Of course the headlines in Westminster this week have been dominated by the PM’s success in finding a negotiated deal with Brussels, the Windsor Framework, which has negated the need for the NI Protocol Bill. The EU moved, which many had said was impossible, and the framework has been greeted with relief by many.
This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week and I participated in the debate on Tuesday highlighting the increase in the number of boys and men suffering from conditions like anorexia nervosa. It has the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition and it is important that we better understand the complexities of eating disorders and the importance of early intervention.
It is also very nearly International Women’s Day and I was pleased to take part in an event with Marie Claire and L’Oréal about women’s empowerment, the importance of make allyship, and how societally we can best tackle violence against women and girls. That will be published on social media next week to coincide with IWD2023, when I will be in the UN leading the UK delegation for the Commission on the Status of Women. The theme this year is education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. At a time when Afghan girls are being denied an education, when Ukrainian girls have had to flee their homes and Iranian girls are being oppressed it is worthy reflecting globally there is a long way to go in order to achieve equality and empowerment for all women and girls.
