of Bybrook said:
'I am proud to participate in today’s debate surrounded by so many champions for gender equality. I am proud of the work that this government are doing to support women in all their diversities, in all areas of their lives, but I recognise that there is much more to do.'
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour), added: 'Our innovators and leaders of tomorrow are sitting in our classrooms, colleges and universities of today. We need to embrace and empower women and girls to see themselves as those leaders of tomorrow.'
Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat), said: 'If you play with the human rights of some people, you play with the human rights of all, and if you jeopardise the rights of some women, you jeopardise the rights of all.'
Get involved
Watch and read the debate
- Catch up on Parliament TV
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate)
Explore background information
- Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing
- See how the House of Lords is celebrating Women's History Month
Learn more about how the House of Lords checks and challenges government.
Image: House of Lords / Annabel Moeller