In today's Women & Equalities questions, I asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice if he would commit to looking at legislation that would punish facilitators of sexual exploitation in return for rent-free accommodation. … [Read more...]
Period Poverty in the UK
Both the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government have recognised the serious issue of period poverty and have taken steps to tackle it. Why has the UK Government left it to charitable organisations and individuals to fill in the gap elsewhere? … [Read more...]
Misogyny as a Hate Crime
This morning I responded on behalf of the Opposition, to a Westminster Hall Debate on misogyny. All too often, society and the legal system continue to trivialise these acts of abuse and there is a long overdue need for a change in the law so that misogynistic acts are treated as the serious hate crimes that they actually are. Misogyny is a crime motivated by hostility and it needs … [Read more...]
Relationship and Sex Education
Today I asked the Minister for Women and Equalities to ensure that the Department for Education considers the importance of FGM and forced marriage in their upcoming review of relationship and sex education. … [Read more...]
Menopause in the Workplace
Following her appearance on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour on Thursday, Diane Danzebrink travelled to Swansea to meet with Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Carolyn Harris, who she is working with to improve awareness of menopause in the workplace, at a Menopause Support group that Diane has helped to set up in a Tesco store in the area. A group of twenty women from the store including group … [Read more...]
Women’s Refuges
Home Office Questions
Today I asked the Minister to challenge the behaviours of high-harm perpetrators of domestic abuse, following the conviction of Theodore Johnson, who has killed three women over the last four decades. Coincidentally, the South Wales Evening Post printed the following statistics about domestic violence conviction rates: Johnson was convicted of the manslaughter of wife … [Read more...]
Female prisons in Wales
Today I asked Rt Hon David Lidington MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, whether his department have made a decision on a female prison opening in Wales. A rather disappointing answer as no decision yet implies it is up for discussion! … [Read more...]
Women and Equalities questions
Women released from prison
Yesterday afternoon I spoke in Chris Elmore MP's Westminster Hall Debate on women after their release from prison. I’ve spoken before on a number of occasions about the plight of women in the penal system and as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, this issue is of grave concern to me. We really need to be considering how we can be more proactive and creative about stopping these women … [Read more...]
