The UK Government has a person responsible for tackling violence against women overseas. On March 8, the 100th International Women’s Day, Baroness Kinnock was appointed to this new position, which, as the Government put it, “is the first time such a dedicated responsibility has existed”.
With my head down, I have to admit I first heard about it today, during a meeting with Action Aid UK’s Women’s Rights Advisor Zohra Moosa (the interview to be posted next).
“Our challenge now is to make sure this post stays as permanent fixture,” said Ms Moosa. The fear is whether the new government (UK general election is held in May) would keep the position.
Action Aid UK’s report Destined to Fail? How violence against women is undoing development called on the UK Government to put violence against women at the heart of its foreign policy agenda and appoint a minister responsible for the issue.
It is expected that Baroness Kinnock’s new role will be particularly powerful because it works across the three government departments that can make a difference on this agenda internationally: the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence.
The equivalent of this position is President Obama’s decision last spring to create the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues within the Department of State. Melanne Verveer’s tasks include tackling violence against women.
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