Lynne Featherstone MP visited Hornsey School for Girls on International Women’s Day last week, to discuss tackling violence against women and girls in the UK and abroad.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green participated in a class of 13 to 14 year old students. Together with representatives from the organisation PLAN, they discussed the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls. They also discussed how empowering women and girls – and protecting them from violence – will be vital for meeting the UN’s Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The Liberal Democrat MP flew back from New York on Thursday, having represented the UK Government at the 57^th annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

At the Commission, Lynne Featherstone MP reiterated that she wants Female Genital Mutilation ended within a generation. In this regard, she announced that the UK is committing up to £35 million to stop this most extreme form of gender-based violence.

Following the visit to the school, Lynne Featherstone MP travelled to Brighton for the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, where she gave a rally speech on her experiences in tackling violence against women and girls.

Following the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was a delight to visit this school and the bright students on International Women’s Day to talk about violence against women and girls – which I am so passionate about tackling.

“I was so impressed with the students’ understanding and awareness of gender based violence. It is clear that progress is being made in the UK.

“We are making sure that our young girls are made aware of these issues, and given the right support, advice and education. It is, of course, also vital that boys are made aware from an early age that such violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

“I am so proud that Britain is a world leader in international development, respected widely for how effective our work is. We may be two genders, but we only have one future!”