Member News
By Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen - 4th March 2010
Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her question on the role of women in Latin American politics.
As the vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Latin America, I am very aware of the need to raise the status of women in Latin American countries higher up the political agenda, and International Women's Day gives an ideal opportunity for this.
The position of women in Latin America can change dramatically when there is a change of government. This is well illustrated by the position of women in Bolivia where, since Evo Morales came to power, government policies and practices have specifically included women and indigenous people.
The new Bolivian cabinet is made up of 50 per cent women and in both the assembly and the cabinet, great efforts are being made to give added responsibility to women.
In El Salvador too there have been recent efforts to assist women, especially into paid employment and training via the Salvadorian Institute for the Advancement of Women. Part of the institute's policy is a life for women free of violence within the family, the working environment and the social, political and economic spheres. To further this work, 13 departmental offices have been established throughout El Salvador. These are two very different countries, but with the same aims.
My question was prompted by these and other Latin American governments' efforts.
My follow-up question will be on the universal periodic review of human rights in Colombia which was presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in September last year. I want to know Her Majesty's Government's response to this review, especially in relation to women.
Colombia often gets a bad press in this country in relation to its human rights, because of its history of violence - especially towards trade unionists.
As a former trade union official myself, I obviously believe that the death of one trade unionist is one too many. However, I also think that the Colombian government of President Uribe is trying to eliminate this violence, as the reduction in the death rate over the last few years indicates.
And I believe that when governments are trying to improve matters in very difficult circumstances, their efforts should be both recognised and encouraged. Hence my question to the government.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd