Jean Lambert, the Green Party MEP for London, will today be speaking at a public meeting to celebrate International Women’s Day and highlight the situation of women around the world.
The meeting, arranged by the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, will explore the difficulties women face on daily basis; from those fighting for their basic human rights in wartorn countries like Iraq and Afghanistan to those badly effected by the economic recession around the world.
Jean Lambert MEP, said:
"It is important to remember that the struggle for equality is very real for millions of women around the world and in some countries even basic human rights are frequently abused.
"In the UK, equality at work has still not been reached and a stubborn gender pay gap exists, as wide as 36 per cent for part-time work. Women are finding themselves even more vulnerable in this economic downturn, as the redundancy rate for women is rising twice as fast as it is for men.
"Disturbingly, it’s also been found that women are at greater risk of domestic violence and abuse during times of recession. We need to understand these wider consequences of economic stress and ensure that support services are adequately funded, prepared and able to cope with these problems."
The meeting will take place from 7-9pm on Friday 6 March in Room 3A University of London Union (ULU), Malet Street, London WC1 7HY. Other speakers will include Terri Judd (writer for the Independent), Maria Exall (Communication Workers’ Union) and Laura Schwartz (Feminist Fightback).