Global Strategic Development Advisor, Fiza Farhan, explains why women’s economic empowerment is both vital for social justice and an economic opportunity.
In the context of concerted efforts to roll back on women’s and girls’ rights and the disproportionate impact of climate, crises and conflict, there is a need for a concerted, collective effort on, for and with women and girls.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has committed to using the full range of levers at its disposal to unite partners in standing up to those who want to hold back women and girls, and champion women and girls as agents for change through local leadership, including grassroots women’s rights organisations.
A new FCDO International Women and Girls Strategy launched on International Women’s Day on March 8 2023, sets out a set of principles and goals, alongside the thematic priorities of the 3 Es – Educating girls, Empowering women and girls, and championing their health and rights, and Ending gender-based violence. It also marks the start of a new global campaign – Rights, Freedom, Potential – to drive conversation and action on women’s and girls’ rights.
This is being supported by a Wilton Park series of conferences over the course of the next year. The first dialogue in our #RightsFreedomPotential series focused on stimulating renewed global momentum to drive long lasting improvement to women’s economic empowerment. It took stock of recent geopolitical changes, including the COVID-19 crises, to establish a coordinated and effective effort to enhance women’s economic empowerment.